The key takeaway is: On October 1, 2026, IRCC invited 3,500 skilled trades candidates to apply for permanent residence, and the lowest CRS score invited was 476. That is one point below the April trades draw (477), and it was the second trades draw of 2026 (IRCC, Oct 2026).
This was Express Entry Draw #447. It covers 25 trades occupations, and you did not need a certificate of qualification to be in the category. This post shows who qualified, what the tie-break rule means and what to do if you scored lower.
Key takeaways
- IRCC invited 3,500 trades candidates on October 1, 2026 at a CRS cut-off of 476. The April draw invited 3,000 at 477.
- Candidates at exactly 476 were invited only if they submitted their profile before May 28, 2026 at 16:55:23 UTC. Your profile date matters as much as your score.
- The gap between the two 2026 trades draws was 182 days. IRCC publishes no schedule, so do not plan around a date.
- The category covers 25 occupations, from carpenters to welders. You need one year of full-time work in one of them in the last three years.
- If you scored under 476, raise your language score, add French or look at a provincial nomination (+600 CRS points).
What happened in the October 1, 2026 trades draw?
IRCC invited 3,500 candidates in the trades occupations category on October 1, 2026. The lowest CRS score invited was 476. Invitations could go to candidates in the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (IRCC, Oct 2026).
What was the CRS cut-off and how many invitations were issued?
IRCC issued 3,500 invitations, and the lowest-ranked candidate invited scored 476. The rank needed was 3,500 or above. In April, IRCC invited 3,000 candidates at 477.
It was the 59th Express Entry draw of 2026. Together, the 2026 draws have invited 135,215 people (IRCC, Oct 2026).
Why did some candidates at CRS 476 miss out?
When several candidates share the lowest score, IRCC uses the date and time they submitted their profile. For this draw, that time was May 28, 2026 at 16:55:23 UTC. Candidates at 476 who submitted after it were not invited.
How does this draw compare with other 2026 draws?
Trades sat between the healthcare draw and the Canadian Experience Class draw. It was 42 points below the CEC draw of two days earlier and 94 points above the French-language draw of August 19 (IRCC, Oct 2026).
| Draw | Date | Invitations | Lowest CRS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trades occupations | October 1, 2026 | 3,500 | 476 |
| Trades occupations | April 2, 2026 | 3,000 | 477 |
| Healthcare and social services | September 4, 2026 | 3,500 | 475 |
| Transport occupations | August 7, 2026 | 300 | 470 |
| French-language proficiency | August 19, 2026 | 5,000 | 382 |
| Canadian Experience Class | September 29, 2026 | 2,000 | 518 |
Who qualifies for the Express Entry trades category?
You qualify if you have at least one year of full-time work experience, or the part-time equivalent, in one of 25 trades occupations within the last three years. The work can be in Canada or abroad, but unauthorized work in Canada does not count. You must also be in the Express Entry pool and eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (IRCC, June 2026).
What are the eligibility requirements?
IRCC sets three work tests for the category. You must meet all three for the same job.
- Time: at least one year of full-time work, or the part-time equivalent, in the last three years in a listed occupation
- Lead statement: you performed the actions in the lead statement of that occupation in the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
- Duties: you performed a substantial number of the main duties, including all of the essential duties
Which NOC codes qualify for the trades category?
IRCC lists 25 unit groups in the trades category, from construction trades to electrical, plumbing and mechanical work. The full list is below, grouped by type of work (IRCC, June 2026).
| Type of work | Occupations and NOC codes |
|---|---|
| Construction trades | Bricklayers (72320), carpenters (72310), cabinetmakers (72311), concrete finishers (73100), roofers and shinglers (73110), painters and decorators (73112), floor covering installers (73113) |
| Electrical | Electricians (72200), industrial electricians (72201), electrical mechanics (72422) |
| Plumbing and gas | Plumbers (72300), gas fitters (72302) |
| Metal and mechanical | Machinists (72100), sheet metal workers (72102), welders (72106), construction millwrights and industrial mechanics (72400), heavy-duty equipment mechanics (72401), heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics (72402) |
| Management, estimating and other | Construction estimators (22303), construction managers (70010), home building and renovation managers (70011), oil and gas drilling contractors and supervisors (82021), water well drillers (72501), other technical trades (72999), butchers (63201) |
Not sure which code fits your job? Use our Find Your NOC Code tool. A wrong code can cost you the invitation, so match your duties and not only your job title.
How is the trades category different from the Federal Skilled Trades Program?
The category is a type of draw, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program is an immigration program with its own rules. The program asks for two years of full-time work in one skilled trade in the last five years, plus a job offer or a certificate of qualification. The category asks for one year in the last three years, and any of the three programs can receive the invitation. See our Federal Skilled Trades Program guide.
What should you do if your CRS score is below 476?
Raise your score or add a provincial nomination, because waiting for the next trades draw is the weakest plan. A gap of 10 to 15 points can often be closed with a better language result. A provincial nomination adds 600 points (IRCC, Oct 2026).
How can you raise your CRS score?
Start with language, because it moves your score the most for the least cost. Use our CRS calculator to test each change, and read our guide to improving your CRS score.
- Step 1: Retake your English test. Reach CLB 9 in all four abilities. Going from CLB 8 to CLB 9 adds 8 points per ability, or 32 in total, and it can add up to 50 more in skill transferability points.
- Step 2: Take a French test. Aim for NCLC 7 in all four abilities. It adds 50 points if your English is CLB 5 or higher in all four abilities, and 25 points if it is lower or untested.
- Step 3: Add Canadian work experience. If you work in Canada, the second year adds 13 points and the third year adds 11 more.
- Step 4: Check your profile for missed points. A brother or sister who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada adds 15. A Canadian post-secondary credential adds 15 for one or two years of study and 30 for three years or more.
- Step 5: Apply for a provincial nomination. It adds 600 points, so an invitation usually follows in the next federal provincial nominee draw.
Should you wait for the next trades draw?
No. IRCC publishes no draw schedule, and the two 2026 trades draws were 182 days apart. Use the time to raise your score, and keep your documents ready so you can answer an invitation inside the 60-day deadline. Our documents checklist shows what to prepare.
Are the French-language draws a faster route?
They can be, if you reach NCLC 7 in all four abilities. IRCC held 10 French-language draws in 2026, and the August 19 draw had a cut-off of 382, which is 94 points below the trades cut-off. See our French-language category guide.
Which provinces want tradespeople in 2026?
Several provinces prioritize trades workers this year, including Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points on the Express Entry route, so it can close a score gap. Priorities change often, so check each province page before you apply (checked October 2026).
How does Alberta treat trades workers?
Alberta runs priority-sector draws for construction and skilled trades. In 2026 these draws had minimum scores between 47 and 65 on the Worker EOI grid and invited between 35 and 109 candidates (alberta.ca, Oct 2026). Read our Alberta PNP guide and check the PNP draw tracker.
What does British Columbia offer?
Since April 2026, BC invites workers under three priorities: Care, Build and Innovate. Build covers construction trades and infrastructure. Registration is free and the application fee is $1,750 (BC PNP, checked October 2026). See our BC PNP guide.
How does Saskatchewan treat skilled trades?
Skilled trades are a priority sector that can apply all year. For a skilled trade, you need two years of work in the last five years, instead of one year in the last ten. See our Saskatchewan PNP guide.
What about New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island?
Since May 4, 2026, the New Brunswick Experience pathway invites only healthcare, education and construction workers. PEI prioritizes health care, trades and childcare, and its EOI stays active for six months. Read our New Brunswick guide and our PEI guide.
Is Ontario an option for tradespeople?
Yes, if you have a job offer. The Ontario Workforce Priority stream is Ontario’s only open skilled stream, and the language minimum is CLB 5 for skilled trades. See our Ontario PNP guide.
Frequently asked questions about the October 2026 trades draw
When is the next trades Express Entry draw?
IRCC has not announced the next trades draw, and it does not publish a schedule. The two 2026 trades draws were 182 days apart. If that gap repeated, the next draw would land in early April 2027, but that is arithmetic, not a forecast (IRCC, Oct 2026).
What NOC codes are included in the trades category?
IRCC lists 25 unit groups, including carpenters (72310), electricians (72200), plumbers (72300), welders (72106) and heavy-duty equipment mechanics (72401). The full table is earlier in this post (IRCC, June 2026).
Do I need a certificate of qualification to be in the trades category?
No. The category asks for one year of work experience in a listed occupation within the last three years. You still need to be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class or the Federal Skilled Trades Program to be in the pool.
Does work experience from outside Canada count?
Yes. IRCC accepts the work experience in Canada or abroad, as long as it was in a listed occupation and within the last three years. Unauthorized work in Canada does not count.
Does a provincial nomination guarantee an invitation?
A nomination linked to your Express Entry profile adds 600 points, which makes an invitation very likely, but it is not a formal guarantee. Provincial nominee draws in 2026 ran between CRS 697 and 805, and IRCC decides the timing and size of each round (IRCC, Oct 2026).
Why did the cut-off move by only one point?
The cut-off is the score of the last candidate who ranked within the invited number. IRCC invited 3,500 in October and 3,000 in April, and the score moved from 477 to 476. IRCC does not explain the small change, so treat it as a sign that trades scores are steady.
Not sure your job matches one of the 25 occupations? Book a Strategy Consultation and we will check your duties against the NOC and map your CRS options.
Sources
- IRCC, Express Entry rounds of invitations, draw #447, October 1, 2026, and the category-based selection list (June 2026), at IRCC
- Alberta Advantage Immigration Program draw table (alberta.ca, October 2026)
- BC PNP program guide effective May 28, 2026
- Provincial pages checked October 2026
Related reading
- Express Entry trades category guide
- Express Entry draws 2026
- How category-based selection works
- How Express Entry works
- Provincial Nominee Program guide
Amir Ismail is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC R412319) who has been associated with the immigration consulting industry since 1991.
