Federal Skilled Trades Program
Express Entry program for qualified tradespeople. Candidates need two years of full-time work in a skilled trade plus either a Canadian certificate of qualification or a valid job offer of at least one year. Language minimums are lower than for FSW.
Who it suits
- Tradespeople with 2 years of full-time experience in a skilled trade in the last 5 years
- Candidates with a provincial, territorial or federal certificate of qualification, or a valid job offer of at least 1 year
- People who can reach CLB 5 speaking/listening and CLB 4 reading/writing
Requirements
- Work experienceAt least 2 years full-time (3,120 hours) in one skilled trade NOC within the 5 years before applying, in a country where the person was qualified to practise; NOC must be in Major Groups 72 (excluding 726), 73, 82, 83, 92 or 93 (excluding 932), Minor Group 6320 or Unit Group 62200. Student work does not count. ↗ canada.ca
- Job offer or certificateEither a valid full-time job offer totalling at least 1 year, or a certificate of qualification in the trade from a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority. ↗ canada.ca
- LanguageEnglish: CLB 5 speaking and listening, CLB 4 reading and writing (French: NCLC 5 / NCLC 4). Results under 2 years old. ↗ canada.ca
- EducationNo education requirement. ↗ canada.ca
- Settlement fundsProof of settlement funds unless legally able to work in Canada with a valid job offer. ↗ canada.ca
- Where you liveMust plan to live outside Quebec. ↗ canada.ca
How candidates are selected
CRS ranking in the Express Entry pool; FST candidates can be invited in general rounds or in category-based rounds that include FST (for example Trade occupations).
Location requirement: none (must plan to live outside Quebec)
Processing: IRCC publishes no forward-looking estimate for FST. Service standard for Express Entry programs is 6 months for CEC and FSW; FST not separately confirmed.
Recent rounds
| Date | Round | Minimum score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 6, 2020 | Federal Skilled Trades round (last FST-only round), draw 159 | 415 | 250 |
| Apr 2, 2026 | Trade occupations category round open to FST candidates, draw 408 | 477 | 3,000 |
Related pathways
Atlantic Immigration Program
ClosedHome Care Worker Immigration Pilots (Child Care and Home Support)
ClosedAgriculture and agri-food occupations category
Limited intakeEducation occupations category
OpenHealthcare and social services occupations category
Limited intakeScience, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations category
Official sources
- canada.caProgram pageChecked 2026-10-01
- canada.caLanguage testsChecked 2026-10-01
- canada.caProof of fundsChecked 2026-10-01
- canada.caRounds of invitationsChecked 2026-10-01
Program rules change often. This page summarizes the official pages listed above; the official page always takes precedence.