Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Is the Federal Skilled Trades Program for me?

Are you planning a Canadian immigration? Do you wish for a permanent residency in Canadian Province? Are you trying hard to look for ways either get permanent residency in a Canadian Province or even citizenship in Canada? Are you aware of its immigrant nominee program that can help you get permanent resident status? Here is a program, by the Canadian government to help you immigrate to Canada, become a Canadian permanent resident and have a chance to citizenship. Your language proficiency, occupation, IELTS score, qualifications, international work experience, work permit in Canada, sponsorship etc. can be helpful in fulfilling your dreams of immigrating to Canada and becoming a permanent resident of Canada using the FSTC program.

What is the Federal Skilled Trades Program?

If you want to immigrate to Canada or wish to be a part of the immigration process and gain Canadian residency or Canadian citizenship, this may be the program for you! Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSPC) comes under the Express Entry program itself. The Express Entry program was designed by the Canadian government to give certain immigrants a permanent residence and citizenship in the country. The Express Entry has three programs under it, designed for this purpose and the Federal Skilled Trades Program is one of them. If you are looking to work in Canada as a skilled worker after your immigration to the country, the government of Canada’s program for citizenship and immigration, the Federal Skilled Trades Program may be your aid in this process.

I am curious, am I qualifying for this program??

Well, this is a very frequently asked question, and we are here to help you immigrate to and get citizenship along with an occupation in Canada. The first step, let’s check if you are qualifying to be a nominee of permanent residency in the country. Find below the criteria you need to meet for qualification to this program.

1. Language skills

You need to have basic language skills. You need to be able to write, speak, read, and understand French language or English language or both. To qualify for this criteria, and prove your language proficiency, you must take a language test that is approved. Your level of proficiency is measure according to the Canadian Language Benchmark or CBL for English and Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadien or NCLC for French. You need a minimum score of 5 in listening and speaking criteria of the test and 4 in reading and writing according to CBL. Remember, the language test is valid for up to 2 years from when it’s taken. Ensure that the results of the test are valid on the day you apply for this program to gain permanent residence in Canada.

2. Education

The key difference between the Federal Skilled Workers Program and Federal Skilled Trades Class Program is these criteria. This program does not require you to fulfil these criteria. But if you want to increase your chances of being selected by this program and gain Canadian permanent residency, you can include these criteria in your online application. If you have completed an education level equivalent to a certificate diploma or degree by Canadian standards, include the report to show the same. The report from the Education Credential Assessment (ECA) will be required. If you have education from Canada up to secondary or post-secondary level, include the credentials in the form of degree or diploma certificate. Keep in mind, you do not have to fulfil these criteria to become a nominee for permanent residence, but it will help increase your chances in the selection criteria.

3. Skilled work experience

In this category, different trade skills are divided into different categories or groups. These are in accordance with the National Occupational Classification or NOC. These trade groups are as listed below:

Major Group 72 includes the industrial, electrical and construction trade skills.
Major Group 73 has under it the maintenance and equipment operation trades.
Major Group 82 includes under it the category of supervisors. Technical jobs pertaining to natural resources, agriculture and production related to these fields also comes under this group.
Major Group 92 includes the fields of processing and manufacturing. Central control operators and utilities supervisors skills also fall under this group.
Minor Group 632 includes the culinary skills of chefs and cooks.
Minor Group 633 includes under it skills pertaining to the jobs of butchers and bakers.

All the skills of the occupations listed above falls under the skill type B category. To qualify for this criteria, you must have had an occupation requiring at least one of these skills in the past. If you do not fulfil these criteria, the program can reject your application. Your level of expertise in the skills should be such that you are qualified for individual practice of your mentioned occupation. Apart from this, you must also have worked a minimum of 2 years full time. You can fulfil this condition by showing proof of part-time work that equals 2 years of full-time work experience. This 2-year work experience has to be within the 5 years before the submission of your application to the Express Entry. You must also have an employment opportunity offered to you by an employer from Canada. This employment offer must be of at least 1 year with a promise of payment. I am qualified Federal Skilled Trades Program

I am qualified Federal Skilled Trades Program

The application asks the applicant to mention which province or territory he or she will be living in if offered permanent residence in the country. It is not highly required for you to live in the province mentioned in your application. But you need to get assessed by your province in the trade skill you mention in your application. You can choose any province Manitoba, Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Northwest Territories, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Yukon or a territory. If your trade is not covered by your territory or province, it may be assessed by a federal authority. Each province or territory has its own assessment process. You can find in-depth about the assessment process online. However, you will have to settle in the province that nominates you, if you are a provincial nominee.

Yes, yes and yes. I am qualified. What should be my next steps?

Well, congratulations! You have satisfied the required criteria for the FSTC program. This takes you one step closer to citizenship and immigration to Canada. Here’s what to do next :

1. Documents

Yes, it’s time to get your documents in place and in order. Documents of your language ability tests, your educational qualifications, province assessment documents, and proof of employment in 2 years full-time job or its part-time equivalent. Apart from these, you need to gather your birth certificate, marriage certificate, adoption certificate as well as medical records. You are also required to produce financial proof that you can support you and your family members or spouse once offered permanent residence in Canada. You must also produce legal documents showing that you can be a legal member of the Canadian society. The documents proving you have a job offer from an employer having an occupation in Canada is also required.

2. Fill the online application

The final step in the process is to complete and submit your online application along with supporting documents to the Express Entry under the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Make sure everything is in order in your application as this determines if you can immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker, be working in Canada and gain permanent residence in the country along with a chance to apply for citizenship. After your application is submitted, you are placed in a pool with all the candidates who have applied and wish to immigrate to Canada as skilled workers under this program. Your application and thus you will be ranked according to a ranking system based on some selection factors. It is a point system and if you are among the top candidates, an invitation will be sent to you to apply for permanent residence in Canada. So what are you waiting for!! Check the eligibility criteria. Fulfil the requirements and apply at the earliest.