This is a dedicated and streamlined program that will help transform Canada’s immigration system into a fast and flexible system focused on jobs, growth and long-term prosperity. The new program ensures greater consideration is given to the needs of industry when processing eligible immigration applications.
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for people who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade. There are some conditions that an applicant applying under this category must ensure to have complied with. Those basic requirements are as under:
- Must have at least two years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within the five years before applying
- Must meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
- Must have a full time employment letter for the time period of at least one year; or a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian Provincial or Territorial authority.
Work Experience
Skilled Trades currently eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized under these major and minor groups of the NOC:
- 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 utilities supervisors and central control operators,
- Minor Group 632, chefs and cooks, and
- Minor Group 633, butchers and bakers.
These major NOC groups are subdivided into different occupations. (All are NOC skill type B.)
The applicant must show that he did the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC, including all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.
Education
There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. But, if the applicant wants to earn points for education under Express Entry, either of the following requirements need to be accomplished.
- a Canadian post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree, or
- an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report produced by an agency approved by CIC to show it is equal to Canadian education standards.
Language ability
The applicant must meet the minimum language level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for Speaking & Listening and CLB 4 for Reading & Writing, and take a language test approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) that shows you meet the level for speaking, listening, reading and writing.