Federal Skilled Trades

Canadian Immigration Services

The Canadian Federal Skilled Trades program is a new Canadian immigration program for people who want to become Canadian permanent residents based on being in a qualified skilled trade. Applications are assessed based upon the applicant’s ability to become economically established in Canada.

Note: This Canadian immigration program began in January 2013 and it will only be accepting up to 3,000 applications within the first year, and no more than 100 new applications per year for certain jobs. At the bottom of this page you will see which applications are currently being accepted under this program.

Applicants must meet the following requirements in order to apply:

• Applicants must meet the following requirements in order to apply:
• Applicants must intend to live outside the province of Quebec (if you plan to live in Quebec please see the Quebec Skilled Worker Program page of our website).
• Applicants must meet the language requirements in French or English for each language ability (reading, writing, speaking and listening)
• Applicants must have a minimum of two years work experience (or the equivalent in part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within five years before the submission of their application.
• Applicants must meet all the job requirements for the particular skilled trade, as described in the National Occupational Classification (NOC);
• Applicants must have a “full-time offer of employment”* for a period of at least one year OR a “Certificate of Qualification” for their skilled trade which has been issued by a provincial or territorial body in Canada.

*Full-time employment is defined as at least 30 hours of work per week, or the equivalent in part-time work (including situations where you have two part time jobs).

*Certificate of Qualification are issued by provinces or territories. The governing bodies that issue such certificates will assess your training, trade experience and skills to decide if you are eligible to write the corresponding exam to be certified. Note that each province has their own procedure and regulatory bodies to issue Certificates of Qualification.

Applications being accepted under the Federal Skilled Trades Program

No more than 100 new applications for each job listed under Group A will be accepted for each given year, however, there is no such cap for those jobs that fall under Group B.

In total, 43 jobs are eligible to apply under this program (this may change after the first year of the program). Group A are those jobs that have a moderate labour market need whereas jobs in Group B are in-demand jobs. The numbers associated with each job are the specific NOC codes that are required for your application form.

Group A – Jobs with sub-caps of 100 applications each (and their corresponding 2011 NOC code) 

• 7202 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
• 7204 Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
• 7205 Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
• 7271 Carpenters
• 7301 Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
• 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
• 8211 Supervisors, logging and forestry
• 8221 Supervisors, mining and quarrying
• 8222 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling services
• 8241 Logging machinery operators
• 8252 Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
• 9211 Supervisors, mineral and metal processing
• 9212 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
• 9214 Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing
• 9231 Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing
• 9241 Power engineers and power systems operators
• 9243 Water and waste treatment plant operators

Group B – no sub-caps (2011 NOC code)

• 7231 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
• 7233 Sheet metal workers
• 7235 Structural metal and plate work fabricators and fitters
• 7236 Ironworkers
• 7237 Welders and related machine operators
• 7241 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
• 7242 Industrial electricians
• 7243 Power system electricians
• 7244 Electrical power line and cable workers
• 7245 Telecommunications line and cable workers
• 7246 Telecommunications installation and repair workers
• 7251 Plumbers
• 7252 Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
• 7253 Gas fitters
• 7311 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
• 7312 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
• 7313 Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
• 7314 Railway carmen/women
• 7315 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
• 7318 Elevator constructors and mechanics
• 7371 Crane operators
• 7372 Drillers and blasters – surface, mining, quarrying and construction
• 7373 Water well drillers
• 8231 Underground production and development miners
• 8232 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
• 9232 Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators

You must complete your applications according to the requirements in place at the time you apply. If you need assistance, contact our Canadian immigration services law firm today.