Considered to be the first ever draw, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) has invited candidates under Trades Occupational category through the Express Entry Program in the first week of April. 

The Canadian Immigration Department, on April 2, 2026, issued 3,000 ITAs under the trade occupational category, marking the first ever draw under this category. Eligible candidates with invitations to apply (ITAs) are now capable of securing Canada permanent residency. To be eligible under this draw, the candidates must have: 

❖   Minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 477

❖  Created an Express Entry candidate profile before 8:53 p.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on February 14, 2026. 

What is Canada Express Entry Trades Category? 

Canada Express Entry Trades category is a designated pathway designed to attract skilled workers with experience in trade occupations such as construction, manufacturing, transportation, and maintenance. With the introduction of these categories, Canada aims to address its labour shortage needs and increasing demand under various economic sectors. 

List of Eligible Trade Occupations

Canada has also listed occupations under the trade category through which eligible candidates can understand their job duties associated with the occupations. The occupations are listed with their valid NOC code which are as follows: 

Canada Express Entry Draws

Canada Express Entry's latest draw under the trade occupational category is considered to be the twentieth draw under the Express Entry program. Below is a complete list of Express Entry draws in 2026 with their respective CRS scores: 

Surprisingly, the latest round of invitations under the Trades category has invited 3,000 applicants, breaking the prior trends of Express Entry draws in 2026. Unlike the draw on March 5, 2026 under the newly introduced category, Senior Managers with Canadian work experience had invited a limited number of candidates i.e., 250. Whereas, with the 3,000 invitations and mere CRS score of 477, Canada aims to prioritize professionals with expertise under the trade occupations. With the continuous shortage of skilled workers under various sectors such as infrastructure, construction, and skilled trade sectors, IRCC aims to attract skilled workers who can support Canadian economic growth. 

Canada Express Entry Draws: Future Predictions

Till the first quarter of 2026, IRCC has invited a total of 58,830 ITAs, creating an environment of more category based draws in 2026. Through category based selections, Canada has prioritized workers with expertise, with Canadian work experience, with language proficiency, and with educational qualifications. It is expected in the future Express Entry draws to invite a large number of candidates so as to suffice its labour shortage needs while strengthening its economy. As per the Canada Immigration Level Plan 2026-2028, Canada has increased the limit of allocating permanent residency to candidates at 3,80,000 applications. As a part of the economic immigration target, which has also increased, Canada now intends to strengthen its economy by attracting workers with expertise and skills. 

Lastly, Canada Express Entry's latest draw, highlights the country's strong demand for skilled trade professionals. By earning the opportunity of immigrating to Canada on the basis of their skills and experience, eligible candidates may find promising job opportunities and a stable career in the country. 

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