Express Entry Trades Category (2026): Electricians, Plumbers, Carpenters and More

Canada needs more skilled tradespeople, especially to build housing. The trades category is one of the category-based draws in Express Entry. In a trades draw, IRCC invites only candidates with recent experience in a listed trade, ranked by their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

The trades category is different from the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST). FST is an eligibility program with its own rules, including a job offer or Canadian certificate. The trades category is a way of selecting candidates from the pool. You can be in the trades category while qualifying under the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class instead.

IRCC publishes the full list of eligible National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes on its category-based selection page. Examples on the 2026 list include:

Check the official list for your exact code. Your duties, not your job title, decide your NOC code.

You are included in trades draws if you:

1. Have an active Express Entry profile and are eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades Program.
2. Have at least 12 months of full-time work experience, or an equal amount of part-time, in one listed trade occupation.
3. Gained that experience within the last 3 years, in Canada or abroad. It does not need to be continuous.

A job offer is not required for the category itself. But if your only eligible program is FST, you need a job offer or Canadian certificate of qualification to enter the pool. Since March 25, 2025, job offers no longer add CRS points.

Most listed trades are TEER 2 or 3. If you have been working in Canada, the Canadian Experience Class is often the easiest fit.

Not to be invited. But many trades in Canada are regulated by provinces. In compulsory trades, such as electrician and plumber in most provinces, you cannot work without a provincial certificate of qualification. Some certificates carry a Red Seal endorsement recognized across Canada.

Plan to have your experience assessed and to write the trade exam in the province where you will live. See province hubs such as Alberta, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. Employers can read hiring construction workers from abroad.

A trades invitation is a normal Invitation to Apply (ITA). You have 60 days to submit your full application. See from ITA to COPR.

Trade experience is often harder to document than office work, because many tradespeople work for small firms, on contract, or on cash jobs. The officer needs to see:

• Reference letters on company letterhead with your job title, dates, hours per week, pay, and main duties that match your NOC code.
• Supporting records, such as contracts, pay slips, tax records, or social insurance statements.
• Trade papers, such as apprenticeship records or licenses from your home country, if you have them.

Self-employed trade work does not count for the Canadian Experience Class, and informal work that you cannot prove will not help you. If your records are thin, fix that before you enter the pool. False or inflated claims are treated as misrepresentation, which carries a 5-year ban. If you are unsure whether your experience qualifies, talk to a lawyer or licensed consultant (RCIC).

IRCC decides when to hold trades draws and how many invitations to issue. Each draw has its own CRS cutoff. Follow them on the Express Entry draws tracker and check your score with the CRS calculator.

Other routes for tradespeople:

• Provincial nominations, which add 600 CRS points. Many provinces target trades and construction. See PNP.
• The construction worker pathway announced in 2025, which has not opened as of September 2026.
• Rural Community Immigration Pilot and Atlantic Immigration Program, if you have a job offer in a participating region.

Beware of fake trade job offers. A real employer will not charge you for a job offer or a Labour Market Impact Assessment. See scam protection.

Entering the Express Entry pool is free. After an invitation, you pay IRCC's fees.

As of September 2026 (fees rose on April 30, 2026), IRCC charges these fees for economic programs such as Express Entry and the PNP, in Canadian dollars:

Biometrics cost $85 per person, or $170 for a family applying together. Check the IRCC fee list before paying, because fees change. Budget as well for language tests, an Educational Credential Assessment if you studied abroad, police certificates, and medical exams.

IRCC aims to process most Express Entry applications in about 6 months after you submit a complete application. Real times vary. Check the IRCC processing times tool or our processing times page.

Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children under 22 can be included in your application and become permanent residents with you. Each must pass medical and security checks.