Federal Skilled Trades Program
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Federal Skilled Trades Program applications are assessed based on an applicant's ability to become economically established upon immigration to Canada.

From January 1, 2015, eligible candidates for the Federal Skilled Trades Program must make an expression of interest in immigrating to Canada through the Express Entry selection system for immigration to Canada.

Federal Skilled Trades Program allows individuals with job offers or appropriate certification to work in certain occupations to obtain Canadian permanent residence in any Canadian province or territory other than Quebec.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for a Canada Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa, Federal Skilled Trades applicants must:

  • Have Offers of Employment from Up to Two Employers in Canada of At Least One Year Duration OR A Certificate of Qualification from A Provincial or Territorial Body.
  • Provide Proof of Basic Language Proficiency from A Designated Language Testing Organization, Demonstrating That the Applicant Meets the Minimum Threshold Set by The Minister — Canadian Level Benchmark (CLB) 5 For Speaking and Listening, CLB 4 for Reading and Writing.
  • Have Obtained 24 Months of Qualified Work Experience in The Skilled Trade in The Last Five Years; and
  • Demonstrate the Skills and Experience Needed to Prove they Have Performed the Essential Duties of The Occupation.

Experience Level

What Kind of work experience do i need?

  • Your Work Experience Must Be in A Trade That Is Part of Skill Level B In the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC).
  • You Must Have Acquired That Work Experience Within the Last 5 Years.

Skill Experience

Skilled Trades currently eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized under these major and minor groups of the NOC:

  • Major Group 72, Industrial, Electrical, and Construction Trades,
  • Major Group 73, Maintenance and Equipment Operation Trades,
  • Major Group 82, Supervisors and Technical Jobs in Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Related Production,
  • Major Group 92, Processing, Manufacturing, and Utilities Supervisors and Central Control Operators,
  • Minor Group 632, Chefs and Cooks, And
  • Minor Group 633, Butchers, and Bakers.

These major NOC groups are subdivided into different occupations. (All are NOC skill type B.)

You must show that you did the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC, including all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed. If you do not show that your experience meets the description in the NOC, your application will not be accepted.