Last Updated:April 8, 2025
Federal Skilled Trades Program
Launched in 2017, this program is designed to offer foreign workers with valuable skills an opportunity to obtain permanent residence in Canada. Only individuals who are invited through the Express Entry system are eligible to apply.
Eligibility criteria for the Federal Skilled Trades Program
Work Experience
- Within the last 5 years, applicants must have at least 2 years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in a skilled trade occupation.
- Applicants must have a job offer for at least 1 year of full-time employment under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) or hold a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian authority.
Eligible occupations
| Major Group 72 | Technical trades and transportation officers and controllers (excluding “Transportation officers and controllers” in Sub-Major Group 726) |
|---|---|
| Major Group 73 | General trades |
| Major Group 82 | Supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production |
| Major Group 83 | Occupations in natural resources and related production |
| Major Group 92 | Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and utilities operators and controllers |
| Major Group 93 | Central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors (excluding “Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors” in Sub-Major Group 932) |
| Minor Group 6320 | Cooks, butchers and bakers |
| Unit Group 62200 | Chefs |
Language Proficiency
If applying for NOC skill levels 0 or 1, applicants must have scored at least CLB 5 in “Listening” and “Speaking” and at least CLB 4 in “Reading” and “Writing” on an approved language test taken within the past 2 years.
| Test | Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB5 | IELTS | English | – | – | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| CELPIP | English | – | – | 5 | 5 | |
| PTE Core | English | – | – | 39-49 | 51-58 | |
| TEF Tests taken on or after December 11, 2023 |
French | – | – | 352-392 | 387-421 | |
| TEF Tests taken between October 1, 2019 and December 10, 2023 |
French | – | – | 350-399 | 350-399 | |
| TCF | French | – | – | 369-397 | 6.0 |
If applying for NOC skill levels 2 or 3, applicants must have scored at least CLB 4 in “Reading” and “Writing” and at least CLB 5 in “Listening” and “Speaking” on an approved language test taken within the past 2 years.
| Test | Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB4 | IELTS | English | 3.5 | 4.0 | – | – |
| CELPIP | English | 4 | 4 | – | – | |
| PTE Core | English | 33-41 | 41-50 | – | – | |
| TEF Tests taken on or after December 11, 2023 |
French | 306-351 | 300-349 | – | – | |
| TEF Tests taken between October 1, 2019 and December 10, 2023 |
French | 300-349 | 300-349 | – | – | |
| TCF | French | 342-374 | 4-5 | – | – |
Proof of funds
Applicants must have sufficient funds to support themselves and their family while in Canada, according to the required financial thresholds. However, this requirement may be waived if you have a valid job offer and are legally authorized to work in Canada.
| Number of family members | Required funds (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $13,757 |
| 2 | $17,127 |
| 3 | $21,055 |
| 4 | $25,564 |
| 5 | $28,994 |
| 6 | $32,700 |
| 7 | $36,407 |
| For 7 or more | For each additional family member: $3,706 |
Province of Residence
Applicants must intend to reside outside the province of Quebec.
The application process for the Federal Skilled Trades Program
01Meet the eligibility criteria for the Federal Skilled Trades Program
In order to apply for permanent residence, you must meet all of the above application requirements.
02Submit your profile to the Express Entry system
After meeting the eligibility criteria, you will register your profile online through the Express Entry system.
03Once your score is calculated, you will be placed into the selection pool
After registering your profile, your score will be calculated, allowing you to enter the Express Entry selection pool.
04You will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
An Invitation to Apply (ITA) is the right to submit your permanent residence application. IRCC conducts regular draws, issuing ITAs to candidates with the highest scores in the pool. If you do not receive an ITA, you will remain in the selection pool for up to one year.
05Submit your permanent residence application to IRCC within 60 days
After receiving the ITA, you must finalize your permanent residence application within 60 days. This involves creating an account on the online application portal, attaching the necessary documents, and submitting them to IRCC. Additionally, if you are between the ages of 14 and 79, you will need to provide biometrics (fingerprints) and a photograph.
06Assessment by IRCC
After IRCC completes their review, the applicant will receive a letter called the Confirmation of Permanent Resident (CoPR).
07Landing
Applicants residing outside Canada will enter the country with their CoPR. Those applying from within Canada can complete the landing procedure online.
08Receive your Permanent Resident (PR) card
Following the landing process, your PR card will be sent to the designated address within Canada and should arrive within a few months.
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