Federal Skilled Trades (Express Entry)

Federal Skilled Trades Program (Express Entry)

The Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program is an Express Entry stream designed specifically for workers who are qualified in a skilled trade. Unlike the Federal Skilled Worker program, there is no points grid requirement — eligibility is determined by meeting minimum thresholds for work experience, language ability, and a qualifying offer of employment or certificate of qualification.

Eligible Trade Categories

Eligible occupations fall under NOC TEER 2 and 3 trade categories, including: Industrial, Electrical and Construction Trades (72XX), Maintenance and Equipment Operation Trades (73XX), Supervisors and Technical Occupations in Natural Resources (82XX), Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities Supervisors (92XX), and chefs and cooks (63200, 63201).

Key Requirements

• At least 2 years of full-time (or equivalent) paid work experience in an eligible skilled trade within the 5 years before applying
• A valid job offer of at least 1 year from a Canadian employer, OR a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial authority
• Language ability: CLB 5 for speaking and listening; CLB 4 for reading and writing

Express Entry Pool

FST candidates enter the same Express Entry pool as FSW and CEC candidates. Your CRS score determines your position in the pool. IRCC holds category-based draws specifically for trade occupations, which can benefit FST candidates with lower CRS scores. The target processing time after an ITA is 6 months.