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October 16, 2026
October 16, 2026

Canada invites 5,000 French Speakers in the October 16, 2026 Express Entry draw

Author By EUIC Admin Categories Express Entry

Dear future neighbour,

Canada has just held another Express Entry draw, and this one was for French speakers. Today, October 16, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 5,000 candidates with strong French-language skills to apply for permanent residence. It was the 62nd draw of the year.

To get an invitation, a candidate needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 435. Their Express Entry profile also had to be created before October 6, 2026.

That 435 cut-off is the highest of any French-language draw in 2026. The last one was on August 19, and it closed at 382. So the bar went up by 53 points in a little under two months. A few people who had been waiting for another dip may have been caught off guard.

Already in Canada and waiting for your PR result?

Anyone who submits an Express Entry PR application while living in Canada may qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). It is meant for people whose current work permit is close to expiring. It gives you maintained status, so you can keep working under the same conditions as your existing permit while the PR application is processed. The one condition is that you stay in Canada.

Every Express Entry draw in 2026 so far

Here is the full list, from the newest draw to the oldest.

Date Draw Type CRS cut-off score ITAs issued
October 16 French-Language proficiency 435 5,000
October 15 Canadian Experience Class 519 2,500
October 13 Provincial Nominee Program 772 752
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

Who is Canada picking this year?

Look at the pattern and it is clear. This year’s draws have leaned toward people who already have a connection to Canada, such as provincial nominees and those with Canadian work experience. French speakers have also had a steady stream of invitations. Here is how the 62 draws break down by type.

Draw Type Number of Draws
Provincial Nominee Program 20
Canadian Experience Class 18
French-Language proficiency 11
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

In total, IRCC has issued 143,467 invitations to apply this year. Here is where they went.

Draw type ITAs Issued
Canadian Experience Class 57,750
French-Language proficiency 55,500
Provincial Nominee Program 10,022
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

Canadian Experience Class and French-language draws together account for 113,250 of those invitations, which is nearly 79%. So French-language skills and Canadian work experience carry a lot of weight in Express Entry right now. Provincial nominations, on the other hand, produce far fewer invitations but come with very high cut-off scores because a nomination adds 600 CRS points.

Not sure which route fits you? Let’s find out together

Most people don’t need more news about draws. They need to know where they stand. With cut-offs ranging from 169 to 805 depending on the draw type, the right category can make a big difference to your chances.

Maybe French could be your edge. Maybe your Canadian work experience puts you in a stronger position. Maybe a provincial nomination is the smarter move. Or maybe your work permit is running out and you need a plan to stay in Canada while you wait.

Whatever your situation, a one-on-one consultation can help you work out the best route for you. Our team supports clients with provincial nomination, Express Entry, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, school admissions and more.

Ready to stop guessing and start moving? Book your consultation here: https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes

October 16, 2026
October 16, 2026

Express Entry Draw 449 Sends 2,500 PR Invitations to CEC Candidates

Author By EUIC Admin Categories Express Entry

Dear future neighbour,

Did you check your Express Entry account on October 15? If you did, and you hold a Canadian Experience Class profile, this draw may have been the one you were waiting for.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 2,500 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates to apply for permanent residence. The lowest score that made the cut was 519 on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). It was the 61st Express Entry draw of 2026 and the third one this month, following the Trades draw on October 1 and the Provincial Nominee Program draw on October 13.

See below draw details:

Detail Result
Draw number 449
Date  October 15, 2026
Draw type Canadian Experience Class
Invitations issued 2,500
CRS cut-off score 519
Profile submission cut-off September 21, 2026 

How does this draw compare with earlier CEC draws?

The previous CEC draw was on September 29, and it invited 2,000 candidates at a score of 518. So this round invited 500 more people, which is 25 percent more, and the cut-off went up by just one point. Sixteen days passed between the two draws, and a lot can change in that time. New profiles join the pool, old ones expire, and candidates improve their scores with new language results or more Canadian work experience.

See below the recent CEC rounds side by side:

CEC round Date Invitations CRS cut-off
Round 449 October 15, 2026 2,500 519
Round 446 September 29, 2026 2,000 518
Round 443 September 15, 2026 2,000 519
Round 439 September 1, 2026 2,000 521
Round 436 August 18, 2026 1,000 523
Round 432 August 5, 2026 3,000 516

Notice something? A bigger draw does not always mean a lower score. A 3,000-invitation draw in August had a cut-off of 516, while a smaller 1,000-invitation draw later that month needed 523. The score depends on how many strong candidates are sitting near the top of the pool on the day, not just on how many invitations go out. It also means no one can accurately predict the next cut-off. IRCC does not promise the date, size, type or score of any future draw, so treat this result as a record of what happened and not as a forecast.

Who qualifies for the Canadian Experience Class?

A good score is only half the story. You also have to meet the program rules:

  • You need at least one year, or 1,560 hours, of paid, authorized work in Canada within the last three years. It can come from more than one job.
  • The work must fall under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, and you must have done the main duties of that occupation.
  • Volunteer work, unpaid internships, work done while studying full-time and most self-employed work do not count.
  • You need CLB 7 in all four language abilities for TEER 0 or 1 jobs, or CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs.
  • You do not need a job offer, and there is no minimum education requirement, although your education can raise your CRS score.
  • Work experience gained in Quebec can count, but you must plan to live outside Quebec.

Meeting these rules makes you eligible, but it does not guarantee an invitation. IRCC ranks eligible profiles by CRS score and invites the highest ones for each round.

You got an invitation. What now?

Congratulations! Take a breath, then act carefully:

  • Open your IRCC account, confirm the program named in the invitation and note the deadline. An invitation is valid for 60 days, and the deadline in your account is the one that counts.
  • Gather proof of your work history, including duties, dates and hours. You may also need valid passports, language test results, police certificates, medical exam information and civil documents.
  • CEC applicants generally do not need to show proof of funds. If the system asks for it anyway, follow IRCC’s instructions.
  • Recalculate your score before you submit. If your situation changed and your score has dropped below 519, you should decline the invitation instead of submitting an application that no longer meets the draw’s requirements. Everything you declare must be accurate and backed by documents, because mistakes can cause serious processing and admissibility problems.

Applicants who live in Canada may also qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit after submitting their permanent residence application. If your current permit is about to expire while you wait for a decision on the bridging permit, maintained status may let you keep working under your old permit conditions as long as you stay in Canada. Qualifying family members may also be able to get open work permits.

Did not get an invitation? You are still in the game.

Your profile stays in the pool for 12 months, as long as it remains valid and you still qualify. Check the expiry date in your account. In the meantime, you can look at ways to raise your score, like a stronger language result, more eligible Canadian work experience or a new credential. Only update what you can truly prove.

How has 2026 looked so far?

This year IRCC has leaned toward candidates who already have ties to Canada, like provincial nominees and people with Canadian work experience. Across the year, IRCC has held these draws:

Draw type Number of draws
Provincial Nominee Program 20
Canadian Experience Class 18
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

In total, IRCC has issued 138,467 invitations in 2026:

Draw type ITAs issued
Canadian Experience Class 57,750
French-Language proficiency 50,500
Healthcare and social services 11,500
Provincial Nominee Program 10,022
Trades 6,500
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience 1,000
Physicians with Canadian work experience 891
Transport 300
Skilled Military Recruits 4

And here is every Express Entry draw so far this year:

Date Draw Type CRS cut-off score ITAs issued
October 15 Canadian Experience Class 519 2,500
October 13 Provincial Nominee Program 772 752
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

Do not leave your Canadian PR dream to chance

Reading draw results is the easy part. Knowing what your own score means, how to raise it, and whether Express Entry is even your best route is where most people get stuck. A small mistake in your profile, a wrongly claimed job duty or an expired language test can cost you an invitation, or worse, a refusal.

The October 15 draw showed once again that Canadian work experience matters, and that every single CRS point counts. Whether you are chasing a score of 519 or looking for a smarter pathway, such as a provincial nomination, you do not have to figure it out alone. We also help with work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications and school admissions.

Book a consultation today at https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes, and let’s build a clear plan for your Canadian journey.

October 15, 2026
October 15, 2026

Manitoba invited 340 candidates in its October 8, 2026 MPNP draw

Author By EUIC Admin Categories Provincial nomination

Dear future neighbour,

Teachers, early childhood educators and healthcare workers in Manitoba got some very good news on October 8, 2026.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) sent out 340 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) for provincial nomination. Of those, 211 went to workers in selected education and childcare jobs, 46 went to healthcare workers, and 83 went to candidates the province had recruited directly.

An LAA is the invitation that lets you move forward. Everyone who got one had 60 days to submit a complete provincial nomination application. Once a candidate is nominated, they can ask the MPNP for a work permit support letter and use it to apply for a federal work permit.

Candidates may also qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) after they submit their permanent residence application. Since June 9, 2026, a temporary public policy has eased some of the conditions for base PNP applicants, so they can apply for a BOWP much earlier than before.

Who got invited, and how?

This was the MPNP’s 20th draw. Here is the breakdown:

Stream/pathway Selection criteria Details LAAs issued
Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway Occupation-specific selection Employment in a qualifying education or childcare occupation 211
Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway Occupation-specific selection Employment in a healthcare occupation 46
Skilled Worker Stream – in Manitoba and overseas Direct invitation under a strategic recruitment initiative Invitation under one of five eligible recruitment initiatives 83

Out of the 340 people invited, 103 had declared a valid Express Entry profile number and job seeker validation code. Manitoba did not publish a cutoff score for any of the selection categories this time.

In total, 257 invitations went to workers already employed in Manitoba in education, childcare or healthcare, and the other 83 went to candidates the province had recruited directly.

The education and childcare group. Four occupations were selected, and candidates had to state in their Expression of Interest (EOI) that they were currently working in Manitoba in one of them:

  • Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202)
  • Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (NOC 43100)
  • Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (NOC 41221)
  • Secondary school teachers (NOC 41220)

The healthcare group. These 46 invitations went to people who said in their EOI that they were currently working in Manitoba in an occupation under Broad Occupational Category 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). That category covers a wide range of health roles, from patient-facing professionals to people who support health services. It has four major groups:

  • Assisting occupations in support of health services (code 33)
  • Professional occupations in health (code 31)
  • Specialized middle management occupations in healthcare (code 30)
  • Technical occupations in health (code 32)

The strategic recruitment group. The 83 LAAs in this group went to people in Manitoba and overseas who said they had been invited directly by the province, either through a strategic recruitment initiative or through the temporary public policy for prospective PNP candidates (now expired). Employer Services accounted for the biggest share:

Strategic recruitment initiative LAAs issued
Employer Services 45
Francophone Community 16
Regional Communities 12
Ethnocultural Communities 9
Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Work Permits for Prospective Provincial Nominee Program Candidates (TPP) 1

What if you didn’t get an invitation?

Missing this draw doesn’t mean the road is closed. Manitoba’s Workforce Transition Bridge policy offers open work permits to some candidates who were not invited. It is meant to support up to 2,700 at-risk Manitoba workers, specifically MPNP candidates who held a provincial support letter and an active EOI profile as of December 31, 2025.

How is Manitoba doing in 2026 so far?

The MPNP publishes monthly Skilled Worker Stream figures. The latest ones cover January 1 to August 31, 2026. Manitoba’s nomination allocation for the year is 8,000, and 3,774 nominations had been issued by the end of August.

Month EOIs drawn Nominations issued Enhanced nominations Applications received Applications refused
January 102 483 154 292 95
February 101 425 146 237 38
March 60 389 129 104 35
April 340 444 143 109 95
May 1,002 408 128 554 55
June 228 505 186 589 53
July 2,989 433 141 739 66
August 794 687 246 1,132 47
Total 5,616 3,774 1,273 3,756 484

A quick note on two of the columns. “EOIs drawn” counts candidates who were pulled from the pool and given an LAA. The refusals column counts people who received an LAA that month, applied for nomination, and were refused.

One more figure worth knowing: applications “in assessment” means a provincial officer has been assigned to the file but no final decision has gone out yet. That number was 2,605 in January, dropped to 1,575 in April, and stood at 2,279 by the end of August.

Ready to find your own route to Manitoba, or anywhere in Canada?

Draws like this one move fast, and the details decide who gets picked. Occupation codes, what you write in your EOI, your current job in the province and your timing can all make the difference between waiting and being invited. If you are a teacher, childcare worker or healthcare professional in Manitoba, or you want to be, the right plan matters.

That is where we come in. Book a consultation at https://euiacademy.selar.com/60minutes and let’s look at where you stand. We help with provincial nomination, Express Entry, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, school admissions and more. Pick your time, bring your questions, and take the next step toward your Canadian dream.

October 15, 2026
October 15, 2026

Canada invites 752 Provincial Nominees on October 13, 2026

Author By EUIC Admin Categories Express Entry

Dear future neighbour,

Let’s face it, a score of 772 sounds impossible. That was the lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score invited in the October 13, 2026 draw, where Canada invited 752 provincial nominees to apply for permanent residence. Before you decide it is out of reach, let’s look at what that number really means for someone hoping to be nominated.

See below details of October 13 Express Entry draw

Draw Detail Information
Draw number 448
Date and time October 13, 2026 at 10:25:58
Round type Provincial Nominee Program
Invitations issued 752
CRS cutoff 772
Tie-breaking rule July 15, 2026

Is 772 too high to aim for?

Not really. An accepted provincial nomination adds 600 points to your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Take those away, and the lowest invited score comes to 172 from your age, education, language results and work experience.

The 772 applies only to this nominee round. It is not a general requirement for Express Entry. Other draws, like Canadian Experience Class draws, have much lower cutoffs because they cover different groups.

The tie-breaking timestamp is just an ordering tool. If several people were tied at 772, those who submitted their profiles before July 15, 2026 ranked first. It adds no points and is not an extra requirement.

How does the nomination route work?

You need to qualify for at least one federal Express Entry program (Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades or Canadian Experience Class). A province or territory then has to select you. Once you accept the nomination in your IRCC account, your score goes up by 600, and you become eligible for nominee-only draws.

Each province sets its own rules and expects you to genuinely plan to live and work there. Even after a nomination, the federal government still checks your documents and admissibility.

What do recent nominee draws look like?

PNP round Date Invitations CRS cutoff
448 October 13, 2026 752 772
445 September 28, 2026 733 725
442 September 14, 2026 576 734
438 August 31, 2026 562 697
435 August 17, 2026 442 760
431 August 4, 2026 507 768

Notice that more invitations does not always mean a lower cutoff. The October 13 round invited 19 more people than September 28, yet the cutoff rose by 47 points. Canada also decides the timing and size of every draw and promises no schedule, so these numbers show a range, not what comes next.

What should you do next?

If you are invited, you generally have 60 calendar days to submit a complete application, and the exact deadline is in your IRCC account. Start gathering your passport, language results, education assessment, work letters, police certificates and medical exam early. Report any change in your situation honestly, and if your recalculated score falls below the round’s cutoff, decline the invitation.

If you have not been invited yet, stay in the pool, keep your profile valid, and work on what you can control, like a stronger language result or more qualifying work experience. Research the province where you truly plan to live and work.

Are You Ready to Turn Your Nomination Goal Into a Real Plan?

The October 13 draw showed how much a provincial nomination can change your chances. The right province, stream and timing make all the difference, and the best route depends on your own profile.

Book a consultation with our team at https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes and let us look at your situation together. Whether you need help with provincial nomination, Express Entry, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications or school admissions, we can help you find your next step.

October 2, 2026
October 2, 2026

Canada invited 3,500 Tradespeople to apply for PR on October 1, 2026

Author By EUIC Admin Categories Express Entry

Dear future neighbour,

Canada’s first Express Entry draw of October landed on October 1, 2026, and it was great news for skilled tradespeople. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sent out 3,500 invitations to apply for permanent residence, and the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 476.

If you work in a trade and have been wondering whether your profile stands a real chance, this draw gives you a clear picture. It was draw number 447, and it was only the second Trades-focused draw of 2026.

See below details of October 1 draw:

Draw detail October 1 result
Express Entry draw number 447
Category Trades Occupations, 2026-Version 3
Invitations issued 3,500
Minimum CRS score 476
Rank required 3,500 or above
Draw date October 1, 2026 
Tie-breaking rule May 28, 2026 at 16:55:23 UTC

Who can be invited in a Trades draw?

Having a high score alone was not enough. To be invited, a candidate had to qualify for the Trades category and also be eligible for at least one of the programs managed through Express Entry: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program or the Canadian Experience Class.

For the Trades category itself, IRCC asks for the following:

  • At least 12 months of full-time work experience in the last three years, or the same amount in part-time hours.
  • The experience must be in a single eligible trade occupation.
  • It does not have to be continuous.
  • It can be from Canada or from outside Canada.
  • The trade does not have to be your main occupation. What matters is that you did the work.

This is the list of eligible occupations:

Eligible occupation NOC 2021
Construction estimators 22303
Construction managers 70010
Home building and renovation managers 70011
Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors 72100
Sheet metal workers 72102
Welders and related machine operators 72106
Electricians, except industrial and power system 72200
Industrial electricians 72201
Plumbers 72300
Gas fitters 72302
Carpenters 72310
Cabinetmakers 72311
Bricklayers 72320
Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics 72400
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics 72401
Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics 72402
Electrical mechanics 72422
Water well drillers 72501
Other technical trades and related occupations 72999
Concrete finishers 73100
Roofers and shinglers 73110
Painters and decorators, except interior decorators 73112
Floor covering installers 73113
Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services 82021
Butchers, retail and wholesale 63201

One more thing worth knowing: category-based draws are not a separate immigration program. You still have to qualify through the regular Express Entry system first, then meet the extra category requirements on top.

How this draw compares with the last Trades draw

The previous Trades draw took place on April 2, 2026. It invited 3,000 candidates at a CRS score of 477. This time, IRCC invited 500 more people (3,500) and the cut-off score dipped by just one point to 476. That is a handy reference point if your score is close to that range, although one draw’s cut-off is never a promise for the next one.

Where this draw fits into 2026

With this round, Canada has held 59 Express Entry draws so far this year. Here is the full list of 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

Here is how those draws break down by type:

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

And here are the invitations issued so far, 135,215 in 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

The pattern is easy to spot. Most invitations this year have gone to people with a connection to Canada, mainly provincial nominees and those with Canadian work experience. Trades is one of the smaller streams, but it clearly has real weight behind it, with 6,500 invitations across its two draws.

Didn’t get an invitation this time?

Don’t let it discourage you. Keep your profile accurate, and keep an eye out for honest ways to improve your CRS score. Also remember that you can qualify under more than one category, so being eligible for Trades does not stop you from being picked in a different type of draw later.

Ready to turn your trade experience into a Canadian PR? Let’s talk

Here is the short version: Canada invited 3,500 tradespeople to apply for permanent residence on October 1, 2026, with a minimum score of 476. Whether you are invited depends on far more than your score. It depends on your trade experience, your documents, your NOC match and how well your whole profile is put together. One small mistake can cost you time, money or even your application.

That is where we come in. Our team can review your situation and guide you toward the right pathway, whether that is Express Entry, provincial nomination, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications or school admissions. Don’t leave your Canadian dream to guesswork. Book your consultation today at https://euiacademy.selar.com/60minutes and let’s take the next step together.