Independent advisory firm — not a government agency. Invitations and permanent residence are decided only by IRCC.
Updated 3 November 2026. Figures and rules change; verify at canada.ca.
What Is the Federal Skilled Trades Program?
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is one of three federal programs managed through Express Entry. It is for skilled tradespeople who want to become permanent residents, and who have a qualifying job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification in their trade.
FSTP candidates are ranked by their CRS score and invited in general or category-based rounds, including the Express Entry trades category. The FSTP has no education requirement, and its language requirement is lower than the other two programs.
| Feature | Detail | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Work experience | At least 2 years full-time (3,120 hours) or the equivalent part-time in a skilled trade, within the last 5 years, in or outside Canada | ||
| Eligible trades | Occupations in the NOC trades groups, such as industrial, electrical and construction trades, maintenance and equipment operation trades, and chefs, cooks, butchers and bakers | ||
| Job offer or certificate | A valid full-time job offer of at least 1 year, or a certificate of qualification in the trade from a Canadian authority | ||
| Language | CLB 5 in speaking and listening; CLB 4 in reading and writing | ||
| Education | No minimum requirement; an assessment adds CRS points | ||
| Funds | Proof of funds unless you have a valid job offer and can work in Canada | ||
| Intended residence | Outside Quebec |
Why Tradespeople Consider the FSTP
- •Lower Language Requirement — CLB 5 and 4 is lower than the other Express Entry programs.
- •No Education Requirement — You do not need a degree or an education assessment to be eligible.
- •Trades Experience Abroad Counts — Experience in your trade gained in the UAE or elsewhere can qualify.
- •A Dedicated Category — Express Entry runs a trades category, and cut-offs in category rounds have often differed from general rounds.
- •Provincial Trades Streams — Many provinces nominate tradespeople, which adds 600 CRS points for an enhanced nomination.
- •Family Included — A spouse or partner and dependent children can be included.
Federal Skilled Trades Program Requirements
Work experience
- •At least two years of full-time paid work (30 hours a week) in a skilled trade, or an equivalent amount of part-time work.
- •The experience must be within the five years before you apply, and can be gained in or outside Canada.
- •The trade must be in one of the eligible NOC groups.
- •You must meet the job requirements for the trade as described in the NOC, except for a certificate of qualification.
Job offer or certificate of qualification
- •A valid job offer of full-time work for at least one year from up to two employers in Canada, supported by an LMIA or exempt from one.
- •Or a certificate of qualification in your trade from a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority.
- •Obtaining a certificate usually means applying to a provincial trade authority, and may involve assessment of your experience and an exam.
Language
- •CLB 5 in speaking and listening.
- •CLB 4 in reading and writing.
- •An approved test, less than two years old: IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, TEF Canada or TCF Canada.
Other requirements
- •No minimum education requirement.
- •Proof of funds, unless you have a valid job offer and can legally work in Canada.
- •Medical and security admissibility.
- •An intention to live outside Quebec.
How the FSTP Process Works
A general overview. Your sequence may vary, and none of the timelines are guaranteed.
Step 1 — Confirm your trade and experience
Check that your trade is eligible under the NOC and that you have two years of recent full-time experience.
Step 2 — Secure a job offer or a certificate of qualification
Obtain a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, or apply to a provincial trade authority for a certificate. This is often the longest step.
Step 3 — Take a language test
Take IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, TEF Canada or TCF Canada to reach CLB 5 and 4.
Step 4 — Create your Express Entry profile
Submit your profile to the pool, with your job offer or certificate recorded. It stays valid for 12 months.
Step 5 — Improve your CRS score while you wait
Update your language results, education, experience or nomination status.
Step 6 — Invitation to Apply
If you are selected in a round, you have 60 days to submit a complete application.
Step 7 — Submit your application
Upload documents, employment letters, proof of funds if required, police certificates and a medical exam, pay the fees and provide biometrics.
Step 8 — Decision and landing
IRCC reviews the application and decides. If approved, you receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence and land in Canada before it expires.
Which Express Entry Program Fits You?
| Feature | FSWP | Canadian Experience Class | Federal Skilled Trades | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experience needed | 1 year skilled work, in or outside Canada | 12 months skilled Canadian work in the last 3 years | 2 years in a skilled trade in the last 5 years | ||||
| Language | CLB 7 | CLB 7 (TEER 0 and 1) or CLB 5 (TEER 2 and 3) | CLB 5 speaking and listening; CLB 4 reading and writing | ||||
| Education | Assessed credential for foreign study | None required | None required | ||||
| Job offer | Not required | Not required | Job offer or certificate of qualification | ||||
| Selection grid | 67 out of 100 | None | None | ||||
| Best suited to | Professionals abroad | Workers and graduates with Canadian experience | Tradespeople |
How the CRS and Trades Category Work for FSTP Candidates
- •FSTP candidates are ranked by the same CRS, scored out of 1,200, as other Express Entry candidates.
- •Trades experience gained abroad adds to skill transferability, together with language and education.
- •Express Entry holds category-based rounds for trades occupations, which have often had different cut-offs from general rounds. The category and its occupation list were renewed on 18 February 2026.
- •A provincial nomination, for example through a skilled trades stream, adds 600 points.
- •A certificate of qualification adds skill transferability points when combined with language ability.
New from 3 November 2026 (announced 16 October 2026)
- •Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation: reported at 20, 40 or 70 points for at least 12 months, depending on whether the occupation's wage is at least 1.3, 1.5 or 2 times the Canada-wide median.
- •A qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation: reported at 50, 70 or 100 points on the same tiers, with no LMIA required for the CRS points.
- •Invitations pause for up to two weeks while scores are recalculated.
- •Job-offer points were removed from the CRS in March 2025, so this is a partial return, limited to IRCC's high-wage occupations.
What Tradespeople in the UAE Should Prepare
- •Employment letters — For each employer, a letter showing your trade, dates, hours, salary and duties that match the NOC.
- •Trade certificates — Keep your trade test, apprenticeship and training records. Some provinces assess them for a certificate of qualification.
- •Recognition of your trade — Check whether your trade is regulated or compulsory in the province where you plan to work.
- •Job offers — Employers in Canada must offer genuine full-time work. Be careful with unsolicited offers and anyone asking you to pay for one.
- •Language — CLB 5 and 4 is achievable for many candidates, but plan time to test and retake.
- •Police certificates — One from each country where you lived for six months or more since age 18, including the UAE.
- •Proof of funds — Required unless you have a valid job offer and can work in Canada.
Federal Skilled Trades Program: What Changed in 2026
Confirmed
- •The Express Entry trades category was renewed on 18 February 2026, with its own occupation list.
- •3 November 2026: new CRS points for Canadian work experience or a job offer in a high-wage occupation. Whether a trades job is on the high-wage list depends on its wage tier.
- •Higher PR fees from 30 April 2026: about CAD 990 for the principal applicant and CAD 600 for the Right of Permanent Residence Fee.
- •FSTP eligibility rules for experience, language and job offer or certificate are unchanged.
Proposed — not yet in force
- •A merger of the FSWP, CEC and FSTP into a single federal stream, which needs regulatory change and is expected to take 12 to 18 months.
- •Other consultation ideas, such as changes to bonus points, are not confirmed.
Monitor
- •IRCC's rounds of invitations, the trades category occupation list and cut-offs.
- •Provincial trades streams, certificate of qualification pathways and trade regulation changes.
- •The 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, due around 1 November 2026.
Typical Government Costs for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (2026)
| Item | Amount | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Principal applicant processing fee | About CAD 990 | From 30 April 2026; a spouse pays the same. | |||
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee | CAD 600 | Principal applicant and spouse; refunded if refused. | |||
| Dependent child | About CAD 270 | IRCC fee. | |||
| Biometrics | Varies | Per person; confirm the current fee. | |||
| Language test, medical exam, police certificates, trade assessment or certificate fees | Varies | Paid to the providers. |
Fees are set by the Government of Canada and change from time to time. Confirm current amounts on canada.ca before publishing or applying.
Federal Skilled Trades Program — Frequently Asked Questions
Related Advisory Services
Immigration regulations, eligibility criteria, CRS points, language requirements, proof-of-funds thresholds, fees and processing times are set by the Government of Canada and are subject to change without notice. Applicants should always verify the latest requirements with IRCC at canada.ca before submitting any application.
Visatrix Global Services – FZCO is an independent advisory firm licensed in the UAE (licence [INSERT NUMBER]). We are not IRCC or the Government of Canada, and we do not guarantee invitations, CRS outcomes, approval or processing times or place workers with employers. Regulated immigration advice on Canadian applications is provided by [RCIC name and CICC licence number] — verify at college-ic.ca. Government fees are paid directly to IRCC; payments to Visatrix are for advisory services only.
Check Your Federal Skilled Trades Eligibility
Get a free assessment from our Dubai-based advisors. We review your trade, experience, language and options for a job offer or certificate, and explain whether the FSTP fits your profile. We do not sell job offers or place workers. No obligation.