Canada has conducted another category-based Express Entry selection round, this time targeting candidates working in eligible skilled trades occupations. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 3,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence in the October 1, 2026 draw.
The latest selection gives skilled trades workers another opportunity to move forward with their Canadian permanent residence plans through Express Entry.
Also Read Canada Invites 3,500 Skilled Trades Workers in Latest Express Entry Draw
October 1 Express Entry Draw: Key Details
Candidates needed to satisfy the eligibility requirements for the Trades category to be considered in this invitation round.
The main requirements were:
- 3,500 ITAs issued to eligible candidates.
- The minimum CRS score was 476.
- Candidates had to have the required work experience for the Trades category.
- Their Express Entry profile needed to be submitted before 12:47:55 UTC on October 1, 2026.
For candidates who had a CRS score of exactly 476, the tie-breaking rule applied to profiles created by May 28, 2026 at 16:55:23 UTC.
The tie-breaking date does not mean that candidates had to receive an invitation on that date. Instead, it was used to determine which candidates at the minimum CRS score would receive an ITA when multiple profiles had the same score.
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Summary of Express Entry Draws
| Date | Draw Type | CRS cut-off score | ITAs issued |
| October 1 | Trades | 476 | 3,500 |
| September 29 | Canadian Experience Class | 518 | 2,000 |
| September 28 | Provincial Nominee Program | 725 | 733 |
| September 16 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 389 | 250 |
| September 15 | Canadian Experience Class | 519 | 2,000 |
| September 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 734 | 576 |
| September 4 | Healthcare and social services | 475 | 3,500 |
| September 3 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 198 | 229 |
| September 1 | Canadian Experience Class | 521 | 2,000 |
| August 31 | Provincial Nominee Program | 697 | 562 |
| August 19 | French-Language proficiency | 382 | 5,000 |
| August 18 | Canadian Experience Class | 523 | 1,000 |
| August 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 760 | 442 |
| August 7 | Transport | 470 | 300 |
| August 6 | French-Language proficiency | 391 | 5,000 |
| August 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 3,000 |
| August 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 768 | 507 |
| July 23 | Skilled Military Recruits | 368 | 4 |
| July 22 | French-Language proficiency | 399 | 5,000 |
| July 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 2,000 |
| July 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 744 | 511 |
| July 10 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 392 | 500 |
| July 9 | French-Language proficiency | 420 | 5,000 |
| July 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 517 | 2,000 |
| July 6 | Provincial Nominee Program | 708 | 534 |
| June 25 | Healthcare and social services | 475 | 4,000 |
| June 24 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 223 | 271 |
| June 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 4,000 |
| June 22 | Provincial Nominee Program | 730 | 955 |
| May 28 | French-Language proficiency | 409 | 4,500 |
| May 27 | Canadian Experience Class | 518 | 3,000 |
| May 25 | Provincial Nominee Program | 805 | 334 |
| May 11 | Provincial Nominee Program | 798 | 380 |
| April 29 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 4,000 |
| April 28 | Canadian Experience Class | 514 | 2,000 |
| April 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 795 | 473 |
| April 15 | French-Language proficiency | 419 | 4,000 |
| April 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 515 | 2,000 |
| April 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 786 | 324 |
| April 2 | Trades | 477 | 3,000 |
| March 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| March 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| March 18 | French-Language proficiency | 393 | 4,000 |
| March 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| March 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| March 5 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
| March 4 | French-Language proficiency | 397 | 5,500 |
| March 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| March 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| February 20 | Healthcare and social services | 467 | 4,000 |
| February 19 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 169 | 391 |
| February 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| February 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| February 6 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| February 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| January 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| January 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| January 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
How Many Express Entry Draws Has Canada Held in 2026?
With the latest Trades selection, Canada has conducted 59 Express Entry draws in 2026.
The largest share of invitation rounds has come from the Provincial Nominee Program and Canadian Experience Class. French-language selections have also represented a significant portion of the year’s activity.
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 19 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 17 |
| French-Language proficiency | 10 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 3 |
| Healthcare and social services | 3 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 3 |
| Trades | 2 |
| Transport | 1 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 1 |
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Express Entry ITAs Issued in 2026
IRCC has issued a total of 135,215 ITAs through Express Entry selections so far in 2026.
The Canadian Experience Class accounts for the largest number of invitations, followed by French-language proficiency and healthcare and social services selections. The two Trades draws have together contributed 6,500 ITAs to this year’s total.
| Draw type | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 55,250 |
| French-Language proficiency | 50,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 9,270 |
| Healthcare and social services | 11,500 |
| Trades | 6,500 |
| Transport | 300 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 891 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1,000 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 4 |
Express Entry Activity Continues Across Multiple Categories
The October 1 Trades draw brings the total number of Express Entry invitation rounds held by Canada in 2026 to 59.
The year’s selections have covered several groups, including provincial nominees, Canadian Experience Class candidates, French-speaking applicants, healthcare and social services workers, physicians, senior managers, transport workers, skilled military recruits and tradespeople.
The draw history shows that IRCC has continued using category-based selections alongside program-specific rounds rather than relying on a single type of Express Entry draw.
What Trades Candidates Should Check Now
Candidates who received an ITA should carefully review their Express Entry information before submitting a permanent residence application. Their work history, language results, education, employment details and other supporting information should remain accurate and consistent with the information declared in their profile.
Applicants should also make sure that required documents are obtained and submitted within the applicable deadline.
For skilled trades workers who were not invited in this round, the result does not by itself determine eligibility for future selections. Express Entry candidates remain in the pool according to their individual profiles and CRS scores, while category-based draws depend on the requirements and selection priorities applied by IRCC.
The October 1 draw demonstrates that skilled trades remain part of Canada’s category-based Express Entry selection system, with 3,500 candidates receiving an opportunity to pursue permanent residence in this latest round.
