This update is part of the Express Entry draws hub, with the Express Entry guide. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued 3,500 invitations to apply to Express Entry candidates in the trade occupations category on October 1. This marks the largest draw ever for trades since the category was first prioritized in 2023, signaling a significant pace for this stream.

The category based draw required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 476. This is the second category based draw for trade occupations in 2026. The tie breaking rule for this draw was May 28, 2026 at 16:55:23 UTC.

With this latest round, the total number of trade occupations invitations to apply issued this year now stands at 6,500. Previously, on April 2, IRCC issued 3,000 invitations with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) of 477. This October draw comes five months after the previous one.

The trade occupations category was initially prioritized in 2023. Before the April draw, cooks were removed from this category. The current occupational mix includes electricians, plumbers, welders, carpenters, heavy equipment operators, and other skilled workers in the construction and industrial sectors.

Skilled trades are a growing priority for the Canadian economy. In late April, the federal government's Spring Economic Update committed to recruiting and training 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers by 2030. This initiative aims to boost housing construction, infrastructure, and defence sectors. The government also announced new funding for apprenticeships and paid training pathways.

The year 2026 has shown improved performance for the trades occupation category compared to previous years. In 2023, 2,500 invitations were issued, followed by 3,600 in 2024, and 1,250 in 2025. Many provinces have also been prioritizing candidates with skilled trades experience.

The cut off score dropped one point since April, despite this being a much larger draw. This draw size suggests IRCC is maintaining a meaningful pace for this category. For candidates, a provincial nomination adds 600 points to a CRS score, and retaking a language test or adding a result in a second official language can further increase a score.

A category based draw is predicted for October 2, 2026. Candidates who received an invitation to apply have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application. IRCC is reforming the Express Entry system and making changes to CRS scores, with a proposed change to award extra points to candidates with a Red Seal certification. It is hard to predict if there will be another category based draw for trades occupations.