The Federal Skilled Trades program is part of the Economic Class and is managed by the Express Entry program.
Federal Skilled Trades Class requirements:
- Having Certificate of Qualification from a provincial or territorial body OR a job offer from up to two employers in Canada lasting for a duration of at least one year (accompanied by an LMIA)
- Meeting the minimum language score of CLB 4 for reading and writing, CLB 5 for speaking and listening.
- Having acquired 24 months of qualified work experience in the skilled trade in the last five years
- Being qualified to meet the requirements of the job offer(s) or trade in Canada, as outlined by the NOC.
These NOC B level occupations will be eligible for this program.
This equals a total of 90 eligible occupations, which fall into the following general categories:
- Industrial, electrical and construction trades
- Maintenance and equipment operation trades
- Supervisors and technical occupations in national resources, agriculture and related production
- Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators
- Chefs and cooks
- Butchers and bakers
Certification or Offer of Employment
Trade certification in Canada falls under provincial jurisdiction, as each province defines which professions will be regulated and establishes regulatory bodies where applicable. Provincial certification is often challenging to obtain from outside Canada and consequently this program will be most useful to tradespeople who receive an approved job offer from an established employer, or who are already working in Canada as temporary foreign workers. Not all trades are regulated in every province. Where a trade is not regulated, a job offer becomes compulsory.
Tradespeople who receive an approved job offer for at least one year in their trade from a Canadian employer are also eligible to apply. The job offer will be assessed to ensure that it is an eligible trade and that the hiring will have a neutral impact on the Canadian Labour Market.
Final Criteria before getting Permanent Residence:
Once selected from the Express entry Pool and awarded with an Invitation to Apply (ITA), candidates and their dependents need to also undergo medical examinations and obtain security clearances as part of the Canadian immigration application process.