FSTP is one of the federal immigration programs under the government of Canada’s Express Entry system. The program was launched in 2013 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in order to offer an immigration pathway to skilled trades workers. The program is meant to welcome more skilled trade workers to Canada to address the labour shortage in trade professions. Applicants for FSTP may have less CRS as you won’t have to show any level of education. Also there are occasional Express Entry draws specifically for FSTP candidates.
Like other Express Entry programs, FST also used the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank the applicants. As it is a merit-based evaluation the candidates are ranked against one another, ultimately only inviting the most competitive candidates to further apply for permanent residence (PR).
Eligibility criteria under the FST program
Work Experience:
- The applicant must have 2 years of paid full-time work experience or equivalent part-time experience in a skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply.
- You need to meet the skilled trade job requirements set by National Occupational Classification i.e. Major Group 72, Major Group 73, Major Group 82, Major Group 92, Minor Group 632, or Minor Group 633.
- You would need a genuine offer letter for full-time employment lasting 12-months or a certificate of qualification in their skilled trade which is issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial authority.
Language Ability:
- The minimum threshold set by IRCC is Canadian Level Benchmark (CLB) 5 for speaking and listening, and CLB 4 for reading and writing. The test is valid for 2 years.
Education Requirement:
- There is no particular education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
Proof of Funds:
- You need to show proof showing you have enough funds to sponsor yourself and your family.
Admissibility:
- Applicant must be admissible to Canada.
Step-by-Step Guide to Apply Under FST Program
- Check your eligibility for FST for free with Unplugged Immigration. The criteria is to be fulfilled on the basis of your age, education, language proficiency, work experience, occupation, etc.
- As you meet the criteria set to apply under the Express Entry, you are required to complete an IRCC-recognized English and/or French language test. You can also claim additional CRS points if you have studied abroad in an eligible program. These points can be obtained with Educational Credential Assessment.
- Further, you can apply under the Express Entry category on the IRCC website for free.
- Follow the official website of IRCC for Express Entry draws, conducted almost every 2 weeks. There you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
- Once you receive your ITA, submit a completed application for PR on the IRCC website within the specific deadline. The processing time is 6 months or less for most applicants.
FAQs for FSTP Canada
What is a Federal Skilled Trades Program for Canada?
When candidates want to apply for permanent residence under Express Entry on the basis of qualifying for a skilled trade, it is known as the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). You require 2 years of full-time job experience done within 5 years of submitting the application and there is no educational qualification criteria to be fulfilled.How can I calculate my CRS score for FSTP?
You can check your FSTP score on Unplugged Immigration’s free CRS score calculator.What is a CRS score in Federal Skilled Trades Program?
A comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score helps IRCC to determine the candidates for permanent residence under Express Entry. CRS score is calculated on the factors such as language ability, education, work experience, age, etc. Highest-ranking candidates receive their Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Federal Skilled Trades (FSTP) with Unplugged Immigration
Conduct a free assessment to get professional help from us. We at Unplugged Immigration work towards making the FSTP pathway easier for our clients, as we ensure assistance at every step. FSTP is one of the most popular pathways chosen by the trade workers, so if you are also interested and fulfill the criteria, let’s pave the path to Canada together.