Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): Eligibility and How to Apply

On This Page, You Will Find:

• What the Federal Skilled Trades Program is
• Skilled trades work experience requirements (NOC TEER groups)
• The job offer or certificate of qualification requirement
• Language requirements
• Proof of funds and exemptions
• Education, admissibility and where you can live
• How to get a certificate of qualification
• Step-by-step: applying through Express Entry
• Government fees
• Frequently asked questions

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is one of three programs managed through Express Entry, Canada’s application system for economic permanent residence. It is designed specifically for tradespeople whose experience falls under the trades-related occupation groups of the National Occupational Classification (NOC), rather than the broader white-collar occupations covered by the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

Unlike the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the FSTP has no minimum education requirement, and unlike the Canadian Experience Class, the qualifying work experience does not need to have been gained in Canada. It does, however, require either a job offer or a provincial certificate of qualification, which makes it a distinct pathway with its own paperwork.

This guide explains the current eligibility rules under the 2021 NOC’s Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) structure, what counts as a valid job offer or certificate of qualification, and the fees that apply after the April 30, 2026 IRCC fee increase.

What Is the Federal Skilled Trades Program?

The FSTP lets skilled tradespeople apply for Canadian permanent residence through the Express Entry pool. Candidates who meet the program’s minimum requirements enter the pool and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score; those with competitive scores are issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

The program targets people working in hands-on, specialized occupations that typically require an apprenticeship or trade certification rather than a university degree. Canada.ca groups eligible trades into four broad sectors:

• Construction
• Transportation
• Manufacturing and industrial
• Natural resources and agriculture

Skilled Trades Work Experience Requirements

To qualify under the FSTP, your work experience must be in a single NOC and fall within one of the following current TEER-based groups:

• Major Groups 72 (excluding Sub-Major Group 726), 73, 82, 83, 92, or 93 (excluding Sub-Major Group 932)
• Minor Group 6320
• Unit Group 62200

Your experience must also meet all of the following conditions:

• At least 2 years of full-time work (or an equivalent 3,120 hours, including part-time combinations) in a skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply.
• You performed the lead statement duties and most of the main duties listed for that NOC.
• You meet the job requirements set out in the NOC for that trade.
• The work was paid — volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count.
• You were legally qualified to practise the trade in the country where you gained the experience.

Work experience gained as a student does not count toward the requirement, and hours worked beyond 30 per week are not credited toward your total.

Job Offer or Certificate of Qualification

In addition to work experience and language ability, you must have either:

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

Important distinction: Arranged employment stopped earning extra Comprehensive Ranking System points across all Express Entry programs on March 25, 2025. That change affects CRS scoring only. It did not remove the FSTP’s own eligibility rule, which still lets a qualifying job offer substitute for a certificate of qualification when you first establish that you meet the program’s minimum requirements. In short: a job offer can no longer boost your CRS score, but it can still make you eligible for the FSTP in the first place.

Language Requirements

You must take an approved English or French test and meet these minimum levels in all four abilities:

• English: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for speaking and listening
• English: CLB 4 for reading and writing
• French: Niveau de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) 5 for speaking and listening
• French: NCLC 4 for reading and writing

These minimums are lower than those required under the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class for TEER 0/1 occupations, reflecting the trades-focused nature of the program. Test results must be less than 2 years old when you submit your Express Entry profile and when you apply for permanent residence.

Proof of Funds

You must show you have enough money to support yourself and any accompanying family members after you arrive, unless:

• You are already legally authorized to work in Canada, and
• You have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer.

IRCC updates the minimum settlement funds table each year. As of the most recent update, the minimum required for a single applicant is $15,263 CAD, rising with family size (for example, $19,001 for a family of two and $23,360 for a family of three). Check the current table on the IRCC proof of funds page before you apply, since these amounts change annually.

Education, Admissibility and Where You Can Live

There is no minimum education requirement for the FSTP. You can still claim CRS points for a completed credential — a Canadian diploma, or a foreign credential paired with an educational credential assessment — but a credential is not required to qualify.

You must also be admissible to Canada, meaning you clear standard security, criminal and medical checks.

You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec. Quebec selects its own skilled workers through the Quebec Skilled Worker Program and does not participate in the federal Express Entry system. You can still count work experience gained while living in Quebec, provided you can show you do not intend to settle there. If a province nominates you through its Provincial Nominee Program, you must settle in that province instead.

How to Get a Certificate of Qualification

A certificate of qualification proves you are trained and authorized to work in a specific trade in Canada. To obtain one:

• Contact the regulatory body that governs your trade in the province or territory where you plan to live and work.
• Submit your training, trade experience and skills for assessment.
• If found eligible, write the certification exam for your trade.

Each province and territory runs its own certification process through bodies such as SkilledTradesBC, Tradesecrets (Alberta), Apprenticeship Manitoba, Skilled Trades Ontario, and similar apprenticeship authorities in the other provinces and territories. Some trades require Canadian work experience or an in-person assessment before you can write the exam. If your trade is not regulated provincially, it may instead be federally regulated (for example, aircraft mechanics); the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials can help identify the right authority. If the jurisdiction where you plan to live does not issue certificates in your trade, you will need a valid job offer instead to qualify for the FSTP.

Step-by-Step: Applying Through Express Entry

1. Confirm your NOC and eligibility. Match your work experience to an eligible NOC group and confirm you meet the work experience, language and job offer/certification requirements above.
2. Take your language test and get your results before creating your profile.
3. Gather supporting documents: proof of work experience, language results, your certificate of qualification or job offer, and proof of funds (if required).
4. Create your Express Entry profile through the Government of Canada’s online portal and enter the pool.
5. Wait for an Invitation to Apply. If your CRS score is competitive in a draw, IRCC will issue you an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence.
6. Submit your permanent residence application within 60 days of the ITA, including medical exams, police certificates and the required fees.
7. Complete biometrics if required, then wait for IRCC to process your application.
8. Receive your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and complete the landing process at the border.

If most of your recent work experience was gained in Canada rather than abroad, it is worth checking whether you also qualify under the Canadian Experience Class, since the Express Entry system can assess a single profile against more than one program.

Government Fees for the Federal Skilled Trades Program

The FSTP falls under IRCC’s “economic immigration” fee category, which also covers the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program. Following the fee increase that took effect April 30, 2026, the current fees are:

• Processing fee (principal applicant): $990
• Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF): $600
• Total per principal applicant (processing fee + RPRF): $1,590
• Include a spouse or partner: $1,590 (processing fee + RPRF)
• Include a dependent child: $270 per child

These figures can change; always confirm the current amounts on IRCC’s official fee list before paying. The RPRF is refundable if you withdraw your application or IRCC refuses it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• Express Entry: Federal Skilled Trades Program — Canada.ca
• Express Entry: Language test results — Canada.ca
• Documents for Express Entry: Proof of funds — Canada.ca
• Express Entry: Job offer — Canada.ca
• Citizenship and immigration application fees: Fee changes — IRCC
• Permanent residence fees increasing on April 30, 2026 — Canada.ca