Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) Lawyer for Express Entry

Skilled trades workers can qualify for Canadian permanent residence through Express Entry with the right work history, trade classification, and a valid job offer or certificate of qualification. Ayodele Law helps tradespeople across Canada and abroad apply with clarity and confidence.

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Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) — Express Entry Pathway for Skilled Trades Workers

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is one of Canada’s three Express Entry programs for permanent residence. It’s designed for qualified tradespeople—such as electricians, welders, carpenters, mechanics, and other skilled workers—who have the hands-on experience Canada needs and want to build a long-term future here.

If you’re searching for a skilled trades immigration lawyer near you or support near me in Toronto while applying to Express Entry from anywhere in Canada (or abroad), Ayodele Law can help you prepare a strong, well-documented application.

Who Can Apply Under the Federal Skilled Trades Program

You may qualify for the FSTP if you meet all of the following:

  • Skilled trades work experience in an eligible NOC trade group

  • At least 2 years of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time) in your trade within the last 5 years

  • A valid job offer (from up to two Canadian employers) or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian province/territory/federal authority

  • Minimum language scores in English or French

  • Proof of funds, unless you qualify for an exemption

FSTP Eligibility Checklist: who can apply?

Requirement What IRCC Looks For
Eligible trade (NOC) Your trade must fall within the eligible FSTP NOC trade groups and match your actual duties and experience.
Work experience At least 2 years (3,120 hours) of paid, skilled trades experience within the past 5 years, in a country where you were qualified to practise.
Job offer OR certificate A valid Canadian job offer (total at least 1 year) or a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian provincial/territorial/federal authority.
Language scores Minimum CLB/NCLC thresholds across speaking, listening, reading, and writing using an approved test.
Settlement funds Proof of funds is required unless you’re authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer.

Eligible Skilled Trades and NOC Trade Groups (Explained)

Federal Skilled Trades Program eligibility depends heavily on selecting the correct National Occupational Classification (NOC) for your trade. Your work experience must fall under one specific NOC code and belong to an eligible trade group recognized by IRCC.

In simple terms, these group numbers classify what type of trade you work in.

What the NOC Trade Groups Mean

  • Major Group 72
    Industrial, electrical, and construction trades
    Examples: electricians, plumbers, welders, carpenters, industrial mechanics

  • Major Group 73
    Maintenance and equipment operation trades
    Examples: heavy-duty mechanics, refrigeration mechanics, elevator technicians

  • Major Group 82
    Supervisors and technical roles in natural resources, agriculture, and production
    Examples: mining supervisors, oil and gas supervisors, agricultural service supervisors

  • Major Group 83
    Occupations in natural resources and related production
    Examples: logging machinery operators, fishers, forestry workers

  • Major Group 92
    Processing, manufacturing, and utilities supervisors and central control operators
    Examples: manufacturing supervisors, power engineers, water treatment operators

  • Major Group 93
    Central control operators and utilities roles
    Examples: chemical process operators, refinery operators, utilities controllers

  • Minor Group 6320
    Chefs and cooks
    Applies to professional cooking roles in commercial kitchens

  • Unit Group 62200
    Butchers (retail and wholesale)
    Covers skilled meat cutters and butchers working in regulated environments

Important: Your work experience must match both the NOC title and the majority of listed duties. Choosing the wrong group — even by one digit — can lead to delays or refusal. Your reference letters and supporting documents should show that you performed:

  • The lead statement for your NOC, and

  • Most of the main duties listed

Work Experience Requirements and How Hours Are Counted

To qualify under the Federal Skilled Trades Program, you need at least 3,120 hours of paid work experience in the last 5 years.

You can meet the hours requirement in different ways:

  • Full-time: 30 hours/week for 24 months = 3,120 hours

  • Part-time: 15 hours/week for 48 months = 3,120 hours

  • Multiple jobs: You may combine roles to reach the total

Tip: Hours above 30/week won’t increase your eligible total.

Job Offer or Certificate of Qualification

To qualify under FSTP, you need one of the following:

A valid job offer

  • Full-time employment from up to two Canadian employers

  • Total duration of at least one year

  • In an eligible skilled trade

OR

A certificate of qualification
A certificate of qualification confirms you’re authorized to work in a specific trade in Canada. Requirements vary by province/territory, but typically include:

  • Meeting the trade authority’s eligibility requirements

  • Passing a certification exam (where required)

Language Requirements for Skilled Trades

You must take an approved English or French language test and meet the minimum score in all four abilities. Acceptable tests include IELTS, CELPIP, TEF Canada, and TCF Canada.

Education and CRS Points

There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. However, education can still help your CRS score in Express Entry. Some applicants improve competitiveness by:

  • Adding a Canadian credential, or

  • Getting an ECA for foreign education (if claiming points)

Proof of Funds

Most FSTP applicants must show they have enough funds to settle in Canada. You may be exempt if:

  • You are currently authorized to work in Canada, and

  • You have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer

Admissibility to Canada

To be approved for permanent residence, you must be admissible to Canada. Inadmissibility issues can include:

Where You Can Live in Canada

FSTP applicants must plan to live outside Quebec, since Quebec has its own selection system. If you’re applying through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), you’re expected to live in the nominating province.

Language Ability Minimum Score (FSTP) What This Means in Practice
CLB = Canadian Language Benchmarks (English)  |  NCLC = Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (French)
Speaking CLB 5 / NCLC 5 You can communicate clearly about routine work tasks, explain problems, and participate in basic workplace conversations.
Listening CLB 5 / NCLC 5 You can understand instructions, safety briefings, and everyday discussions in a work environment.
Reading CLB 4 / NCLC 4 You can read basic workplace materials such as schedules, signs, manuals, and short instructions.
Writing CLB 4 / NCLC 4 You can write short notes, complete simple forms, and record basic job-related information.

Start your Federal Skilled Trades application with Ayodele Law

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is a targeted Express Entry pathway to permanent residence for qualified tradespeople with hands-on, technical work experience. Eligibility depends on selecting the correct NOC trade group, meeting minimum work and language thresholds, and holding either a valid job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification.

At Ayodele Law, our Toronto-based immigration law firm provides strategic, detail-focused guidance for skilled trades applicants—from verifying NOC trade group eligibility and reviewing paid work experience, to assessing job offers or certificates of qualification, language results, CRS strategy, and preparing complete Express Entry submissions. Whether you’re searching for a Federal Skilled Trades lawyer near you or need trusted legal support near me in Toronto or anywhere across Canada, we offer personalized representation designed to strengthen your Express Entry profile and maximize your chances of permanent residence.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Skilled trades applicants often have questions about whether their trade qualifies, what counts as eligible experience, and whether a job offer or certificate of qualification is the better route. Below are answers to the most common questions we hear from tradespeople applying through the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

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  • Eligibility depends on your trade’s NOC classification and whether it falls within IRCC’s eligible skilled trade groups. The most important part is matching your real job duties to the NOC lead statement and main duties.

  • You need either a valid job offer (for at least one year, from up to two employers) or a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian provincial/territorial/federal authority. You don’t need both.

  • A certificate of qualification shows you’re authorized to work in a specific trade in a province or territory. The process varies, but usually involves trade authority assessment and, in many cases, a certification exam.

  • You can have more than one employer, and you can have work experience from more than one country—however, for FSTP your qualifying experience must be in the same NOC and you must show you were qualified to practise your trade where the work was performed.

  • You must meet at least CLB 5 in speaking and listening, and CLB 4 in reading and writing (or the French equivalents). Your test must be from an IRCC-approved provider.

  • Most applicants do. You may be exempt if you’re authorized to work in Canada and you have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer.

  • Yes—you can apply from outside Canada through Express Entry. And no, you don’t need a lawyer in your city. Ayodele Law assists skilled trades applicants across Canada and abroad by phone/video, so whether you’re searching for an FSTP lawyer near you or support near me while based in Toronto, we can help.

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