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Federal Skilled Worker Trades Program

Launched in January 2015, Express Entry (EE) is an electronic application system for Canada’s Economic Programs:

  1. Canadian Experience Class
  2. Federal Skilled Worker Class
  3. Federal Skilled Trades Class
  4. Select Provincial Nominee Programs

Express Entry gets you faster processing times and makes it easier to obtain a job before you arrive with prospective Canadian employers. For Skilled Workers who want to become permanent residents based on qualified in a skilled trade. This is 1/3 of the federal programs that are available through Express Entry.

Minimum Requirements:

Skilled Trade Work Experience

The applicant must have 2 years of full-time or equal amount of part-time work experience in a skilled trade within the last 5 years from the date of application.

Skilled trades for the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized under these groups of the National Occupational Classification (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
    • Minor Group 633, butchers and bakers

The major NOC groups are sub categorized into various occupations and they come under the skill type B. The applicant must show that their essential duties matches with the occupational description in the NOC used to apply the permanent residency.

Applicant must meet job requirements for the skilled trade which they’re applying for. Only exemption where the requirements aren’t needed is where a certificate of qualification is needed.

Language Ability

Applicant must meet the minimum CLB Level 4 for Reading and Writing, CLB Level 5 for Speaking and Listening. Your language tests are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result and must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.

Education

There is no education requirement for FSWTP But if you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry Pool, you can either:

  • If you went to school in Canada, you can get points for a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
    • Secondary school (high school) or
    • Post-secondary institution

Or

  • If you have foreign education, you can get points for:
    1. a completed foreign credential, and
    2. an Educational Credential Assessment report from a designated agency showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
      • Secondary school (high school) or
      • Post-secondary institution

Proof of Funds

Applicant must show that they have enough money for them and their family to settle in Canada, unless:

  • They’re currently able to legally work in Canada
  • Have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer

Admissibility

  • You must be admissible to Canada

*please note these are minimum requirements, additional requirements will vary with each category/program*