The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

An Overview Of FSTP

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), was launched in 2013 by the IRCC and is a committed immigration pathway for skilled trades workers. This program is one of the three federal economic programs managed by the Express Entry system. Annually, around 100,000 immigration spots are allocated to Express Entry of the around 400,000 immigrants Canada welcomes.

FSTP Benefits

Due to factors such as the low birth rate and an aging population demographic, Canada relies on the immigration sector to support economic growth by welcoming skilled trade workers to help address labor shortages and support the labor force. Due to candidates not being required to prove their level of education, they receive lower CRS scores in comparison to other applicants. However, there are usually draws held that only invite FSTP applicants, which can lead to the candidates receiving provincial nominations. This leads to applicants having a better chance of receiving permanent residence as the provincial nomination is worth an extra 600 CRS points, which means you’ll most likely receive an ITA for permanent residency. If the candidate has previously worked and/or studied in Canada, it can lead to him/her receiving some extra CRS points. Having some sort of Canadian experience contributes majorly to a candidate receiving his/her permanent residency.

FSTP Immigration Process

First, the candidate must ensure that they meet the eligibility of FSTP or any other programs under the Express Entry system. If you do, complete an English or French language test, designated by the IRCC. If you have studied abroad in an eligible program, you can obtain an Educational Credential Assessment, which can award some extra CRS points. Then, you can visit the IRCC website and submit your profile, free of cost. Keep track of the draws that are held by IRCC’s Express Entry every two weeks, as you can be one of the candidates to potentially receive an ITA (Invitation to Apply) for permanent residence. If you receive an ITA, submit your application to the IRCC within the specified timeframe and wait till your application is processed by the IRCC, which typically takes around half a year.

FSTP Eligibility Criteria

Here are the following eligibility criteria requirements,

• Candidate must have jobs offers of paid, continuous, full-time employment (equivalent to thirty hours a week) for a year, by two employers in Canada or a Certificate of Qualification from a territorial or provincial body, which proves the candidate is qualified to work in the skilled trade occupation sector as they have passed a certification exam and met all the listed requirements 
• Have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 5 for listening and speaking, and a score of 7 for writing and reading, these are minimum score thresholds that the IRCC has set, to prove the language proficiency of the applicant
• Demonstrate the capabilities and experience that they possess to perform the given tasks and duties related to the occupation
• The candidate has gained at least two years of full-time work experience (or part-time work experience equivalent) within the five years before applying, to the skilled trades

National Occupational Classification (NOC) Categories

• Major Group 72: industrial, electrical, and construction trades,
• Major Group 73: maintenance and equipment operation trades,
• Major Group 82: supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture, and related production,
• Major Group 92: processing, manufacturing, and utility supervisors and central control operators,
• Minor Group 632: chefs and cooks, and
• Minor Group 633: butchers and bakers