Before you start
- Use only your own government account.
- Never share government or email credentials.
- Confirm fees, deadlines and checklists when you act.
CHANGING CONDITIONS
Trade-sector classifications, offer/certificate rules, funds and invitation rounds change. Recheck the current FST and Express Entry controls before each stage.
REVIEWED STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
Responsibilities, outputs and checkpoints
- 01RESPONSIBLEApplicant
Map skilled-trade work
Record the applicant-selected trade NOC/TEER, employers, paid dates, hours, countries, duties and authorization used for the current skilled-trades work requirement.
- Expected output
- A dated skilled-trade work table with employer and authorization evidence.
- Checkpoint
- The trade classification is not selected by FileNorth and experience is counted under current IRCC rules.
Official source reviewed · 2026-07-13Express Entry: Federal Skilled Trades Program · www.canada.ca - 02RESPONSIBLEApplicant
Document the offer or qualification certificate
Prepare the current qualifying full-time job-offer records or the Canadian provincial, territorial or federal certificate of qualification relied on by the applicant.
- Expected output
- A verified job-offer set or Canadian qualification certificate.
- Checkpoint
- Validity, employers, duration, trade and issuing authority match the current program condition.
Official source reviewed · 2026-07-13Express Entry: Federal Skilled Trades Program · www.canada.ca - 03RESPONSIBLEApplicant
Obtain accepted language results
Take an accepted language test and retain the scores, report number and validity needed for the planned profile and application.
- Expected output
- A valid official language-test record.
- Checkpoint
- Each ability score and expiry is copied from the official result.
Official source reviewed · 2026-07-13Express Entry: Federal Skilled Trades Program · www.canada.ca - 04RESPONSIBLEApplicant
Recheck funds and family controls
Record household composition and use the current official funds table or exact exemption, with ownership and account evidence.
- Expected output
- A dated funds and household control record.
- Checkpoint
- The current amount and exemption facts are checked before each submission.
Official source reviewed · 2026-07-13Express Entry: Federal Skilled Trades Program · www.canada.ca - 05RESPONSIBLEApplicant
Create and maintain the Express Entry profile
Enter verified trade, offer/certificate, language, status, funds and family facts in the applicant’s own profile and update material changes.
- Expected output
- A submitted profile snapshot and current change log.
- Checkpoint
- The profile remains factual and pool entry is not described as an invitation.
Official source reviewed · 2026-07-13Express Entry: Federal Skilled Trades Program · www.canada.ca - 06RESPONSIBLECanada
Respond to a trade-program invitation
If IRCC issues an FST invitation, reconcile every profile fact, complete the personalized PR checklist, submit directly and answer medical, police and other admissibility requests.
- Expected output
- An invitation-linked PR submission and decision file.
- Checkpoint
- The job offer or qualification certificate and all time-limited records remain valid at the required stage.
Official source reviewed · 2026-07-13Express Entry: Federal Skilled Trades Program · www.canada.ca
DOCUMENT PREPARATION SUMMARY
What this procedure organizes
- Prepare trade work/hour/duty and authorization records, the qualifying job offer or Canadian certificate of qualification, accepted language results, settlement-funds or exemption and household evidence, passport/status/history, the profile, invitation, personalized PR checklist, police/medical controls, receipts and messages.