What is Federal Skilled Trades Program?

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.

Minimum requirements for Federal Skilled Trades Program

To be eligible, you must

• meet the required language levels for each language ability
• have at least 2 years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply
• meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification, except for needing a certificate of qualification
• have a
  • valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year or
  • certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority

Skilled work experience

Skilled trades for the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized under these groups of the National Occupational Classification (NOC):

• Major Group 72, technical trades and transportation officers and controllers
  • excluding Sub-Major Group 726, transportation officers and controllers
• Major Group 73, general trades
• Major Group 82, supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production
• Major Group 83, occupations in natural resources and related production
• Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers
• Major Group 93, central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors, excluding Sub-Major Group 932, aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
• Minor Group 6320, cooks, butchers and bakers
• Unit Group 62200, chefs

You must show that you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC. This includes all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.

If you don’t show that your experience meets the description in the NOC, we’ll refuse your application.

Find the NOC code, title and for your job.

The work experience only counts after you qualified to independently practice the occupation.

Education

There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Language ability

You must:

• meet the minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for speaking and listening, and Canadian Language Benchmark 4 for reading and writing
• take approved language tests for
  • writing
  • reading
  • listening
  • speaking
• enter the test results in your Express Entry profile

Your language tests are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result and must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.

Proof of funds

You must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada, unless you

• are currently able to legally work in Canada and
• have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada