The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is one of the programs that is managed by the Express Entry system along with the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. These are all based on the in-demand skilled occupations listed by the Canadian federal government but are not the only pathways for skilled workers to apply for permanent residence in Canada. There are also other ways to immigrate to Canada in an unskilled capacity but this will not be through a fast-track process like the ones under Express Entry.
To qualify for an occupation that is considered a skilled trade according to the federal government, candidates need to first make certain they meet all the criteria for this pathway. Candidates can then apply through the Express Entry system, stating that this is their program of choice. Applicants will also need to have a valid job offer/certificate of qualification in order to be considered for this particular stream. Achieving a successful Invitation to Apply (ITA) from this application allows candidates to be considered for permanent residence in every province of Canada – apart from Québec, which uses its own guidelines and rules for immigration of skilled workers.