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Immigrating to Canada can be a life-changer, not only for you but your loved ones too.
With over 70 different visas and immigration programs to choose from, it can make your application process quite complicated, especially if you’re left to try to make the right choice on your own.
With CanadianVisa.org at your side, you can rest assured that you will have the best possible chance to be successful in your Canadian visa application. In fact, our team of legal representatives are not only knowledgeable in the Canadian immigration process but have a 97% success rate.
With a specialist at your side, you won’t have to worry about the submission deadline, whether or not your forms are completed correctly or if you have all the necessary supporting documents. You will also receive around the clock support and guidance throughout the entire process until you touch down in Canada.
So the question isn’t why you should use a paid immigration specialist but why wouldn’t you?
The most popular and one of the quickest ways to immigrate to Canada is managed by the Express Entry system. The FSTP (Federal Skilled Trade Program), as well as 2 other federal economic immigration programs, have helped over 70,000 people move to Canada in 2019 alone.
The FSTP helps highly skilled trade workers get permanent residence in Canada. It was introduced to help tackle the issue that Canada’s labour market is currently struggling with. With fewer people to fill certain job vacancies, because of a lower birth rate, earlier retirement ages and Canadian citizens finding employment in urban hubs or being promoted, the country has been left with a crippling gap to fill. The FSTP, along with other immigration programs, have been instrumental in making a positive impact on the economy.
They are 6 main criteria that you should try to meet in order to be considered eligible for the FSTP, including having at least 2 years of full-time work experience in your relative field of expertise, a valid job offer and being able to support yourself financially.
Want to find out if you qualify to immigrate to Canada through the Federal Skilled Trade Program and how to optimize your Canada visa application? Either click the link below to speak to one of our consultants or keep reading to find out more about just how we could help change your life for the better.
What is the Federal Skilled Trades Program and How Do I Qualify to Immigrate to Canada?
First, let's take a look at the 2 main immigration programs and how they differ.
What's the difference between Federal Skilled and Federal Trade?
In short, the main differences are the level of education required, the type of jobs that qualify under each program and whether or not you need one.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is for highly skilled workers such as IT professionals or doctors who require some form of higher education and want to immigrate to Canada and get permanent residence.
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for skilled trade workers in fields such as manufacturing and industrial sectors. This type of work generally doesn’t need a qualification however in order to apply through the FSTP you will need work experience and a job offer in Canada.
What are the requirements for the FSTP?
The Federal Skilled Trade Program has certain requirements that must be met in order for you to be considered in your Canadian visa application process. This includes the following 5 main criteria:
1. Get Working: Experience is Always a Plus.
To be considered eligible to apply through the FSTP, you would need a skill level B, C or D occupation. This includes the type of jobs that would generally not need a degree or tertiary qualification however may need some form of training.
FAQ: What are skilled trade occupations?
Now you may be wondering what jobs qualify under this program. Below is a breakdown of the major and minor occupation groups that fall under the FSTP:
- Major Group 72 - industrial, electrical and construction trades;
- Major Group 73 - maintenance and equipment operation trades;
- Major Group 82 - supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production;
- Major Group 92 - processing, manufacturing and utility supervisors and central operators;
- Minor Group 632 - chefs and cooks; and
- Minor Group 633 - butchers and bakers.
2. Start Your Training: Education Opens Doors.
Although you may not need a degree or any form of education to immigrate to Canada through this program, having some form of qualification can help boost your Canada visa application. The Canadian immigration system is points-based, which means that by having a qualification, you may be able to get extra CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) points to help you get an ITA (Invitation to Apply) for permanent residence in Canada. You can earn points for education in the following ways:
- Having a Canadian Qualification; or
- Getting an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) of your foreign education.
3. Parlez-vous français? Brush up on Your French and English Skills
In order to show that you are fluent in either English and/or French, you will be required to take an approved language test such as the Canadian Language Benchmarks test (English) or the Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC) (French). This is broken up into 4 sections: writing, reading, listening and speaking.
You will need the following scores for each section to qualify for the FSTP:
| LanguageTest Requirements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Speaking | 5 | |
| Listening | 5 | |
| Reading | 4 | |
| Writing | 4 | |
4. Proof of Funds
In order to immigrate to Canada through most programs, you will have to be able to show that you can pay for day-to-day expenses for both you and your dependents, whether it’s your spouse, partner or children.
This may, however, not be necessary if you can currently work legally in Canada or if you have a valid Canadian job offer.
5. You’re Welcome: General Admissibility
In order to be able to enter Canada, you will need to meet certain requirements, including having a valid ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization, having a clear criminal record and be medically fit according to the standards and regulations of the Canadian Government.
6. Get Regulated
You may have to be regulated either by the province or territory you plan to move to or be federally regulated depending on your trade, for example, aeroplane mechanics are federally regulated. It is important to note that each province has its own regulations for specific trades and can easily be identified on the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials website.
How Do I Apply for Permanent Residence Through the FSTP?
Applying to immigrate to Canada through the Federal Skilled Trade Program requires quite a bit of preparation and can be quite difficult to do on your own, especially if you aren’t familiar with the application process. Below, we take a step by step look at how to make sure that you’re ready when the time comes to start the process of applying for your Canadian permanent residence through the FSTP.
Step 1: Collect Your Documents
You will need the following documents in order to complete your FSTP application. Although you won’t have to submit them just yet, you will need them to complete your Canada visa application:
- passport;
- language test results;
- education credential assessment report(if applicable);
- provincial nomination (if applicable); and
- written job offer from your employer in Canada.
Step 2: Submit Your Application
Once you have completed and submitted your application, your profile will be entered into an Express Entry draw pool every 2 weeks. Your profile will be ranked against other candidates in the pool and those with the highest CRS scores will receive an ITA to apply for permanent residence in Canada.
The great part about applying through the Express Entry system is not only its quick average processing times of around 6 months or the fact that a province could select your profile from the draw pool and give you a PN worth 600 extra points. It also allows you to improve your CRS score, even after you have submitted your application.
Step 3. Success! Accept Your Invitation and Apply for Permanent Residence!
If you are successful in the Canada visa application process, you will be notified through your Express Entry account. This is when you will need to submit your supporting documents in order to show that the information that you’ve given is accurate and correct. You will also need to accept your invitation within 60 days. If you miss the deadline you may have to submit a new profile and start the process all over again.
Haven’t been accepted? No problem. Your account remains active for 12 months and you will automatically be entered into Express Entry draws every 2 weeks.
How We Can Help You
Navigating the Canadian immigration system can be a bit tedious, with a copious amount of forms and documents to complete and strict submission dates, we wouldn’t blame you if you felt apathetic about getting started on your application. But that's what we’re here for. At Canadian Visa, we take the stress and hassle out of planning to relocate abroad. Our accredited RCICs (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants) are ready to evaluate your eligibility, review all documentation and submit all documentation on your behalf. Using an RCIC not only gives you the best possible chance of receiving an ITA but will make the entire process simple and stress-free.
We handle the paperwork while you focus on building a new life in Canada. All you have to do is complete our online form and we’ll take care of the rest. It's just that simple.
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