Canada

Federal Skilled Trades Program

Policy overviewReviewed 2026-09-03

For workers qualified in designated skilled trades. Applicants must also hold either a valid full-time job offer for at least one year or a Canadian certificate of qualification in the trade.

Core requirements

Work experienceRequired

At least 2 years (3,120 hours) of paid experience within the last 5 years in the same eligible skilled-trade NOC, meeting its duties and local qualification requirements. Work gained while studying full-time does not count toward the minimum.

LanguageRequired

An approved test requires at least CLB/NCLC 5 for speaking and listening, and CLB/NCLC 4 for reading and writing.

EducationNot required

There is no minimum education requirement, though education may improve Express Entry ranking.

Job offer or trade certificateRequired

Either a valid offer of full-time employment for at least one year or a certificate of qualification in the trade from a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority is required.

Settlement fundsConditional

Proof of funds is generally required, unless the applicant is authorized to work in Canada and has a valid job offer. Amounts change periodically and should be checked at application time.

Official sources

General educational information only, not personalized immigration or legal advice. Requirements can change; confirm them with the responsible government authority before acting. Next scheduled review: 2026-12-03.