Hi all I'm a 23 year old carpenter from Wales including apprenticeship I've been doing carpentry for 7 years as here in the uk we have the option of starting at 16 like I did. I've been on holiday to Canada twice once in Toronto and the other British Columbia and absolutely loved it. I was told that the building trade is booming there at the moment and I would have high chances of finding work there in my trade. I was wondering about the process and how I could set work up there before I left. Also the best part of the country to do that. Can anyone help? Thanks in advance.

Hi, welcome to BE.

Your easiest route by a mile is going to be the IEC visa. It's a 2 year open work permit for those aged 30 and under, so you're lucky enough to be young enough to qualify. It'll be much easier than trying to find an employer prepared to sponsor a 'normal' work permit. Just don't delay, as only 5000 visas are available each year, the 2017 program is already open and it's a lottery (more than 5000 have already applied), so the sooner you apply the more chance you'll have.

Not sure about the building trade booming, but a quick search of the forum may give you more info. Do also search to see what you'll need to do to work in Canada as I think carpenter might be a regulated trade, so you might need provincial certification? Aviator is our forum pro on that subject, hopefully he'll be able to advise.

You're very unlikely to get work set up before you go, but if you read the Job Hunting section of the Wiki that will give you the best chance of finding something as soon as possible after arriving.

Best of luck.

Carpenter is not a regulated trade, but it is a certified trade. The difference being, regulated you have to be qualified to work, certified you don't.
However, without a provincial certification (carpentry is also inter provincial Red Seal endorsed), work is harder to find, especially when their is a choice of certified or uncertified. Often an uncertified tradesman is paid less than a journeyman carpenter, other than in a high demand market.

The building industry is not booming at all right now. https://www.constructionforecasts.ca...ng_Forward.pdf. It is OK, but there is no shortage of trades like there was a few years ago when the oil patch was booming. There is also talk of a dip in housing prices coming up, so this may affect residential projects.

If you have 9720 hours of work experience (that you can prove), you should be eligible to challenge the exam.

Carpenter | ITA BC

http://www.itabc.ca/sites/default/fi...march-2016.pdf

http://www.itabc.ca/sites/default/fi...oct-2016_4.pdf

You may find a job before coming to Canada, but don't count on it, it happens, but not often. Easier when there is a shortage in a particular industry.

As has been suggested, come on IEC, find a job and challenge the exam of you qualify.

Welcome
Best advice I can offer for what it's worth it do lots of research and checkout what options are available to you regards visa's. You find lots of useful info on the forum. You'll probably find securing employment in Canada whilst still in the U.K. without Landed status won't be easy but it's not impossible.
Figure out what part of Canada you'd like to locate too and maybe investigate employment opportunities in this location combined with visa options.

All the best