Indian applicants · Canada
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) for Indian citizens
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 10 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026
Permanent residence for qualified tradespeople with a Canadian job offer or provincial certification.
This page covers the Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) specifically for Indian applicants — including document requirements, consular procedures, and common issues specific to India. The route's general criteria are summarised below, but the current corridor-specific filing, visa-issuance, and entry position above can still determine whether the route is usable.
- Processing time
- No fixed national clock publishedUse the current IRCC — Check processing times service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
- Worked-example cost
- CA$1,675
- Typical duration
- Permanent residence.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Bilateral context
- Commonwealth
Consular processing: New Delhi / Chandigarh
Tourist entry vs. this route
Indian nationals enter Canada visa-free for short tourism but must hold a current Electronic Travel Authorisation. The Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) is required separately for the activity it covers.
Key figures for Indian applicants
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
Worked-example route cost
CA$1,675
Single FST principal applicant, no dependants
Spouse or common-law partner adds CAD 990 processing + CAD 600 RPRF. Each dependent child adds CAD 270. Family biometrics are capped at CAD 170 for eligible family members applying together.
Verified 1 July 2026 · IRCC - Fee list for permanent residence applications
How long it takes
No fixed national clock published
IRCC — Check processing times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route.
Use the current IRCC — Check processing times service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying.
Verified 10 September 2026 · IRCC — Check processing times
Time to permanent residence
Arrival as PR → citizenship eligibility at 3 years. Temp-to-PR transition (Express Entry or PNP from inside Canada) typically adds another 1-3 years.
Leads to Permanent Residence (PR), then Canadian citizenship.
Will you qualify?
Express Entry ranks candidates by CRS score; estimate yours and compare it against recent draw cut-offs.
Estimate your scoreVisa overview
The Federal Skilled Trades (FST) stream serves tradespeople in specific TEER 2-3 skilled-trades occupations. IRCC lists the eligible trade groups as Major Groups 72 (excluding 726), 73, 82, 83, 92, and 93 (excluding 932), plus Minor Group 6320 and Unit Group 62200. Applicants need 2 years of qualifying paid trade experience in the 5 years before applying, lower language scores than FSW, and either a valid full-time Canadian job offer for at least 1 year or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓At least 2 years / 3,120 hours of paid full-time equivalent work in a qualifying skilled trade in the past 5 years.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
- ✓Work experience must be in one of the eligible trade groups: Major Groups 72 excluding 726, 73, 82, 83, 92, 93 excluding 932, Minor Group 6320, or Unit Group 62200.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
- ✓Valid Canadian job offer for at least 1 year, or Certificate of Qualification from a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
- ✓CLB 5 speaking/listening; CLB 4 reading/writing.
- ✓Proof of settlement funds unless currently able to legally work in Canada and holding a valid job offer.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
Common blockers
- !Trade occupation not in an eligible FST NOC group.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
- !No qualifying Canadian job offer and no certificate of qualification.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
- !Work experience gained while studying, unpaid work, or experience in a country where the applicant was not qualified to practise the trade.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Employer reference letters showing lead-statement duties, main duties, paid hours and the correct NOC.
- ·Valid Canadian job offer or certificate of qualification.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
- ·Language test.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
- ·Proof-of-funds bank letters unless the work-authorisation and valid-job-offer exemption applies.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) ↗
Application pathway
Confirm the trade NOC is eligible
The FST list is limited to the IRCC skilled-trade groups; the wrong NOC can make an otherwise strong trades profile ineligible.
Obtain provincial certification or job offer
Use either a valid full-time Canadian job offer for at least 1 year, or get assessed by the provincial, territorial or federal authority that issues certificates for the trade. Some authorities require local assessment, an exam, or Canadian employer experience/training.
Enter Express Entry pool
Submit as an FST candidate with language test results and the job-offer/certificate pathway documented.
Await ITA
Category-based draws have targeted trades.
Plan the practical side of your stay
Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Canada. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- ApplyApplicantCreate Express Entry profile ↗
FST candidates use this IRCC page to enter the Express Entry pool after trade eligibility checks.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · verified
Recent policy changes affecting this route
What changed most recently on this route — each linked to its primary government source.
- 30 April 2026In force 30 April 2026
Canada: PR fees rise (30 Apr 2026), category-based Express Entry, Start-up Visa closed, arranged-employment points removed
A run of IRCC changes through 2025-26 reshaped Express Entry economics and closed the Start-up Visa to new applicants.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Other Canada routes covered for Indian applicants
Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Federal permanent-residence stream for applicants with qualifying Canadian work experience.
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
Federal points-based permanent residence for skilled workers without prior Canadian experience.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Province-led permanent residence streams giving a 600 CRS boost when aligned with Express Entry.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
Open work permit for graduates of eligible Canadian Designated Learning Institutions.
Start-Up Visa (Canada)
Permanent residence for entrepreneurs with endorsement from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator.
Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada)
Permanent residence sponsorship of spouses, common-law partners, or conjugal partners by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Not sure Canada is right for you? Compare similar routes
Other countries offer skilled migration routes that Indian nationals also apply to. See how they compare.
Frequently asked questions
Are Indian citizens eligible for the Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST)?+
Eligibility for the Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) is set by IRCC. Indian applicants must meet the general route criteria plus any nationality- or location-specific intake requirements described in the current corridor guidance above.
Where do Indian applicants typically file the Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST)?+
New Delhi / Chandigarh. Specific intake (online portal, biometrics centre, or in-country lodgement) is determined by IRCC — confirm the current intake channel on the primary source linked above before filing.
Do Indian applicants need a tourist visa for Canada as well?+
Indian nationals enter Canada visa-free for short tourism but must hold a current Electronic Travel Authorisation. The Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) is required separately for the activity it covers.
How much does the Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) cost for a Indian applicant?+
The stored worked example (Single FST principal applicant, no dependants) totals about CA$1,675. Spouse or common-law partner adds CAD 990 processing + CAD 600 RPRF. Each dependent child adds CAD 270. Family biometrics are capped at CAD 170 for eligible family members applying together. It may combine government charges with other stated route costs. Source: IRCC - Fee list for permanent residence applications, verified 1 July 2026. Treat it as indicative and confirm the current official schedule before budgeting.
How long does the Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) take to process from India?+
IRCC — Check processing times does not publish one fixed, route-wide end-to-end processing time that can be stated responsibly for this application route. Use the current IRCC — Check processing times service for the responsible mission, service centre, authority or live processing-time tool before applying. Indian applicants usually file via New Delhi / Chandigarh, and appointment or post-specific backlogs can add to the wait. Source: IRCC — Check processing times, verified 10 September 2026.
How long until permanent residence in Canada?+
Arrival as PR → citizenship eligibility at 3 years. Temp-to-PR transition (Express Entry or PNP from inside Canada) typically adds another 1-3 years. The route leads to Permanent Residence (PR), then Canadian citizenship. See IRCC — Canadian citizenship for the qualifying-residence rules.
Which trades qualify for Federal Skilled Trades?+
IRCC limits FST to specific NOC groups: Major Groups 72 except Sub-Major Group 726, 73, 82, 83, 92, and 93 except Sub-Major Group 932, plus Minor Group 6320 and Unit Group 62200. Check your exact NOC before relying on the route.
Do I need a provincial trade certificate for FST?+
Not always. You need either a valid full-time Canadian job offer for at least 1 year in the trade, or a Certificate of Qualification from a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority. To get a certificate, the relevant authority assesses your training, trade experience and skills; IRCC says you may have to go to the province or territory, and you may need a Canadian employer to provide experience or training.
How we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: IRCC
Last checked: 8 July 2026