If your invitation names the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST), well done: your hands-on skills are exactly what this program is for. Your e-APR has to show three things on top of the basics: that you are qualified in your trade, that you have the experience, and that you can settle here. Read this with our main e-APR guide, which covers the forms, police certificates, medical exam and fees.
What you need to prove
| Requirement | What IRCC asks for |
|---|---|
| Work experience | At least 2 years of full-time work (3,120 hours) in a skilled trade within the 5 years before you apply, all in the same NOC |
| Eligible trades | NOC Major Groups 72 (except 726), 73, 82, 83, 92 and 93 (except 932), Minor Group 6320 (cooks, butchers and bakers) and Unit Group 62200 (chefs) |
| Qualification | You must have been qualified to practise the trade in the country where you gained the experience |
| Certificate or job offer | A certificate of qualification from a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority, or a valid job offer of at least 1 year |
| Language | CLB 5 (NCLC 5) in speaking and listening, CLB 4 (NCLC 4) in reading and writing, with results less than 2 years old when you apply |
| Education | No requirement, though education can add CRS points |
| Settlement funds | Proof of funds, unless you are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer |
Option 1: your certificate of qualification
A certificate of qualification shows that you passed a certification exam and meet all the requirements to practise your trade in the province or territory that issued it. If you claim one, your checklist asks for a copy. IRCC’s instructions to officers explain which certificates count:
| Accepted | Not accepted |
|---|---|
| A Certificate of Qualification (C of Q) issued by the competent provincial or territorial authority | Certificates of apprenticeship |
| An Alberta Journeyperson Certificate | Trade school diplomas, certificates or degrees (these may count for education points instead) |
| Any eligible certificate of qualification with a Red Seal endorsement | Operator-in-training licences or certificates |
| Aircraft maintenance engineer licences issued by Transport Canada | Certificates from trade associations or product manufacturers |
Option 2: your job offer
Under FST, a valid job offer can come from up to 2 employers, for continuous, paid, full-time work (at least 30 hours a week) for at least 1 year after you become a permanent resident, in an eligible trade, and it must be genuine. Since November 3, 2026, it no longer needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The offer letter IRCC asks for must include:
- company letterhead, your name, and the company’s address, telephone number and email address
- the name, title and signature of your future immediate supervisor or a personnel officer
- your expected start date
- a commitment to continuous, paid, full-time work for at least 1 year after your permanent resident visa is issued
- the job title, duties and responsibilities, hours per week, and annual salary plus benefits
An officer will check that the offer is genuine: that the employer is active, can keep its promises and follows employment and recruitment laws, and that you are qualified and likely to take the job. If your offer comes with an LMIA, enter its number in your application.
Proving your trade experience
For every job you declared, IRCC asks for a reference letter from the employer on company letterhead, with your name, the company’s address, telephone number and email, and the name, title and signature of your supervisor or a personnel officer. It must list every position you held, with the job title, duties, dates, hours per week and annual salary plus benefits.
- Make sure the duties show the actions in your NOC’s lead statement and most of its main duties, and that you met the job requirements set out in the NOC.
- Your experience only counts if you were qualified to practise the trade where you worked. If that country required a licence or certificate to work in your trade, it makes sense to include a copy.
- Work done while you were a student does not count toward the FST minimum.
- For Canadian experience, add your T4 slips and notices of assessment for the years you are claiming.
- Translate any document that is not in English or French, and upload the original alongside the certified translation.
Proof of funds
Unless you are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer, you must show you have enough money to settle. IRCC’s table, still marked as updated July 7, 2025 on November 8, 2026:
| Family members | Funds you need |
|---|---|
| 1 | $15,263 |
| 2 | $19,001 |
| 3 | $23,360 |
| 4 | $28,362 |
| 5 | $32,168 |
| 6 | $36,280 |
| 7 | $40,392 |
| Each additional person | $4,112 |
- Count yourself, your spouse or partner and all dependent children, even those not coming with you.
- Upload an official letter from each bank on its letterhead, with its contact details, your name, your debts, and for each account the number, opening date, current balance and 6-month average balance.
- The money must be yours, legally available in Canada, and still there when your visa is issued. Equity in property and borrowed money do not count.
- If you are exempt, upload a short letter explaining that you are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer.
Before you press submit
- 01
Choose your qualifying document
Your certificate of qualification, your job offer letter, or both if you have them.
- 02
Check every date
Your certificate should be valid, your language results less than 2 years old, and your 2 years of experience within the last 5.
- 03
Match letters to jobs
One reference letter for each job you declared, with the same title, dates and hours as your e-APR.
- 04
Prepare funds proof or your exemption letter
Bank letters for each institution, or a short letter explaining your job offer and work authorization.
Frequently asked questions
My province does not issue certificates in my trade. Can I still apply?
Yes, but you need a valid job offer in your trade instead. IRCC says that if the province where you plan to live does not certify your trade, a job offer is the way to qualify.
My trade is not regulated by a province. Who certifies it?
It may be federally regulated (aircraft mechanics, for example). IRCC points to the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials to find out who regulates your trade.
Is a certificate of apprenticeship enough?
No. IRCC’s instructions say certificates of apprenticeship and other pre-qualification certificates do not show that you are fully qualified, so they are not accepted as a certificate of qualification.
Do I need an LMIA for my job offer now?
No. Since November 3, 2026, Express Entry job offers no longer need an LMIA, but an officer still checks that the offer is genuine.
You don’t have to face the wait alone.
Thousands of people have shared their real timelines so the next person isn’t left guessing in the dark. Add yours, keep your own application and your family’s together in one place, and see a grounded estimate of how long your decision might take, drawn from people who are walking the same path.
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- See a realistic estimate of your wait, based on people on the same journey.
It’s free, and what you track stays private to you. Sharing your timeline with the community is always your choice.
Key takeaways
- You need a Canadian certificate of qualification in your trade, or a valid job offer of at least 1 year.
- Certificates of apprenticeship and trade school diplomas do not count as a certificate of qualification.
- Show proof of funds unless you are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer.
- IRCC: Federal Skilled Trades Program (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Express Entry, job offer (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Express Entry, language test results (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Express Entry, proof of funds (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC program delivery instructions: Express Entry completeness check (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC program delivery instructions: assessing an Express Entry application (A11.2) (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026