Federal Skilled Trades Program
This Express Entry program is for people qualified in a skilled trade who want to settle outside Quebec. Unlike the other Express Entry programs, it requires either a qualifying full-time job offer or a Canadian certificate of qualification in the trade. Candidates are pooled and ranked with the Comprehensive Ranking System before being invited to apply.
Open
Status
Job offer
How you apply
Key requirements
| Age | No age requirement for eligibility; age affects the CRS score |
| Education | No education requirement; education can improve the CRS rank |
| Language | English or French: CLB/NCLC 5 for speaking and listening, CLB/NCLC 4 for reading and writing (minimum CLB 4) |
| Work experience | At least 2 years (3,120 hours) of full-time work in a skilled trade within the last 5 years, and must meet the trade's employment requirements |
| Job offer | Required |
| Where you must live | Must plan to live outside Quebec |
| How you apply | Through the federal Express Entry pool |
| Points system | Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) |
| Money — funds, net worth, investment | Proof of settlement funds required, unless authorized to work in Canada and holding a valid job offer |
| Employer requirements | A valid job offer of full-time employment for at least 1 year (which can come from up to 2 employers), or a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority |
Summary only — requirements change and details decide real cases. Always confirm the full criteria on the official program page before applying: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/who-can-apply/federal-skilled-trades.html (this record was verified against that source on 23 Oct 2026). This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice.
Tools for this program
CRS Calculator
Express Entry candidates are ranked by CRS — calculate yours on the current IRCC grid.
Draw archive
Every Express Entry round since 2015, with cut-offs for this program's category.
Improve your score
See exactly which factors are costing you points and what each improvement is worth.
Guides for this program
Guide: Express Entry: the federal skilled-worker system
Skilled workers who may qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, or the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and who want to be invited to apply for permanent residence.
Not sure this is your program?
Answer a few questions and get a free eligibility assessment from a licensed consultant.
How long will it take?
Current IRCC processing-time estimates, recorded daily.