FEDERAL SKILLED TRADES
Federal Skilled Trades
The Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program is among the trio of federal immigration programs administered through the Express Entry system. Similar to all Express Entry programs, FST employs the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to assess and rank prospective candidates in relation to one another, extending invitations solely to those who exhibit the highest levels of competitiveness for the purpose of applying for Canadian permanent residence.
FST Program Requirements
To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program, an applicant must possess a minimum of two years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade (or an equivalent duration in part-time employment). This work experience should have been acquired within the preceding five years, and it exclusively considers work that was completed after obtaining the requisite certification to practice the trade in one’s country of residence.
Skilled trades, as defined by Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) code, encompass the following occupational categories:
– Major Group 72: Industrial, electrical, and construction trades.
– Major Group 73: Maintenance and equipment operation trades.
– Major Group 82: Supervisors and technical roles in natural resources, agriculture, and related production.
– Major Group 92: Supervisors and central control operators in processing, manufacturing, and utilities.
– Minor Group 632: Chefs and cooks.
– Minor Group 633: Butchers and bakers.
Additionally, applicants must meet other prescribed eligibility criteria set forth by the FST program:
1. Canada Employment Connection: Hold a valid offer of full-time employment lasting at least 12 months or possess a certificate of qualification in their skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial authority.
2. Language: Achieve a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 on an officially recognized English or French language proficiency test.
3. Residence in Canada: Express an intention to reside outside the province of Quebec.
Meeting these stipulations renders an applicant eligible to submit an Express Entry profile for the Federal Skilled Trades program. However, it’s important to acknowledge that applicants must also satisfy Canada’s fundamental admissibility requirements, as certain criminal convictions and medical conditions may result in inadmissibility to Canada.
FST Application Procedure
If an individual meets these prerequisites, they are eligible to submit an Express Entry profile to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). However, it is important to note that the submission of an Express Entry profile does not guarantee the acquisition of Canadian permanent residence. It is only subsequent to the submission of an Express Entry profile that an applicant will be allocated a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and be considered in forthcoming Express Entry draws, where Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence are issued.
Upon submitting an Express Entry profile as a Federal Skilled Trades (FST) candidate, the applicant is mandated to provide particulars from various documents:
1. Language Proficiency Test Results: All candidates participating in the Express Entry programs are obliged to present the outcomes of an accredited language examination conducted within the preceding two years.
2. Identification Documents: Applicants must supply information extracted from their identification documents. It is desirable that both the candidate and any accompanying family members possess valid passports for international travel.
Although educational documents are not mandatory for FST candidates, certain documentation is essential to claim points for education:
Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA): To substantiate educational qualifications and accumulate points for education, an FST candidate must furnish a valid ECA report affirming the equivalency of foreign education to Canadian standards. There are five accredited organizations in Canada authorized to issue ECA reports. This requirement does not apply to educational qualifications acquired from a Canadian educational institution.
Since the inception of the Express Entry system in 2015, the lowest-ranking FST candidate who received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) held a CRS score of 199 points. If an applicant’s CRS score falls below this threshold, they should proactively explore avenues to enhance their score.
