Federal Skilled Trades Class Visa
Federal Skilled Trades Class Visa
The Federal Skilled Trades Class is designed for individuals who are qualified, skilled and experienced to fill Canada’s skilled trades shortages and contribute to the Canadian economy. 5,000 Federal Skilled Trades visas will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, between May 1, 2014 and April 30, 2015.
Applicants to the Federal Skilled Trades Class visa must demonstrate that they have an employment offer in Canada or a qualification certificate, which meets the minimum requirements for a visa, including at least 2 years of work experience and skills in a designated trade, and sufficient proficiency in an official language. Successful applicants will obtain permanent Canadian residency, which will entitle them to live and work in Canada with few restrictions. Permanent Canadian residents may also be eligible for Canadian citizenship.
During its first year (2013), this new “Federal Skilled Trades Program” was authorized to accept on a “first-come, first-serve” basis up to 3,000 applications for Canadian immigration from eligible foreign workers in 43 occupations. There is such a strong demand for skilled tradespeople across Canada, that on April 23, 2014, the Canadian government announced, that it will significantly expand the number of eligible occupations for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) to 90 high-demand skilled trades and raise the number of applications accepted for this popular Canadian immigration program to 5,000 – both updates effective as of May 1, 2014.
Examples of these 90 occupations that will be eligible for the FSTP as of May 1, 2014, include: Aircraft Mechanics and Aircraft Inspectors; Appliance Servicers and Repairers; Automotive Service Technicians; Bricklayers; Cabinetmakers; Carpenters; Concrete Finishers; Crane Operators; Electricians; Gas Fitters; Ironworkers; Logging Machinery Operators; Machinists; Motor Vehicle Body Repairers; Oil & Gas Well Drillers; Petroleum, Gas and Chemical Process Operators; Power Engineers and Power System Operators; Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics; Sheet Metal Workers; Tool and Die Makers; and Welders – to name just a few eligible trades needed throughout Canada!
In addition to possessing the appropriate training and experience in one of the 90 eligible skilled trades and in order to apply for the FSTP work visa to Canada, there are further requirements that have to be met. For instance, applicants must have a minimum of two years of full-time work experience in their area of trade within the past five years (e.g., at least 30 hours of paid work per week for 2 years during the past 5 years, but there are also equivalencies permitted). Applications for the FSTP work visa to Canada will not be accepted for Quebec immigration, because Quebec has its own immigration program. Applicants must also be able to prove that they have acceptable English or French language abilities (as measured by such language evaluation exams as the IELTS or TEF). Furthermore, applicants for the FSTP work visa to Canada must have a pre-arranged employment offer or a “certificate of qualification” from one of Canada’s provinces or territories. They will also need to meet the requirements for employment in their area of trade as defined by the NOC system. As with each type of work, applicants for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) must meet health and character requirements and provide “proof of funds,” among other criteria.
Our immigration consultants closely monitor the developments, related to the FSTP and other Canadian immigration programs and will evaluate clients according to the most up-to-date regulations. To find out if you qualify for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) or any other Canadian immigration program Click Here.
To learn more about jobs in Canada that may be available for eligible immigrants, click HERE.
