FSTP Canada

Federal Skilled Trades Program

In 2013, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), which provides a dedicated immigration path for skilled tradespeople. FSTP is one of three federal economic programs that falls under the Express Entry system managed by the Government of Canada.
Express Entry is the primary way Canada welcomes skilled workers from the economic class to immigrate to the country, with an Immigration Levels Plan that aims to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants annually, with an average of 110,000 spots allocated to Express Entry. Skilled trades professionals can pursue immigration to Canada through various routes, including other federal immigration programs, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and Quebec immigration.

Benefits of the FSTP

To address labour shortages in the trades occupations, federal and provincial governments are making a significant effort to welcome more skilled trades workers to Canada through programs like the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
As Canada has an aging population and low birth rate, it is increasingly reliant on immigration to support its labor force and economic growth, particularly in the skilled trades. Immigrating to Canada through the FSTP has several advantages, including a faster timeline for obtaining permanent residence under Express Entry, as successful FSTP candidates can usually obtain their permanent residence within six months.
FSTP candidates may also have lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores than other candidates in the Express Entry pool and may receive program-specific Express Entry draws. Candidates with Canadian work experience are particularly well-positioned to succeed in the Canadian labor market, and the combination of knowledge, connections, experience, and skills obtained while working in Canada can provide a significant advantage when obtaining permanent residence under the FSTP.

Immigration process works with the FSTP

The Express Entry system manages applications for three skilled worker immigration programs, including the FSTP. To start the immigration process, you need to confirm your eligibility for the FSTP or another Express Entry program, and then create an Express Entry profile on the IRCC website.
The profile is evaluated based on various criteria such as age, education, language skills, work experience, and Canadian work and study experience, and a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is assigned. Approximately every two weeks, IRCC holds Express Entry draws inviting candidates with the highest CRS scores to apply for permanent residence.
If you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you need to submit a complete permanent residence application within a specified deadline. IRCC aims to process permanent residence applications within six months or less. To ensure your eligibility, you can use Canada Visa's free eligibility tool, and you will also need to complete an English or French language test recognized by IRCC and obtain an Educational Credential Assessment if applicable.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the FSTP, you must meet the following requirements:

• Have at least one year of valid job offers of full-time employment, or a certificate of qualification from a provincial or territorial body.
• Provide proof of language proficiency at a minimum level of CLB 5 for speaking and listening, and CLB 4 for reading and writing.
• Have at least two years of full-time or part-time work experience in one of the eligible skilled trade occupations in the five years prior to applying.
• Demonstrate the necessary skills and experience required for the occupation.
• The eligible skilled work experience categories are listed under National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups 72, 73, 82, and 92, and minor groups 632 and 633.
• It is important to note that FSTP candidates must plan to live outside of Quebec, as Quebec has its own unique immigration system for selecting skilled workers. If you are interested in immigrating to Quebec, please refer to the Quebec Skilled Worker Program page for more information.

Steps to apply FSTP

Here is a guide to follow for pursuing immigration to Canada through the FSTP:

Step 1: Check if you meet the FSTP's eligibility criteria by using CanadaVisa's free eligibility tool.

Step 2: If you qualify for the FSTP or any other Express Entry program, take an English and/or French language test that is officially recognized by IRCC. If you have completed an eligible program abroad, you may also claim additional CRS points by obtaining an Educational Credential Assessment. More information is available on Canada Visa's Express Entry page.

Step 3: Submit your free Express Entry profile on IRCC's website.

Step 4: Keep up with IRCC's Express Entry draws to find out if you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. These draws usually occur every two weeks.

Step 5: If you receive an ITA, submit your completed application for permanent residency to IRCC within the given deadline. IRCC aims to process most applications within six months.

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