Canada held its first Express Entry draw exclusively for skilled tradespeople in April 2026 — and if you work as a carpenter, electrician, plumber, or welder, you may be closer to permanent residence than you realize. Three thousand Invitations to Apply were issued, with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff of 477. But the rules for qualifying changed significantly this year, and not everyone who was eligible in 2025 is still eligible today.

Here is exactly how the Express Entry trades category works in 2026, what changed, and what workers in the trades need to do right now.

What Is the Express Entry Trades Occupations Category?

Canada’s Express Entry category-based selection allows Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to hold targeted draws for candidates with specific types of work experience — regardless of whether they have the highest overall CRS scores in the pool. The Trades Occupations category has been a priority category for IRCC in both 2025 and 2026.

In a trades draw, only candidates with qualifying trade experience compete against each other. This is significant: it means that a carpenter with a CRS of 450 can receive an ITA in a trades draw even when the all-program draw cutoff is running above 500.

Which Occupations Qualify in 2026?

There are 25 eligible trade occupations under the 2026 framework. Some of the most common — and most relevant to workers — include:

• Carpenters (NOC 72310)
• Electricians, industrial and power (NOC 72200)
• Plumbers (NOC 72300)
• Welders and related machine operators (NOC 72106)
• Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics (HVAC, NOC 72402)
• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401)
• Machinists (NOC 72100)
• Butchers (NOC 63201) — newly added to Trades for 2026

For the full list of 25 eligible NOC codes, refer to IRCC’s official category-based selection page.

One important change: cooks were removed from the trades list for 2026. If you were planning on qualifying under a cook occupation, you will need to explore another Express Entry pathway.

What Changed in 2026 — and Why It Matters

IRCC updated the work experience requirements for the trades category in February 2026, and the changes are meaningful:

• Minimum experience increased from 6 months to 12 months. You now need at least one full year — a minimum of 1,560 hours — in an eligible trade occupation.
• The “continuous” requirement was dropped. Previously, your experience had to be in one unbroken stretch. Now, any combination of jobs totalling 12 months within the past three years counts. This is a meaningful improvement for workers who have had gaps or worked multiple trade contracts.
• Foreign experience still counts. Your work experience does not need to be Canadian. Time worked as an electrician in your home country, a plumber in the UK, or a welder anywhere in the world counts toward the 12-month requirement — as long as it is documented and within the past three years.

If your Express Entry profile was built under the old 6-month rule, review it now. You may need to update your declared work experience to reflect the new 12-month standard — and confirm you actually meet it.

What This Means for Tradespeople

Skilled trades are among the most common occupations for workers both in Canada and in abroad. Many newcomers in Canada work in construction, electrical installation, plumbing, and HVAC — often for employers who value a strong work ethic and hands-on training.

What this category means in practice: if you have been working in a trade in Canada or abroad, you may be able to enter the Express Entry pool and compete in a targeted draw where your competition is limited to other tradespeople — not the entire pool of high-CRS candidates. The April 2026 draw ran at a CRS of 477, which is achievable for many candidates with strong language scores and Canadian experience.

A few things worth knowing if you are considering this route:

• You still need to qualify for one of the three Express Entry programs — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), or Canadian Experience Class (CEC) — before you can be invited through a category draw.
• Language testing (IELTS or CELPIP for English) is mandatory. Your score directly affects your CRS and your competitiveness in a draw.
• If your trade credentials were obtained outside Canada, you may need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) or a trade certification recognized in a Canadian province. This takes time — start early.

Action Steps to Take Now

1. Check whether your occupation is on the 2026 list. Visit IRCC’s official category-based selection page and confirm your NOC code is among the 25 eligible trades. If you worked as a cook, look at other qualifying pathways.
2. Calculate your hours. Add up all trade work experience from the past three years. You need at least 1,560 hours. Gather pay stubs, employment letters, and contracts that document your role and hours worked.
3. Take or renew your language test. IELTS and CELPIP results are valid for two years. If yours are expiring — or if your score is holding your CRS down — book a new test. Higher language scores make a significant difference in a trades draw.
4. Create or update your Express Entry profile. If you do not yet have a profile, now is the time to build one. If you have an existing profile, review your declared experience against the new 12-month requirement.
5. Book a consultation with a licensed RCIC. Category draws move quickly, and the rules change from year to year. A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant can review your profile, identify gaps, and position your application before the next draw.

How Bison Immigration Can Help

At Bison Immigration Consulting, we work regularly with clients who are skilled tradespeople — workers with years of real-world experience in carpentry, electrical, plumbing, and construction who simply need the right strategy to turn that experience into a Canadian permanent residence application. The Express Entry trades category is one of the most direct pathways available, and the April 2026 draw confirms that IRCC is actively using it.

If you want to know whether your occupation and experience qualify — and what steps to take between now and the next draw — we are here to help.

Email us at hello@bisonimmigration.com for a personalized assessment of your options.