Immigration Lawyer

Federal Skilled Trade

Immigration Lawyer

Federal Skilled Trade

Any foreign national who has been a skilled worker and has the intent to get permanent residence in Canada can apply through the Federal Skilled Trades Program. It is one of the programs that is managed via Express Entry. Persons with certification of qualification in specific trades and job offers are the most eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Submitting a successful application can be a complicated and long process as it has immense requirements to be fulfilled.

What are the requirements for the FST program?

It is important for candidates to meet the requirements of the FSTP Program. The criteria are:

1. Work Experience

You must have skilled trades work experience with at least 2 years of full-time work experience (30 hours/week) or a similar part-time experience 5 years before your application.
in a skill that was obtained within 5 years before applying.
Your work skills need to match the job requirements in the category mentioned for National Occupational Classification (NOC).
You must have performed 50% of the job description listed in the lead statement of the NOC.

Please Note: Your work experience will be counted only if you have the qualification to practice the trade. In case the qualification was from a different county and the experience gained from another, it is required that you meet the requirements independently.

2. Language Proficiency

It is required for you to know either the language English or French.
You must take any of the approved language tests, such as CELPIP, IELTS for English, and TEF Canada for French. You must see that on the day of your application, the tests are valid.
You must achieve level 5 in the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for speaking and listening and level 4 for reading and writing.

3. Certificate of Qualification

You have any one of the two:

A valid job offer

You need to have a full-time job offer for one year from one or two Canadian employers for a period of one year at least. Ensure that the offer aligns with the NOC type B skill requirements for a skilled trade.
The offer needs to be attested with a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) certificate or be exempted from the LMIA category.

Certificate of Qualification

You must have a certificate of qualification for the trade you are applying to from a Canadian territorial, provincial, or federal authority.
The certificate shows that you are skilled and experienced to work in the skilled trade. You might have to take up additional training for qualification.
The certificate must be issued by the official regulatory authority of the province or territory where the trade is regulated.

4. Education

There is no such educational requirement for the Federal Skilled Trade Program, but if you have any qualifications, then it adds extra value to your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
An educational credential assessment (ECA) for those who have done their education outside Canada. This helps to confirm that your educational level aligns with that of Canada.
If you have done schooling in Canada, then get points for a diploma, certificate, or degree from the high school or post-secondary education.

5. Proof of funds

You must show that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family in Canada.
This does not apply if you are working in Canada with authorization or have a valid job offer in Canada.

6. Admissibility

You must have no criminal record or any medical conditions that can make you inadmissible in Canada.

7. Residence

You must live outside of Quebec, as Quebec has its own skilled workers, and do not participate in FSTP.

Please note: If you are a provincial nominee, then you must only settle in the province that nominated you.

8. Duration of Procedure

Having experience in trade skills may help you receive an invitation from provinces under priority streams, such as the Ontario Human Capital Stream. Contact us for more information.

Express Entry Selection for FSTP

Step 1: First you must ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements for the FSTP.

Step 2: After you meet all the eligibility criteria, the next step is to take up a language test in English or Frensch, which is recognized by the IRCC. Taking the IELTS, CELPIP, or equivalent French test for the requirement.

Step 3: If you have completed your education outside Canada, get your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to get additional CSR points.

Step 4: After the language tests and ECA, create your express entry profile for FSTP and submit it on the IRCC website.

Step 5: If your profile is approved, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). You can check your ITA through the IRCC’s Express entry draws, which take place every two weeks.

Step 6: After your ITA, it is a must to obtain a police clearance and get a medical checkup. Only after this will the application go to the next step.

Step 7: Once all the procedures are completed, submit your application on the IRCC website within the deadline. The processing time usually takes 6 months, or either more or less depending upon the applications.

Please note:

IRCC is now inviting candidates through EE draws in different categories. Some draws are for general categories that anyone can be invited based on their CRS ranking. However, most of the draws are now occupation-based and preferably in trade skills, STEM, or health occupations.
You may receive an invitation through provinces with high-demand skills, such as the Human Capital Stream of Ontario. If you receive an invitation to apply under the human capital stream, an additional 600 points will be granted. Note that no job offer is required for the Human Capital stream.

Skilled Trades Group for FSTP

It is a must that your work experience falls under one of these categories:

Major Group 72: Industrial, electrical, and construction trades

Major Group 73: Maintenance and Operations Trade

Major Group 82: Supervisor in natural resources, agriculture, and related production

Major group 83: Jobs in natural resources and related production

Major Group 92: Supervisor in Manufacturing, Processing, and Utilities, Utilities Controllers, and Operators

Major Group 93: aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors and central control and process operators.

Major Group 6320: Bakers, butchers, and cooks

Unit Group 62200: Chefs

Why should you choose our immigration lawyers?

At Nanda & Associate Lawyers, our experienced immigration lawyers will provide you with clear and personalized guidance. We can help you with every step and streamline the application procedure to a smooth one. To enhance the chances of your success in the application for the FSTP program, call us at 905-405-0199.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for the Federal Skilled Trades Program?

To apply for the FSTP, you first need to see if you match the eligibility criterion. If you match, you need to take the language test and get a certificate of qualification, if applicable. After that, gather the documents, visit the IRCC website, and create an express entry profile. If you have a favourable score in the Express Entry profile, then there is a chance that you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). If you receive an ITA within 60 days, you should complete the medical test and get a clearance certificate on your criminal record. After you finish all the steps, submit your application online.

How long does it take to process the FSTP?

It usually takes 6 months for the FTSP process to get over. However, the application process may vary depending on other factors like application procedures, medical tests and biometrics, security checks, and processing ways, which are country specific.

Is there any minimum qualification required for FSTP?

No, there is no minimum requirement to be eligible to apply for FSTP. But if you do have any educational background, it will help you boost your score in CRS. It will further increase your chances of receiving an ITA.

How can I prove my work experience for FSTP?

You need to produce letters from your previous jobs with a proper description of your work experience and job role. You need to provide your pay slips and copies of the work contract. Your work duties need to be in alignment with the occupations listed in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). If you have any letter of reference, then you can provide that as well. For more details, you can visit the IRCC website.