Canada Federal Skilled Trades Program Details

Generally, proof of funds is needed when applying under FSWP or FSTP.

But, no proof of settlement funds is needed if the applicant –

• Currently has work authorization in Canada, and
• Has a valid job offer from a Canadian employer.

Do note that both conditions must be met.

Occupations that come under FSTP all require Skill Type B as per the 2016 version of the National Occupational Classification [NOC].

A one-year full-time work offer from a Canadian company or a certificate of qualification from a provincial, territorial, or federal governing authority.

The Canadian Language Benchmark offers a language competency score in either French or English (CLB).

Within the last five years, you must have worked full-time for at least two years.

You must be able to demonstrate that you meet the job criteria of your skilled profession.

Unless you have a valid job offer or can legally work in Canada, proof of sufficient funds for you and your family to settle in Canada.

There is no educational requirement for FSTP.

Even if there are no education requirements, an applicant who wants to earn points for his CRS score under the Express Entry system must provide:

• Proof of education- Canadian High School or Post-Secondary certificate, diploma or degree
• International applicants with a foreign degree must provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an agency approved by CIC

An online application management system, Express Entry is used by the federal Government of Canada for managing applications for Canadian permanent residence from skilled workers that want to settle in Canada.

Commonly referred to as simply the FSTP, the Federal Skilled Trades Program is one of the three economic immigration programs of Canada that are handled through the Express Entry system. 

The PNP is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) which helps to migrate to Canada though 2 options:

• Paper based process: Select a suitable province and required eligibility qualification must be satisfied. Then submit and Express of Interest (Express of Interest)
• By Express Entry help: Applicant must create Express Entry profile and submit mandate documents in the Express Entry pool

The PNP allows provinces and territories to nominate immigrants who meet their specific economic needs. If the applicant is a skilled professional with experience in technology, finance, education, marketing or healthcare, PNP program is a perfect choice to get a PR in Canada.

Points to remember

The applicant must have relevant professional experience. The applicant must have a CRS score of 400 points or higher. The Eligibility changes according to the Provinces. But the basic documentation that is needed to apply for PNP are:

• Valid passport
• Completely filed application form
• Language skills certificate
• Proof of funds
• Educational, Work experience and other personal documents

Federal Skills Trade Program (FSTP): The FSTP is a points-based system that assesses immigrants on their skills, work experience, and education. FSTP is also used to migrate to Canada only if you have a job as per National Occupational Qualification (NOC) and meets eligibility criteria.

It is one of the programs managed by Express Entry System.

Points to remember      

The applicants with minimum of 2 years of experience in skill trade that is listed under NOC is actually eligible for Canadian PR.

Applicant with good CRS score will receive Invited to Apply (ITA).

The Federal skilled Trades program is for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade. As long as you meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as per the National Occupational Classification, and can meet the minimum eligibility criteria, you are in a great position to apply for the FSTP Program.

It’s open to people who have at least two years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade and meet other requirements, such as being able to speak English or French.

The FSTP is one of the program under Express Entry System.

Eligibility criteria for FSTP:

The basic documentation that is needed to apply for PNP are:

• Valid passport
• Completely filed application form
• Language skills certificate
• Proof of funds
• Educational, Work experience and other personal documents

The minimum CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) score required for a Canadian Permanent Resident application is 467 points. This score is based on the candidate’s age, education, work experience, and other factors. While this minimum score may seem high, it is important to remember that the CRS is a highly competitive scoring system.

CRS score is used by Canada to assess and score your profile and Background information. These points are awarded based on different human capital factors. The CRS uses a point-based system to rank Express Entry candidates. A job offer is not required under the CRS, but candidates with a valid job offer or provincial nomination receive additional points under the CRS. It works on

• Skills

• Education

• Language ability

• Work experience

• Other factors

Any applicant who submits a profile to the Express Entry pool of candidates is assigned a CRS score out of 1200 points. Approximately every two weeks, the Canadian government conducts an Express Entry draw, where they issue a round of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to the highest-ranking candidates.

To receive a nomination from a province will result in an additional 600 points toward one’s CRS score, essentially guaranteeing an invitation to apply for permanent residence. For individual provinces, the CRS score varies according the requirements set by each province.