Canada · skilled migration · Leads to settlement
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Permanent residence for qualified tradespeople with a Canadian job offer or provincial certification.
- Processing time
- 6 months service standard.
- Government fees
- CAD 1,590 principal applicant.
- Typical duration
- Permanent residence.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Overview
The Federal Skilled Trades (FST) stream serves tradespeople in specific TEER 2–3 skilled-trades occupations, typically accompanied by a Canadian job offer or provincial certification of qualification.
Recent changes to this route
- Canada: PR fees rise (30 Apr 2026), category-based Express Entry, Start-up Visa closed, arranged-employment points removed30 April 2026
A run of IRCC changes through 2025-26 reshaped Express Entry economics and closed the Start-up Visa to new applicants.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓2 years of work in a qualifying skilled trade in the past 5 years.
- ✓Valid Canadian job offer (1+ year) or Certificate of Qualification from a provincial authority.
- ✓CLB 5 speaking/listening; CLB 4 reading/writing.
Common blockers
- !Trade occupation not on FST eligibility list.
- !No job offer and no provincial certification.
Typical evidence
- ·Employer reference letters or certificate of qualification.
- ·Language test.
Application pathway
Obtain provincial certification or job offer
Provincial bodies run trade-qualification exams.
Enter Express Entry pool
As FST candidate.
Await ITA
Category-based draws have targeted trades.
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
Fees and processing time
Indicative government fees: CAD 1,590 principal applicant.. A decision then typically takes 5 months – 8 months. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a provincial trade certificate for FST?+
Either a valid full-time Canadian job offer (at least 1 year) in the trade or a Certificate of Qualification from a Canadian provincial or territorial authority.
Is the language requirement lower for skilled trades than for skilled workers?+
Yes. Federal Skilled Trades requires CLB 5 for speaking and listening and CLB 4 for reading and writing, which is lower than the CLB 7 required for the Federal Skilled Worker program.
How much trade experience do I need for Federal Skilled Trades?+
You need 2 years of work in a qualifying skilled trade in the past 5 years, plus either a valid Canadian job offer of at least 1 year or a Certificate of Qualification from a provincial authority.
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