Canada’s Express Entry system offers two pathways for trade workers to obtain permanent residency: the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and targeted Express Entry draws. Each pathway has specific requirements and benefits for skilled trade workers.
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
To be eligible for the FSTP, your skilled work experience must meet the following criteria:
NOC Groups
Your work experience must be in one of the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups:
- Major Groups 72 (excluding Sub-Major Group 726), 73, 82, 83, 92, or 93 (excluding Sub-Major Group 932)
- Minor Group 6320
- Unit Group 62200
Job Duties
You must have performed the actions in the lead statement of the NOC job description and most of the main duties listed.
Job Requirements
Your work experience must meet the job requirements for that skilled trade set out in the NOC TEER.
Paid Work
Your work experience must be paid, meaning you were paid wages or earned commission. Volunteer work or unpaid internships do not count.
Qualification
Your work experience must have been obtained in a country where you were qualified to practice your trade.
Duration
You must have at least 2 years of full-time work experience (or 3,120 hours total) in a skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply.
Job Offer or Certificate of Qualification
You must have either:
- A valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year, or
- A certificate of qualification in your skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial, or federal authority.
Certificate of Qualification
A certificate of qualification proves you’re qualified to work in a certain skilled trade in Canada. This means you:
- Passed a certification exam.
- Meet all the requirements to practice your trade in the province or territory that issued your certificate.
Language Ability
You must take approved language tests in English or French and meet the minimum score in all 4 abilities: writing, reading, listening, and speaking.
Proof of Funds
You must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada unless you:
- Are currently able to work in Canada legally, and
- Have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada.
Admissibility
You must be admissible to Canada. Some reasons for inadmissibility include security, criminal, or medical reasons.
Where You Can Live
You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec, as Quebec selects its own skilled workers.
Important Note:
Each province and territory has its certificate of qualification requirements and certification process. You may need to:
- Be assessed for your trade in the province or territory.
- Have an employer in Canada to give you experience and training.
These are the eligible Trade Occupations for Express Entry (FSTP):
| Major Group | NOC Code | Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | 72010 | Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations |
| 72 | 72011 | Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations |
| 72 | 72012 | Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades |
| 72 | 72013 | Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades |
| 72 | 72014 | Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers |
| 72 | 72020 | Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades |
| 72 | 72021 | Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews |
| 72 | 72022 | Supervisors, printing and related occupations |
| 72 | 72023 | Supervisors, railway transport operations |
| 72 | 72024 | Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators |
| 72 | 72025 | Supervisors, mail and message distribution occupations |
| 72 | 72100 | Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors |
| 72 | 72101 | Tool and die makers |
| 72 | 72102 | Sheet metal workers |
| 72 | 72103 | Boilermakers |
| 72 | 72104 | Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters |
| 72 | 72105 | Ironworkers |
| 72 | 72106 | Welders and related machine operators |
| 72 | 72200 | Electricians (except industrial and power system) |
| 72 | 72201 | Industrial electricians |
| 72 | 72202 | Power system electricians |
| 72 | 72203 | Electrical power line and cable workers |
| 72 | 72204 | Telecommunications line and cable installers and repairers |
| 72 | 72205 | Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians |
| 72 | 72300 | Plumbers |
| 72 | 72301 | Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers |
| 72 | 72302 | Gas fitters |
| 72 | 72310 | Carpenters |
| 72 | 72311 | Cabinetmakers |
| 72 | 72320 | Bricklayers |
| 72 | 72321 | Insulators |
| 72 | 72400 | Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics |
| 72 | 72401 | Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
| 72 | 72402 | Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics |
| 72 | 72403 | Railway carmen/women |
| 72 | 72404 | Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors |
| 72 | 72405 | Machine fitters |
| 72 | 72406 | Elevator constructors and mechanics |
| 72 | 72410 | Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers |
| 72 | 72411 | Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators |
| 72 | 72420 | Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics |
| 72 | 72421 | Appliance servicers and repairers |
| 72 | 72422 | Electrical mechanics |
| 72 | 72423 | Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics |
| 72 | 72429 | Other small engine and small equipment repairers |
| 72 | 72500 | Crane operators |
| 72 | 72501 | Water well drillers |
| 72 | 72999 | Other technical trades and related occupations |
| 73 | 73100 | Concrete finishers |
| 73 | 73101 | Tile setters |
| 73 | 73102 | Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers |
| 73 | 73110 | Roofers and shinglers |
| 73 | 73111 | Glaziers |
| 73 | 73112 | Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) |
| 73 | 73113 | Floor covering installers |
| 73 | 73200 | Residential and commercial installers and servicers |
| 73 | 73201 | General building maintenance workers and building superintendents |
| 73 | 73202 | Pest controllers and fumigators |
| 73 | 73209 | Other repairers and servicers |
| 73 | 73300 | Transport truck drivers |
| 73 | 73301 | Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators |
| 73 | 73310 | Railway and yard locomotive engineers |
| 73 | 73311 | Railway conductors and brakemen/women |
| 73 | 73400 | Heavy equipment operators |
| 73 | 73401 | Printing press operators |
| 73 | 73402 | Drillers and blasters - surface mining, quarrying and construction |
| 82 | 82010 | Supervisors, logging and forestry |
| 82 | 82020 | Supervisors, mining and quarrying |
| 82 | 82021 | Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services |
| 82 | 82030 | Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors |
| 82 | 82031 | Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services |
| 83 | 83100 | Underground production and development miners |
| 83 | 83101 | Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers |
| 83 | 83110 | Logging machinery operators |
| 83 | 83120 | Fishing masters and officers |
| 83 | 83121 | Fishermen/women |
| 92 | 92010 | Supervisors, mineral and metal processing |
| 92 | 92011 | Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities |
| 92 | 92012 | Supervisors, food and beverage processing |
| 92 | 92013 | Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing |
| 92 | 92014 | Supervisors, forest products processing |
| 92 | 92015 | Supervisors, textile, fabric, fur and leather products processing and manufacturing |
| 92 | 92020 | Supervisors, motor vehicle assembling |
| 92 | 92021 | Supervisors, electronics and electrical products manufacturing |
| 92 | 92022 | Supervisors, furniture and fixtures manufacturing |
| 92 | 92023 | Supervisors, other mechanical and metal products manufacturing |
| 92 | 92024 | Supervisors, other products manufacturing and assembly |
| 92 | 92100 | Power engineers and power systems operators |
| 92 | 92101 | Water and waste treatment plant operators |
| 93 | 93100 | Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing |
| 93 | 93101 | Central control and process operators, petroleum, gas and chemical processing |
| 93 | 93102 | Pulping, papermaking and coating control operators |
| 6320 | 63200 | Cooks |
| 6320 | 63201 | Butchers - retail and wholesale |
| 6320 | 63202 | Bakers |
| 6220 | - | Chefs |
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Trade Occupations for Category-Based Express Entry
Under the Targeted Express Entry system, the IRCC selects candidates from the Express Entry pool who possess work experience in 82 high-demand occupations in Canada. These professions can include truck drivers, healthcare workers, IT professionals, tradespeople, farmers, and more. One of the six categories is Trade Occupations.
To be eligible for targeted Express Entry trade occupations, you must:
Work Experience
Within the past 3 years, have accumulated at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a single occupation listed in the table below, either in Canada or abroad.
Eligibility for an Express Entry Program
You must be eligible for one of the three programs managed through Express Entry:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Previous Draws History
Here are some of the trade occupations included in these draws:
| Draw Date | Category | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|
| October 23, 2024 | Trade occupations (Version 1) | 1,800 |
| July 4, 2024 | Trade occupations (Version 1) | 1,800 |
| December 19, 2023 | Trade occupations (Version 1) | 1,000 |
| August 3, 2023 | Trade Occupations | 1,500 |
Targeted Express Entry focuses on specific occupations to meet Canada’s economic goals. Here are some of the trade occupations included in these draws:
| Occupation | 2021 NOC Code |
| Residential and commercial installers and servicers | 73200 |
| Elevator constructors and mechanics | 72406 |
| Machine fitters | 72405 |
| Heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 |
| Carpenters | 72310 |
| Plumbers | 72300 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power systems) | 72200 |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 |
| Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers, and services | 72014 |
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