Federal Skilled Trades

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is established for those who intend to become permanent residents as a result of their qualifications in a skilled trade.

Note: The CIC has acknowledged that they will accept no more than 5,000 complete federal skilled trade applications for processing from May 1st, 2014 to January 2015 before the Express Entry launches to ensure faster processing times and to avoid backlogs. Within this number of applications, no more than 100 new applications from each job under Group A will be considered for processing.  In total, 90 jobs will be eligible to apply under the Federal Skilled Trades Program this year.

Before submitting the application, please double check to make sure that the cap has not been reached for your chosen occupation(s):

FSTP-Eligible     Occupations
  1. Chefs
  2. Cooks
  3. Butchers, meat cutters and fishmongers, retail and wholesale
  4. Bakers
  5. Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
  6. Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
  7. Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
  8. Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
  9. Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
  10. Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
  11. Tool and die makers
  12. Sheet metal workers
  13. Boilermakers
  14. Structural metal and plate work fabricators and fitters
  15. Ironworkers
  16. Welders and related machine operators
  17. Electricians (except industrial and power system)
  18. Industrial electricians
  19. Power system electricians
  20. Electrical power line and cable workers
  21. Telecommunications line and cable workers
  22. Telecommunications installation and repair workers
  23. Cable television service and maintenance technicians
  24. Plumbers
  25. Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
  26. Gas fitters
  27. Carpenters
  28. Cabinetmakers
  29. Bricklayers
  30. Concrete finishers
  31. Tilesetters
  32. Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
  33. Roofers and shinglers
  34. Glaziers
  35. Insulators
  36. Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
  37. Floor covering installers
  38. Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
  39. Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
  40. Supervisors, printing and related occupations
  41. Supervisors, railway transport operations
  42. Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
  43. Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
  44. Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
  45. Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
  46. Railway carmen/women
  47. Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
  48. Machine fitters
  49. Elevator constructors and mechanics
  50. Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
  51. Motor vehicle body repairers
  52. Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics
  53. Appliance servicers and repairers
  54. Electrical mechanics
  55. Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
  56. Other small engine and small equipment repairers
  57. Railway and yard locomotive engineers
  58. Railway conductors and brakemen/women
  59. Crane operators
  60. Drillers and blasters – surface, mining, quarrying and construction
  61. Water well drillers
  62. Printing press operators
  63. Other trades and related occupations, n.e.c.
  64. Supervisors, logging and forestry
  65. Supervisors, mining and quarrying
  66. Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling services
  67. Underground production and development miners
  68. Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
  69. Logging machinery operators
  70. Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
  71. Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services
  72. Fishing masters and officers
  73. Fishermen/women
  74. Supervisors, mineral and metal processing
  75. Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
  76. Supervisors, food, beverage and associated products processing
  77. Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing
  78. Supervisors, forest products processing
  79. Supervisors, textile, fabric, fur and leather products processing and manufacturing
  80. Supervisors, motor vehicle assembling
  81. Supervisors, electronics manufacturing
  82. Supervisors, electrical products manufacturing
  83. Supervisors, furniture and fixtures manufacturing
  84. Supervisors, other mechanical and metal products manufacturing
  85. Supervisors, other products manufacturing and assembly
  86. Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing
  87. Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators
  88. Pulping, papermaking and coating control operators
  89. Power engineers and power systems operators
  90. Water and waste treatment plant operators

To apply Federal Skilled Trade Program, you must:

  • Intend to live to live outside of Quebec (Note: The province of Quebec chooses its own skilled workers. Therefore, if you do anticipate on residing in Quebec, please see Quebec-selected workers for more information)
  • Meet the required levels for each language ability, including speaking, writing and listening, in French or English
  • Have previously gained two years of full-time work experience or an equal amount of time in part-time work experience within a skilled trade five years prior to the date of application
  • Meet all job criteria for that skilled trade outline in the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
  • Already have an offer for a full-time position for a period of at least one  year OR a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a provincial or territorial body

Within Canada, only provinces and territories have the authority to issue certificates or qualifications in the skilled trades. In order to be rewarded this certificate, the provincial or territorial trades authority must evaluate the applicant’s training, trade experience and skills to consider eligibility to write the exam required to be certified. Applicants are likely to be required to go to the province or territory to be assessed. In addition, it may also be necessary for an employer in Canada to give applicants the proper experience and training.

To find out about your eligibility, please contact one of our immigration specialists.


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