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The First Express Entry Draw of April 2026 Issued 3,000 PR Invitations

April 2, 2026
7:57 pm

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Last Updated On 2 April 2026, 2:39 PM EDT (Toronto Time)

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) just opened the doors for thousands of skilled tradespeople who have been waiting months for this exact moment.

The federal department conducted a category-based Express Entry draw on April 2, 2026 that specifically targeted candidates working in trade occupations across Canada and abroad.

This is the first trades occupations draw of 2026 and the first since September 2025 when IRCC issued only 1,250 invitations in the entire year for this category.

The wait is finally over and the numbers tell a story that every carpenter, plumber, electrician, and welder in the Express Entry pool needs to understand right now.

Express Entry Draw Details For April 2, 2026

Here is the complete breakdown of the latest Express Entry draw targeting 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 determines who gets invited when multiple candidates share the same lowest CRS score.

If more than one candidate had a CRS score of 477, only those who submitted their Express Entry profiles before February 14, 2026 at 20:53:54 UTC received invitations in this round.

This means candidates who created their profiles after that specific date and time with a score of exactly 477 did not receive invitations in this draw.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced sweeping changes to Express Entry categories on February 18, 2026 that directly affect the trades occupations category.

Here are the key 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

These changes mean the trades category now focuses almost entirely on construction, industrial, and mechanical trades rather than food service occupations.

Full List Of 25 Eligible Trade Occupations

Candidates must have at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) in one of the following trade occupations within the past three years.

This experience does not need to be continuous and can be gained in Canada or abroad.

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

Candidates working in any of these occupations should also consider obtaining a certificate of qualification from a Canadian province or territory to earn up to 50 additional CRS points.

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.

Do I need to perform all the duties listed under my NOC code to qualify for a trades draw?

You must have performed the actions described in the lead statement for your occupation as set out in the National Occupational Classification. You must also have performed a substantial number of the main duties of that occupation, including all of the essential duties, during your period of work experience. Simply holding a job title that matches an eligible NOC code is not enough if your actual duties did not align with the NOC description.

Can candidates outside Canada receive an invitation in a trades occupations draw?

Yes, the trade occupations category accepts work experience gained in Canada or abroad. Candidates living outside Canada with 12 months of eligible trade experience in the past three years and a valid Express Entry profile under the Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program can receive invitations and apply for permanent residence.

What happens if my CRS score is below 477 but I work in an eligible trade occupation?

You remain in the Express Entry pool and will automatically be considered for future trade draws if your profile is still active. Focus on improving your language test scores, obtaining a certificate of qualification, or applying for a provincial nomination to increase your CRS score before the next round.

Is the trade occupations category expected to remain active for the rest of 2026?

Yes, IRCC confirmed trade occupations as one of the 10 active Express Entry categories for 2026 under the International Talent Attraction Strategy announced by Minister Diab in February. There is no indication that this category will be retired during the current year, and the large invitation volume in today’s draw suggests IRCC plans to conduct additional trades rounds in the months ahead.

Fact Checked: All data in this article has been verified against official IRCC Express Entry draw results published on canada.ca.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice.

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.