Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has just opened the doors for thousands of skilled tradespeople who have been waiting months for this exact moment.
IRCC carried out a category-based draw in the Express Entry system on April 2, 2026. The draw was specifically targeting individuals who work in trade occupations in Canada and overseas.
This draw was the first in the trades occupations category in 2026. The last draw in this category was in September 2025 when IRCC issued just 1,250 invitations in the entire year for this specific category.
The wait is finally over. The numbers tell a story that every carpenter, plumber, electrician, and welder in the Express Entry system should be aware of right now.
Express Entry Draw Details For April 2, 2026
Here is the full breakdown of the latest Express Entry draw that targeted trade occupations.
| Draw Detail | Information |
| Date and Time | April 2, 2026 |
| Draw Category | Trade Occupations (2026, Version 3) |
| Number of Invitations Issued | 3,000 |
| CRS Score of Lowest Ranked Candidate | 477 |
| Rank Required to Be Invited | 3,000 or above |
| Tie-Breaking Rule | February 14, 2026 at 20:53:54 UTC |
The tie-breaking rule is the rule that is used to determine the candidates to be invited to the Express Entry pool if there are several candidates with the same lowest CRS score.
Therefore, if several candidates had a CRS score of 477, only those candidates whose Express Entry profiles were submitted before February 14, 2026, at 20:53:54 UTC will be issued an invitation to this round.
It means that candidates whose Express Entry profiles were not submitted before the specific date and time mentioned will not be issued an invitation to this round.
New Changes To The Trades Category In 2026
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab made a big announcement on February 18, 2026, introducing significant changes to the Express Entry categories, and the changes affect the trades occupations category.
Here are the significant changes that shaped today’s draw.
| Change | Impact |
| Work experience increased to 12 months | Fewer eligible candidates in the pool, potentially lower CRS cutoffs |
| Cooks (NOC 63200) removed | Eliminates the largest group that previously dominated trades draws |
| Chefs (NOC 62200) removed | Further narrows the pool to hands-on construction and industrial trades |
| Butchers (NOC 63201) added | Replaces the retired agriculture and agri-food category for this occupation |
| 25 occupations now eligible | Expanded from the original 10 occupations when trades draws began in 2023 |
The changes to the trades occupations category have resulted in the category being focused on construction, industrial, and mechanical trades, and the food service occupations have been eliminated.
Full List Of 25 Eligible Trade Occupations
Applicants are required to have at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equivalent amount of part-time work experience) in one of these trades within the last three years:
This work experience does not have to be continuous and can be gained either in or out of Canada.
| Occupation | NOC Code | TEER Level |
| Construction Managers | 70010 | 0 |
| Home Building and Renovation Managers | 70011 | 0 |
| Machinists and Machining and Tooling Inspectors | 72100 | 2 |
| Sheet Metal Workers | 72102 | 2 |
| Welders and Related Machine Operators | 72106 | 2 |
| Electricians (Except Industrial and Power System) | 72200 | 2 |
| Industrial Electricians | 72201 | 2 |
| Plumbers | 72300 | 2 |
| Gas Fitters | 72302 | 2 |
| Carpenters | 72310 | 2 |
| Cabinetmakers | 72311 | 2 |
| Bricklayers | 72320 | 2 |
| Construction Millwrights and Industrial Mechanics | 72400 | 2 |
| Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics | 72401 | 2 |
| Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanics | 72402 | 2 |
| Electrical Mechanics | 72422 | 2 |
| Water Well Drillers | 72501 | 2 |
| Other Technical Trades and Related Occupations | 72999 | 2 |
| Construction Estimators | 22303 | 2 |
| Concrete Finishers | 73100 | 3 |
| Roofers and Shinglers | 73110 | 3 |
| Painters and Decorators (Except Interior Decorators) | 73112 | 3 |
| Floor Covering Installers | 73113 | 3 |
| Contractors and Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Services | 82021 | 2 |
| Butchers: Retail and Wholesale | 63201 | 3 |
Applicants in these trades are encouraged to apply for a certificate of qualification in a Canadian province or territory to gain up to 50 additional points on the Comprehensive Ranking System.
Steps For Candidates Who Received An Invitation
Candidates who received an invitation to apply in this draw now have exactly 60 calendar days to submit a complete electronic application for permanent residence.
This is a strict deadline and IRCC does not grant extensions under any circumstances.
The application must include all supporting documents such as language test results, educational credential assessments, police certificates, medical examinations, and proof of work experience.
Candidates should begin gathering documents immediately because processing times for items like police certificates from certain countries can take several weeks according to IRCC processing times.
Missing the 60 day deadline means losing the invitation entirely and having to re-enter the Express Entry pool to wait for another draw.
Based on current patterns, IRCC is likely to conduct additional trades draws in 2026 given the large number of invitations issued in today’s round.
The 3,000 invitations suggest IRCC has set ambitious targets for this category in 2026, especially compared to the 1,250 total issued throughout 2025.
If IRCC maintains this pace, the CRS cutoff could potentially drop further as more eligible candidates in the upper score ranges receive invitations and exit the pool.
However, there is no set schedule for trades-specific draws and IRCC may prioritize these draws based on evolving labour market conditions.
Candidates should keep their Express Entry profiles active and documents ready because invitations can arrive without advance notice.