Canada · skilled migration · Leads to settlement
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
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.
- Processing time
- Express Entry post-ITA processing is modelled at roughly 5-8 months from AOR; trade certification, job-offer preparation and draw timing are separate.
- Government fees
- CAD 1,590 principal applicant including RPRF, plus CAD 85 biometrics; spouse/partner CAD 1,590 and dependent child CAD 270.
- Typical duration
- Permanent residence.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
In short
As of 8 July 2026, the Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) for Canada has a typical government cost of about CA$1,675. Sources: official Canada government pages, reviewed 10 September 2026.
Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/canada/express-entry-fst#answer
What is the Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) in Canada?
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) is an unsponsored Canada route. Indicative government fees are CAD 1,590 principal applicant including RPRF, plus CAD 85 biometrics; spouse/partner CAD 1,590 and dependent child CAD 270; indicative processing time is Express Entry post-ITA processing is modelled at roughly 5-8 months from AOR; trade certification, job-offer preparation and draw timing are separate; typical duration is Permanent residence. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against IRCC on 1 July 2026.
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.
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
- ✓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.
After approval: prepare for your next step
For Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.
- 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
- 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
- 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
- 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
- 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
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
Fees and processing time
A typical Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST) application runs about CA$1,675 in government fees (single FST principal applicant, no dependants). The issuing authority does not publish a central processing time for this route, so plan against comparable cases. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
Matches these professions
Also explored by
Compare Canada with
Related routes
Frequently asked questions
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.
Which trades qualify for Canada's Federal Skilled Trades stream?+
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. Your work experience must match the lead statement and most main duties for the correct NOC.
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.
Do I have to be in Canada to get a Certificate of Qualification?+
It depends on the trade and province. IRCC says the provincial, territorial or federal authority assesses your training, trade experience and skills, and you may have to go to the province or territory or need a Canadian employer to give you experience and training. If you cannot get a certificate, a valid full-time Canadian job offer for at least 1 year can satisfy the FST gate instead.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in CanadaHow 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: 1 July 2026