All Economic Class programs are designed to attract immigrants to Canada who can establish themselves economically in the country.
The Federal Skilled Trades Class is a component of the Economic Class and is managed through the Express Entry program. The current estimated processing time is approximately 6 months from the receipt of an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
To be eligible to apply, you must meet the program requirements for the Federal Skilled Trades Class:
- • Have offers of employment from up to two employers in Canada, each with a minimum duration of one year, accompanied by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA); OR hold a Certificate of Qualification from a provincial or territorial body.
- • Attain a minimum language score of CLB 5 (Canadian Language Benchmark) for speaking and listening, and CLB 4 for reading and writing.
- • Have accumulated 24 months of qualified work experience in the skilled trade within the past five years.
- • Be qualified to meet the requirements of the job offer(s) or trade in Canada, as defined by the TEER system.
Certification or Offer of Employment: Trade certification in Canada is regulated at the provincial level. Each province determines which professions will be regulated and establishes the corresponding regulatory bodies. Obtaining provincial certification from outside Canada can be challenging, so this program is most beneficial to tradespeople who have an approved offer of employment from a recognized employer or are already working in Canada as temporary foreign workers. Not all trades are regulated in every province, and in cases where a trade is not regulated, an offer of employment becomes mandatory.
Tradespeople who have an approved offer of employment for one year or more in their trade from a Canadian employer are also eligible to apply. The offer of employment will be evaluated to ensure that it pertains to an eligible trade and that the hiring will have a neutral effect on the Canadian labour market.
Final Criteria for Permanent Residence: Once selected from the Express Entry Pool and issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA), candidates and their dependents must undergo medical examinations and obtain security clearances as part of the Canadian immigration application process.