Express Entry Immigration

Federal Skilled Trades

Federal Skilled Trades is one of the Express Entry Immigration programs in Canada. It has minimum requirements, selection factors and based on points system.

Eligibilty

To be eligible you must meet program minimum requirements

Skilled trade experience

have at least 2 years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply

Skilled trades for the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized under these groups of the National Occupational Classification (NOC):

  • 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 utilities supervisors and central control operators
  • Minor Group 632, chefs and cooks
  • Minor Group 633, butchers and bakers

The major NOC groups are subdivided into different occupations, and they are all skill type B.

You must show that you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC. This includes all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.

You must meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification, except for needing a certificate of qualification

Language ability

You must:

  • meet the minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for speaking and listening, and Canadian Language Benchmark 4 for reading and writing
  • take approved language tests for
  • enter the test results in your Express Entry profile

Your language tests are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result. They must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.

Have a

  • valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 year or

  • certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority

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    wANt to know more?

    Can I have more than one Express Entry profile?

    No. You may only have one profile at a time. This is set out in Canada’s immigration law.

    Creating more than one profile will not give you a better chance at being invited or allow you to be invited under a different program.

    What kind of language test can I use for Express Entry?

    We only accept these tests for Express Entry:

    For English

    For French

    How long is an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report valid for?

    Five years from the date they are issued, so long as they were issued on or after April 17, 2013.

    What credential should I get assessed for immigration purposes?

    Usually, you should choose the highest level degree, diploma or certificate (or combination) that will award you the most points.

    For example, you would get more points for an ECA report that shows you have a Canadian equivalent of a master’s degree than for one that shows you have the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree.

    But, if you have more than one degree or diploma (if the highest is at least at a bachelor’s level), you will get more points than a single bachelor’s degree.

    For example, you hold

    • a Bachelor’s degree and a diploma or certificate or
    • two Bachelor’s degrees

    In this case, you need to get an ECA for each credential to get the maximum points.

    How much does an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) cost, and how long does it take to get one?

    The fees for an ECA report and the length of time to get one vary and can change without notice.

    Each assessment organization sets their cost for an ECA.

    For most people, the cost is about CAN$200 plus the cost to have it delivered. Delivery costs depend on how you choose it to be sent, with courier delivery being the most expensive.

    If you are a family or specialist physician, or a pharmacist, the cost will be higher. You will need to contact the assessment organization to find out how much it will cost.

    The time to get your education assessed is different for each organization. It can take from a few weeks to a few months.

    No matter which one you choose, keep in mind that it will be much faster if you provide all the documents they ask you for and make sure your application is complete before you send it.

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