Super Visa

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is one of the programs that is managed by the Express Entry immigration system. The FSTP is designed for foreign trade workers with work experience in eligible trade occupations to immigrate to Canada. It is not the only pathway for skilled workers to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

In order to begin the process as a tradesperson, you will need to create an express entry profile and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System score (CRS). The program-specific draws for the Federal Skilled Trades class often have a much lower CRS score.

To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program, you must:

• Have at least two years of full-time or part-time equivalent work experience in a skilled trade within five years
• Have a valid job offer (usually supported by a Labor Market Impact Assessment) for at least one year or a certificate of qualification in the skilled trade issued by the provincial regulatory body
• Receive CLB 5 in speaking and listening and CLB 4 on reading and writing in your approved language test
• Be able to prove you have the skills and experience to perform the duties of the occupation and meet the job requirements listed in the National Occupation Classification
• There is no education requirement, but including education will improve your overall CRS score
• You must be admissible to Canada; this includes maintaining valid status if you reside in Canada
• You must plan to live outside of the province of Quebec. Applicants who are in Quebec or work in Quebec can still apply through express entry but must prove their intention to live in Quebec.

Skilled trade occupations eligible under the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized in the following major National Occupational Classification NOC groups. The groups are subdivided into different occupations, and they are all skill type B. You must show that you performed the duties of the occupational description in the NOC. This includes all essential duties and most of the main duties.

In order to be eligible for the trades program, you must have worked in a position that falls under the above Major and Minor NOC groups.

Certain Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) also work with the Express Entry system for skilled workers. If you are successful in meeting the criteria for a PNP – Express Entry aligned program (which are sometimes less stringent than those of the Federal Skilled Trades Program), you are then issued with a PN. This nomination adds 600 additional points to your profile, almost guaranteeing (bar any outstanding requirements) your ITA. This is because the minimum score drawn from the pool has never exceeded 500 points. It’s good to check which PNPs in Canada you qualify for and send the province an Expression of Interest.

How can we help

Our service makes use of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) who are experts on the different programs offered by the federal government as well as the ever-changing policies surrounding immigration. They are your helping hand when it comes to first creating your profile right up until you receive your ITA for permanent residence. They can also advise you further about which route to take and what you can improve on in your professional capacity.