LMIA FinderFederal Skilled Trades (FST) Program
Canada's permanent residence pathway for skilled tradespeople with Canadian work experience. Apply through Express Entry with lower language requirements and growing demand for trades workers.
What is the Federal Skilled Trades Program?
The Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program is one of three federal economic immigration programs managed through the Express Entry system, alongside the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). FST is specifically designed for skilled tradespeople who want to become permanent residents of Canada.
Unlike the FSW program, the Federal Skilled Trades program does not use a points grid (the 67/100 selection factors). Instead, candidates must meet minimum eligibility requirements and are then ranked in the Express Entry pool using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). FST candidates benefit from lower language requirements compared to FSW and CEC, making it an accessible pathway for qualified trades workers.
Construction Trades
Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, ironworkers, glaziers, and other construction-related skilled trades.
Industrial Trades
Heavy equipment operators, millwrights, machinists, crane operators, and industrial maintenance mechanics.
Service Trades
Chefs, cooks, bakers, and butchers. Note: cooks were removed from category-based draws in 2025 but still qualify for FST.
Key Advantage
Lower language requirements than FSW and CEC — only CLB 5 for speaking and listening, and CLB 4 for reading and writing. No points grid means you only need to meet minimum requirements to enter the Express Entry pool.
Eligible Trade Groups
Your occupation must fall under one of the following NOC trade groups to qualify for FST.
Industrial, Electrical & Construction Trades
Electricians, plumbers, pipefitters, carpenters, ironworkers, welders, glaziers, roofers
Maintenance & Equipment Operation Trades
Heavy equipment operators, crane operators, millwrights, heavy-duty equipment mechanics
Supervisors & Technical Occupations in Natural Resources
Supervisors in mining, oil/gas, forestry, agriculture, and horticulture
Processing, Manufacturing & Utilities Supervisors
Supervisors in food/beverage processing, plastic/rubber products, textile manufacturing
Chefs and Cooks
Chefs, cooks (note: cooks removed from category-based draws in 2025, but still FST eligible)
Eligibility Requirements
You must meet all of the following criteria to qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades program.
Work Experience
At least 2 years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) paid work experience in a skilled trade within the last 5 years.
- Must be in an eligible NOC trade occupation
- Part-time equivalent accepted (e.g., 15 hrs/week for 4 years)
- Self-employment does not count
- Experience can be from inside or outside Canada
Language Requirements
FST has the lowest language requirements of all three Express Entry programs:
Speaking & Listening:
CLB 5 (IELTS 5.0 Speaking, 5.0 Listening)
Reading & Writing:
CLB 4 (IELTS 3.5 Reading, 4.0 Writing)
Accepted tests: IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General (English); TEF Canada, TCF Canada (French). Scores valid for 2 years.
Qualification / Certification
You must have one of the following:
- A valid job offer of at least 1 year of full-time employment from up to 2 Canadian employers
- A certificate of qualification in your skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial authority
Red Seal certification is recognized nationally across all provinces and territories and satisfies this requirement.
Admissibility
You must be admissible to Canada, meaning:
- No criminal inadmissibility
- No security concerns
- Must plan to live outside Quebec (Quebec has its own immigration system)
- Pass medical examination and security checks
Red Seal Certification
The Red Seal Program is an interprovincial standard of excellence for skilled trades in Canada. It allows tradespeople to have their certification recognized across all provinces and territories without additional testing, enabling national mobility for qualified workers.
There are over 50 Red Seal trades covering construction, industrial, motive power, and service sectors. Red Seal endorsement on a provincial or territorial certificate of qualification is the gold standard for trades certification in Canada.
National Mobility
Work in any province or territory without re-certification. Your Red Seal is recognized coast to coast.
Higher Wages
Red Seal certified tradespeople typically earn higher wages and have better employment prospects across Canada.
CRS Advantages
IRCC has proposed awarding additional CRS points for Red Seal holders, further boosting immigration prospects.
CRS Scoring for FST Candidates
The Comprehensive Ranking System scores your Express Entry profile out of 1,200 points.
Core / Human Capital
600
Age, education, language, Canadian experience
Skill Transferability
100
Education + language, experience combos
Additional Points
600
Sibling, French, education, PNP nomination
Red Seal Bonus
TBD
IRCC has proposed extra CRS points for Red Seal holders
Boosting Your CRS Score
Strategic ways to increase your Comprehensive Ranking System score as a skilled trades worker.
Provincial Nomination
+600 points
A Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nomination adds 600 CRS points, virtually guaranteeing an ITA in the next draw. Many provinces have specific trades streams.
Red Seal Certification
Proposed extra CRS points
IRCC has proposed awarding additional CRS points for Red Seal certification holders. Even without the bonus, Red Seal strengthens your profile and opens provincial nomination streams.
French Language
+25 to +50 points
Scoring CLB 7+ in French (TEF/TCF) adds significant bonus points, even if English is your first language. Bilingual trades workers are highly valued.
Canadian Education
+15 to +30 points
A 1-2 year Canadian credential adds 15 points; a 3+ year degree or multiple credentials adds up to 30 points. Trade school diplomas from Canadian institutions count.
Strong Language Scores
Up to +100 points
CLB 9+ (IELTS 7.0+ all bands) can add over 100 CRS points compared to minimum scores. Even modest improvements above the minimum yield significant point gains.
Spousal Factors
Up to +40 points
Your spouse's language ability, education, and Canadian work experience can add points to your CRS score. A single applicant also receives a small bonus.
March 2025 Change: Job Offer CRS Points Removed
As of March 2025, IRCC no longer awards CRS points for job offers. However, a valid job offer still satisfies the FST eligibility requirement as an alternative to a certificate of qualification.
FST vs CEC vs FSW
Compare the three Express Entry programs to find your best pathway.
| Feature | FST | CEC | FSW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian experience required | Yes (2 years) | Yes (1 year) | No |
| Foreign experience accepted | No | No | Yes |
| Education requirement | Trade certification | No formal requirement | ECA required |
| Language minimum | CLB 4-5 | CLB 5-7 | CLB 7 |
| Job offer required | Yes (or certificate of qualification) | No | No |
| Points grid | No | No | Yes (67/100) |
| Ideal for | Tradespeople in Canada | TFWs / PGWP holders | Overseas skilled workers |
How to Apply for FST
Follow these steps from trade eligibility confirmation to permanent residence.
Confirm Trade Eligibility
Verify that your occupation falls under an eligible NOC trade group (Major Groups 72, 73, 82, 92, or Minor Group 632). Check your specific NOC code to confirm.
Get Certified or Secure a Job Offer
Obtain a Red Seal certification or provincial/territorial certificate of qualification in your trade, OR secure a valid job offer of at least 1 year of full-time employment from up to 2 Canadian employers.
Take a Language Test
Complete an approved language test. Minimum required: CLB 5 for speaking and listening, CLB 4 for reading and writing. Accepted tests: IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General (English); TEF Canada, TCF Canada (French).
Create Express Entry Profile
Submit your profile through the IRCC Express Entry portal with your work history, trade certification details, language scores, and personal information.
Get Ranked by CRS
Your profile is scored using the Comprehensive Ranking System and placed in the Express Entry pool alongside other candidates from FSW, CEC, and FST.
Receive Invitation to Apply (ITA)
When your CRS score meets or exceeds the cutoff in an Express Entry draw (general or category-based trades draw), you receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence.
Submit Full PR Application
Within 60 days of your ITA, submit your complete application with supporting documents, medical exams, police certificates, and fees ($1,365 processing fee + $500 Right of Permanent Residence Fee).
Typical Timeline: 6-8 months from ITA to COPR
Processing times vary, but most FST applications are processed within 6-8 months after submitting the full PR application.
Category-Based Draws for Trades
Since 2023, IRCC has been conducting category-based Express Entry draws specifically targeting trades occupations, often with significantly lower CRS cutoffs than general draws.
Growing Demand for Trades
Canada faces a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople. The 2026 Spring Economic Update committed to training 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal workers by 2030, underscoring the federal government's focus on trades immigration.
Category-based trades draws have featured CRS cutoffs as low as 380-440 points, well below general draw thresholds.
How It Works
- IRCC selects trades as a target category
- All EE candidates in trades occupations are eligible (FST, CEC, FSW)
- Lower CRS cutoff applied to the targeted category
- Cooks were removed from category-based draws in 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Federal Skilled Trades program.
Find Your Best Immigration Pathway
Not sure if FST is the right program for you? Use the Opportunity Navigator to compare all available immigration pathways based on your profile, or calculate your CRS score to see where you stand.
Related Programs & Resources
Explore other immigration pathways and tools.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
For skilled workers with 1+ year of Canadian work experience. No job offer required.
Learn moreFederal Skilled Worker (FSW)
For skilled workers applying from overseas with foreign work experience and education.
Learn moreExpress Entry Draws
View the latest Express Entry draw results, CRS cutoffs, and category-based draw history.
View drawsCRS Calculator
Calculate your Comprehensive Ranking System score and see how you compare to recent draw cutoffs.
Calculate scoreProvincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
Many provinces have dedicated trades streams. A PNP nomination adds 600 CRS points.
Explore PNP