IRCC invited 3,500 candidates in the Trades category to apply for permanent residence in the October 1, 2026 Express Entry draw. Minimum requirements and timing rules affect who qualified and what current applicants in Canada can do next.
3,500 invitations were issued in an Express Entry Trades draw with a CRS cut-off of 476.
Candidates needed required Trades work experience and to have created an Express Entry profile by specified UTC cut-off times.
This draw is one of 59 Express Entry selections in 2026 and continues Canada’s pattern of selecting candidates with Canadian ties and targeted occupations.
# What happened
On October 1, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 3,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to Express Entry candidates in the Trades category. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw was 476.
# Who qualified
To be included in this trades-only draw candidates had to meet three conditions stated by IRCC:
# Implications for applicants already in Canada
Candidates in Canada who have applied for permanent residence via Express Entry may qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). If an applicant's current work permit expires before a decision is made on a BOWP application, maintained status can allow them to continue working under the same conditions, provided they remain in Canada. Qualifying family members may also be eligible to apply for an open work permit.
# How this draw fits into 2026 selection activity
# Concrete next steps for affected candidates
# What this means for future applicants
Targeted draws for trades show IRCC is using occupation-specific selections to invite candidates. If your profile meets trades experience and score thresholds, monitor draw patterns and profile-creation cut-off dates to understand when you might be eligible.
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