FEDERAL SKILL TRADES
The Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program is one of the three federal immigration programs managed by the Express Entry system. As with all Express Entry programs, FST uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank interested candidates against one another, only inviting the most competitive candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
Each year, over half of all immigrants to Canada are skilled workers welcomed through economic programs, including the Federal Skilled Trades program. For qualified tradespeople, the FST program can be a fast option for obtaining Canadian permanent residence, and with it, the right to live and work in Canada permanently.
FST Program Requirements
In order to qualify for FST, a candidate must have at least two years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade (or an equal amount in part-time). This experience must have been obtained within the previous 5 years and only considers work experience obtained after an individual has been granted the certification to practice the trade in their country of residence.
Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) code, defines skilled trades as the following occupation groups:
Applications in the following trades will be accepted up to a maximum of 100 or until the total Class cap of 3000 applications is reached:
- 7202 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations;
- 7204 Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades;
- 7205 Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and services;
- 7271 Carpenters;
- 7301 Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades;
- 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews;
- 8211 Supervisors, logging and forestry;
- 8221 Supervisors, mining and quarrying;
- 8222 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling services;
- 8241 Logging machinery operators;
- 8252 Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers;
- 9211 Supervisors, mineral and metal processing;
- 9212 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities;
- 9214 Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing;
- 9231 Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing;
- 9241 Power engineers and power systems operators;
- 9243 Water and waste treatment plant operators.
Applications in the following trades will be accepted until the total Class cap of 3000 is reached, with no sub-cap applying:
- 7231 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors;
- 7233 Sheet metal workers;
- 7235 Structural metal and plate work fabricators and fitters;
- 7236 Ironworkers;
- 7237 Welders and related machine operators;
- 7241 Electricians (except industrial and power system);
- 7242 Industrial electricians;
- 7243 Power system electricians;
- 7244 Electrical power line and cable workers;
- 7245 Telecommunications line and cable workers;
- 7246 Telecommunications installation and repair workers;
- 7251 Plumbers;
- 7252 Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers;
- 7253 Gas fitters;
- 7311 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics;
- 7312 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics;
- 7313 Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics;
- 7314 Railway carmen/women;
- 7315 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors;
- 7318 Elevator constructors and mechanics;
- 7371 Crane operators;
- 7372 Drillers and blasters – surface, mining, quarrying, and construction;
- 7373 Water well drillers;
- 8231 Underground production and development miners;
- 8232 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers, and related workers;
- 9232 Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators;
Persons interested in applying under the Federal Skilled Trades Class are invited to communicate with us at their convenience and/or to complete the immigration section of our assessment questionnaire. Upon receipt, we will assess your options.
Not sure where to start? Let our registered immigration consultants assess your conditions Within 24 hours.
