Federal Skilled Trades
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) – 2025 Update
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is a permanent residence stream under Canada’s Express Entry system, designed for foreign nationals with experience in skilled trades. This program helps address Canada’s growing labour shortages in construction, industrial, manufacturing, and service trades.
What’s New in 2025?
To better support Canada’s infrastructure and construction needs, 19 new occupations have been added to the list of eligible trades. These roles span construction, energy, and management-related trades and reflect current labour market priorities.
Newly Added Eligible Occupations (19)
| Occupation | NOC Code | TEER Level |
| Bricklayers | 72320 | TEER 2 |
| Cabinetmakers | 72311 | TEER 2 |
| Cooks | 63200 | TEER 3 |
| Construction estimators | 22303 | TEER 2 |
| Construction managers | 70010 | TEER 0 |
| Concrete finishers | 73100 | TEER 3 |
| Contractors/supervisors, oil and gas drilling | 82021 | TEER 2 |
| Electrical mechanics | 72422 | TEER 2 |
| Floor covering installers | 73113 | TEER 3 |
| Gas fitters | 72302 | TEER 2 |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401 | TEER 2 |
| Home building and renovation managers | 70011 | TEER 0 |
| Industrial electricians | 72201 | TEER 2 |
| Machinists and machining inspectors | 72100 | TEER 2 |
| Painters and decorators | 73112 | TEER 3 |
| Roofers and shinglers | 73110 | TEER 3 |
| Sheet metal workers | 72102 | TEER 2 |
| Water well drillers | 72501 | TEER 2 |
| Other technical trades | 72999 | TEER 2 |
Eligibility Requirements
- Work Experience
You must have:
- At least 2 years of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time experience) in an eligible trade within the last 5 years
- Been qualified and authorized to practice your trade during that entire period
- Accumulated a minimum of 3,120 hours (30 hours/week × 104 weeks)
- Experience can be gained abroad or in Canada (including self-employment)
Eligible Trade Categories (under NOC 2021):
- Major Group 72 – Industrial, electrical and construction trades
- Major Group 73 – General trades (maintenance, equipment operation)
- Major Group 82 – Supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related trades
- Major Group 83 – Natural resources and related production
- Major Group 92 – Processing and manufacturing supervisors
- Major Group 93 – Central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors
- Minor Group 6320 – Cooks, Butchers and bakers
- Unit Group 62200 – Chefs
- PLUS the 19 newly added trades (listed above)
- Language Proficiency
You must meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark:
| Skill | CLB | IELTS | CELPIP |
| Writing | 4 | 4.0 | 4 |
| Reading | 4 | 3.5 | 4 |
| Speaking | 5 | 5.0 | 5 |
| Listening | 5 | 5.0 | 5 |
Language test results must be valid on the date of your application (valid for 2 years).
- Education (Optional)
Education is not mandatory, but having:
- A Canadian credential or a
- Foreign credential + Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
…can increase your CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) score in Express Entry, improving your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
- Job Offer OR Provincial Certificate of Qualification
You must have one of the following:
A Valid Job Offer
- Full-time, paid, non-seasonal, and permanent
- Supported by a positive LMIA
OR - You are already working in Canada on a valid work permit and:
- Your employer is listed on your permit
- You’ve worked there for at least 1 year
- The employer offers you a permanent role after PR
Certificate of Qualification
Issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial authority, this proves you are qualified to work in your trade. In many cases, you’ll need to:
- Pass an exam
- Provide prior credentials or training
The Red Seal Certificate allows trade mobility across provinces.
- Settlement Funds (if no job offer)
If you are not currently working in Canada and don’t have a valid job offer, you must prove you have enough funds to support yourself and your family:
| Family Members | Funds Required (CAD) |
| 1 | $14,690 |
| 2 | $18,288 |
| 3 | $22,483 |
| 4 | $27,297 |
| 5 | $30,690 |
| 6 | $34,917 |
| 7 | $38,875 |
| Each additional | $3,958 |
These funds must be liquid and unencumbered.
- Intent to Reside Outside Quebec
FSTP applicants must intend to live and work outside the province of Quebec, which runs its own skilled worker program.
- Admissibility to Canada
You and your family members must be:
- Medically admissible (no health conditions that pose a risk or undue burden)
- Criminally admissible (no serious criminal records or immigration violations)
Start Your Skilled Trades Pathway
Canada continues to rely on tradespeople to build and maintain its infrastructure. If you’re qualified in a skilled trade and meet the criteria above, the Federal Skilled Trades Program may be your pathway to permanent residence.