Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST): a plain-English guide

Who it is for

IRCC describes the Federal Skilled Trades Program as a program for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.^[1]

IRCC says skilled trades need specialized knowledge and hands-on work, and most trades need an apprenticeship. Sectors include construction, transportation, manufacturing and industrial, and natural resources and agriculture.^[1]

IRCC says you must plan to live outside Quebec, which selects its own skilled workers; provincial nominees must settle in the province or territory that nominated them.^[1]

Which trades are included

IRCC lists skilled trades under these key groups of TEER 2 or TEER 3 in the National Occupational Classification:^[2]

• Major Group 72, technical trades and transportation officers and controllers (excluding Sub-Major Group 726, transportation officers and controllers)^[2]
• Major Group 73, general trades^[2]
• Major Group 82, supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production^[2]
• Major Group 83, natural resources and related production^[2]
• Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers^[2]
• 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)^[2]
• Minor Group 6320, cooks, butchers and bakers^[2]
• Unit Group 62200, chefs^[2]

Work experience requirements

IRCC asks you to find the NOC code for your job first. To count, IRCC says your skilled trade experience must:^[1]

• all be in the same NOC, within one of the groups listed above;^[1]
• show that you performed the actions in the NOC lead statement and most of the main duties listed;^[1]
• meet the job requirements for that trade as set out in the NOC;^[1]
• be paid work, in wages or commission (volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count);^[1]
• have been gained in a country where you were qualified to practise;^[1]
• be at least 2 years of full-time work (or 3,120 hours total) in a skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply.^[1]

IRCC gives these ways to reach 3,120 hours:^[1]

• full-time at one job: up to 30 hours a week for 24 months;^[1]
• part-time: for example, 15 hours a week for 48 months, across as many part-time jobs as needed;^[1]
• full-time at more than one job: 30 hours a week for 24 months.^[1]

IRCC says it does not count hours worked above 30 per week.^[1]

If you worked in more than one country, the experience only counts where you were qualified to practise the trade. If the second country had different rules, you must also have met its requirements to practise independently.^[1]

IRCC states that work experience gained while studying does not count toward the minimum requirements for this program.^[1]

Job offer or certificate of qualification

IRCC says you must have one of these:^[1]

• a valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year; or^[1]
• a certificate of qualification in your trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority.^[1]

A certificate of qualification shows you passed a certification exam and meet the requirements to practise the trade in the province or territory that issued it.^[1]

To get one, the issuing authority assesses your training, trade experience and skills to decide whether you can write the certification exam. Each province and territory has its own requirements and process, and you may have to go there to be assessed or need training and experience from an employer in Canada.^[1]

If the province or territory where you plan to live and work does not issue certificates of qualification in your trade, IRCC says you need a valid job offer in your trade for this program.^[1]

Trades not regulated by a province or territory may be federally regulated (IRCC gives airplane mechanics as an example). IRCC points to the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials to find out who regulates a trade.^[1]

IRCC notes that a job offer which is part of a program's eligibility criteria, as in the Federal Skilled Trades Program, is not affected by the removal of CRS job offer points.^[3]

Language, education and funds

IRCC says you must take an approved English or French test and meet these minimum levels:^[1]

• Speaking and listening: CLB 5 (English) or NCLC 5 (French).^[4]
• Reading and writing: CLB 4 (English) or NCLC 4 (French).^[4]

Approved tests are CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for English, and TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French.^[4]

Results must be less than 2 years old both when you complete your Express Entry profile and when you submit your permanent residence application. IRCC says it refuses applications made with expired results.^[4]

IRCC states there is no education requirement for this program. Canadian education, or foreign education with an educational credential assessment report, can add points to your rank in the pool.^[1]

Proof of funds is part of the minimum requirements for this program, unless you are currently able to legally work in Canada and have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada.^[5]

IRCC publishes a minimum amount by family size, updated each year based on 50% of the low income cut-off totals. The current table on IRCC's page is marked "Updated July 7, 2025" (amounts in Canadian dollars):^[5]

• 1 family member: $15,263^[5]
• 2 family members: $19,001^[5]
• 3 family members: $23,360^[5]
• 4 family members: $28,362^[5]
• 5 family members: $32,168^[5]
• 6 family members: $36,280^[5]
• 7 family members: $40,392^[5]
• Each additional family member beyond 7: $4,112^[5]

IRCC says you must be admissible to Canada; people can be refused for reasons such as security, criminal or medical grounds.^[1]

How Express Entry works for this program

Express Entry is IRCC's online system for managing applications from skilled workers. It covers three programs: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.^[6]

IRCC describes the process in four steps:^[6]

• Profile: you create an Express Entry profile and enter the pool of candidates.^[6]
• Pool and invitation: IRCC invites the candidates with the most points, in rounds.^[6]
• Application: if invited, you fill out the permanent residence application.^[6]
• Decision: IRCC reviews the application and makes a decision.^[6]

Profiles in the pool are scored and ranked with the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), IRCC's points-based system. The CRS score is separate from any program eligibility test.^[7]

IRCC states that completing a profile or entering the pool does not by itself lead to an invitation, and that you can only apply for permanent residence after receiving one.^[7]

When a profile meets more than one program, IRCC invites it to the first one in this order: Canadian Experience Class, then Federal Skilled Worker Program, then Federal Skilled Trades Program. A profile that also meets either of the other two programs is invited under that program first.^[7]

IRCC holds different types of rounds during the year: general rounds, program-specific rounds and category-based rounds, where the Minister sets a category to meet a specific economic goal.^[8]

If you are not invited within 12 months of submitting your profile, IRCC says the profile expires automatically. You can create a new profile after that.^[9]

After an invitation to apply

An invitation to apply is valid for 60 days only. IRCC suggests starting the application form right away so you can gather the information and documents before it expires.^[9]

You upload copies of the documents you used for your profile. IRCC says the system produces a personalized document checklist once the online form is complete.^[9]

The system shows the fees to pay, including the processing fee for you and your family members, the right of permanent residence fee and the biometrics fee. Fee amounts are on IRCC's fee list.^[9]

IRCC says people aged 14 to 79 give fingerprints and a photo (biometrics) for every permanent residence application, and have 30 days from the date on IRCC's letter to give them.^[10]

If you decline an invitation, IRCC says you are put back into the pool and considered in future rounds if you still meet the requirements. If you neither decline nor apply within 60 days, the invitation expires and the profile is removed from the pool.^[9]

IRCC bases its decision on whether you meet the program requirements and whether you are admissible to Canada, using the medical exam, police certificates and background checks.^[10]

Frequently asked questions