Federal Skilled Trades Program

Language requirements

To measure applicants’ language skills, the Canadian government uses the Canadian Language Benchmark or the Niveaux de compétence Linguistique Canadien.

Applicants must show that they meet the minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 or Niveaux de compétence Linguistique Canadien (NCLC) 5 (if French) for speaking and listening, and CLB 4 or NCLC 4 for writing and reading by taking approved language tests.

Accepted Language tests

English test takers may take either of the following approved language tests:

• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP).
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Regardless of the type of English test applicants take, they must take the general option as other options are not accepted for the Express Entry process.

French language test takers may take either of the following approved tests:

• Test d’évaluation de français (TEF Canada).
• Test de connaissance du français (TCF Canada).

The French tests include compréhension de l’écrit, compréhension de l’oral, expression écrite, and expression orale.

Test results of applicants must be less than two years old when they complete their express entry profile and permanent residence application.

The profiles of applicants remain in the express entry pool for one year. Therefore, they must retake their language test and update their profile if their test expires.

Education Requirement

No academic qualification is required for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. However, applicants can increase their score in the express entry pool by:

• Submitting a diploma, certificate, or degree they received from a Canadian secondary institution or post-secondary institution confirming that they went to school in Canada.
• Submitting an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from a designated organisation showing that their education is equivalent to a degree, certificate, or diploma from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution.
• An Education Credential Assessment is a report that is used to verify that a foreign degree, diploma, or certificate is valid and equal to a Canadian one. Applicants must request an ECA report specifically for immigration purposes as other types of ECAs are not acceptable.

Proof of Funds

Proof of funds shows that applicants have enough money to settle in Canada with their families and that they meet the minimum requirements for the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

To determine the amount of funds applicants should have, they should first determine the size of their family. This includes them and their family members such as spouse or partner, dependent children, and spouse’s dependent children.

Family members, here, imply those coming to Canada with you and those staying back.

Below are the minimum funds required to immigrate to Canada under the Federal Skilled Trades Program based on the number of family members:

• 1 person: $13,310
• 2 persons: $16,570
• 3 persons: $20,371
• 4 persons: $24,733
• 5 persons: $28,052
• Each additional family member: $3,586

All fees are in Canadian dollars. If the applicants’ spouse will come to Canada with them, applicants can count their money in a joint account or under the spouse’s name as proof of funds if they can prove that the money is readily available to them.

Proof of Funds that are not accepted

Unacceptable evidence of proof of funds includes:

• Borrowed funds.
• Equity on tangible property.

Applicants must prove, with official letters from the bank where they are keeping money, that they can legally access the money for use in Canada. The letter(s) must:

• Be printed on the financial institution’s letterhead.
• Include banks’ contact information (address, telephone number, and email address).
• Include the applicant’s name.
• List outstanding debts such as credit card debts and loans.
• Include all account numbers owned by the applicant, the date each account was opened, the average balance for the past 6 months for each current bank and investment account, and the current balance of each account.

Admissibility

Some people are not allowed to enter Canada for reasons under Canadian immigration law. These reasons for refusing applicants entry include but are not limited to the following:

• Security reasons such as violence, terrorism, spying, subversion, and affiliation with a terrorist organisation.
• Human or international rights violations such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, and international sanctions as a senior official in a government.
• Criminal convictions, including while driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Membership with an organisation that engages in organised criminal activities such as money laundering or human trafficking.
• Having a medical condition that endangers public safety or health.
• Unwillingness or inability of applicants to support themselves or their family members.
• Providing false or misleading information relating to the decision on the application of the applicant.
• Having an inadmissible family member.
• Violation of conditions of stay as a temporary resident.
• Previous record of deportation or attempt to enter Canada without authorisation.

After applicants have ensured that they meet the eligibility requirements, they may proceed to:

• Answer some questions about their eligibility online.
• Submit an express entry profile on the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) if eligible to apply.
• Prepare to receive their invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence by getting their documents ready. If invited, applicants will have 60 days to submit a complete application.

Applicants should:

• Ensure that their language tests are valid on the date they submit their application for permanent residence or retake their tests if expired. Any permanent residence application with expired language test results will be rejected.
• Get police certificates for themselves and any of their family member who is 18 years or older.
• Start searching for a job offer using the job seeker validation code received when they submitted their profile.
• Improve their score by improving their language or education score, getting a valid job offer, gaining more relevant work experience, and contacting provinces or territories to consider them for a Provincial Nominee Program.
• Make sure their profile remains true, accurate, and updated at all times.

A provincial nomination gives applicants an additional 600 CRS points which guarantee an ITA provided all other eligibility criteria are met.

The application fees are:

• $1,365 for the applicant.
• $1,365 for the applicant’s spouse or partner.
• $230 for dependent children.

Applicants who receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency must do so within 60 days of receiving the invitation. To apply to become a permanent resident, applicants must:

• Fill out the online form.
• Scan and upload all requested documents.
• Pay all fees such as the right of permanent residence fee, biometrics fee, and processing fees for themselves and their family members.
• Submit the completed application.

If the application is rejected, the applicant may get the help of an experienced immigration expert, and fill out and submit a new express entry profile.

If the application is approved, applicants will be given a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a permanent resident visa (if from a country that requires a visa). With these and your passport, you are ready to immigrate to Canada.