What this category means
The category supports construction, infrastructure, industrial maintenance and other skilled-trade needs.
Category eligibility comes after Express Entry eligibility
You must first qualify for the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program and have a valid Express Entry profile. A category does not replace those program rules.
Who may qualify
- Be eligible for at least one of the three federal programs managed by Express Entry.
- Have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool when IRCC holds the round.
- Meet every requirement in the ministerial instructions for that specific round.
- Within the 3 years before the round, have at least 12 months of full-time work experience—or an equal amount of part-time experience—in one listed occupation. The experience does not need to be continuous and may be gained in canada or abroad.
Eligible trade occupations
Search all 25 occupations on IRCC’s current 2026 list by official title or 2021 NOC code. Eligibility depends on the NOC lead statement and duties, not the job title alone.
25 of 25 occupations shown
| Official occupation title | 2021 NOC | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| Construction estimators | 22303 | 2 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Trade category versus the Federal Skilled Trades Program
These are two different legal filters. A candidate may have trade-category experience but still enter the Express Entry pool through CEC or FSWP rather than the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
Trade occupations category
A category used to identify and rank Express Entry candidates with at least 12 months of recent experience in one of the 25 listed NOCs. It does not create a separate immigration program or automatically add CRS points.
Federal Skilled Trades Program
One of the three federal programs managed by Express Entry. It has its own minimum rules, including qualifying trade experience and normally a valid Canadian certificate of qualification or a qualifying job offer.
A candidate invited through a trade-category round must still qualify under CEC, FSWP or FSTP. Meeting the category list does not, by itself, prove eligibility under FSTP and does not automatically satisfy provincial licensing or certification rules.
Latest 2026 trade-category round
Round #408 selected candidates under Trades Occupations, 2026-Version 3. The ministerial instructions used the same 25 occupations shown in the current list.
Date and time
April 2, 2026 · 13:39:04 UTC
Invitations
3,000
Lowest CRS
477
Tie-breaking rule
February 14, 2026 · 20:53:54 UTC
Trades Occupations, 2026-Version 3 · round #408
Candidates eligible under FSWP, CEC or FSTP could be invited through this category round.
CRS 477 and the invitation total apply only to this round. They are not a forecast or a standing threshold for the next trade draw.
Open official round #408How category-based selection works
- 01
Qualify for Express Entry
Meet the minimum rules of CEC, FSWP or FSTP and create an accurate profile.
- 02
IRCC identifies eligible profiles
IRCC checks the profile information against the requirements of the announced category.
- 03
Candidates are ranked by CRS
Eligible category candidates are still ranked against one another using their CRS scores.
- 04
Highest-ranking candidates may be invited
The number invited, cut-off, tie-breaker and exact category rules are set for the individual round.
- 05
Submit the permanent-residence application
An invited candidate must prove both program and category eligibility with documents and remain admissible to Canada.
Documents to prepare
- Employer letters confirming position, dates, hours, pay and detailed duties
- Supporting pay, tax, contract or employment records where appropriate
- Evidence that the claimed duties match the listed NOC
- Certified translations for documents not in English or French
- All documents required by the underlying Express Entry program
Important limits
- Meeting a category requirement does not add separate CRS points and does not guarantee that IRCC will hold a round for that category.
- The category occupation list, work-experience period and round instructions can change. The live IRCC page and the instructions for the exact round control.
- An invitation does not remove the need to prove the underlying Express Entry program, the CRS score claimed, category eligibility and admissibility.
- A job title alone is not enough for an occupation category. The evidence must support the correct NOC lead statement and main duties.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to qualify under FSTP to receive a trade-category invitation?
No. The round may invite candidates who qualify under CEC, FSWP or FSTP, provided they also meet the category rules and the instructions for that round.
Do I need a Canadian trade certificate for the category?
The trade category itself is based on qualifying experience in a listed NOC. However, the underlying Express Entry program may impose separate requirements, and working in a regulated trade in Canada may require provincial certification.
Can foreign trade experience count?
Yes. Current category experience may be gained in Canada or abroad if it falls within the preceding three years and the work matches one listed NOC.
Can I combine two different trade occupations to reach 12 months?
No. The qualifying 12 months must be accumulated in a single listed occupation. The periods do not need to be continuous, but they must relate to the same NOC.
Can part-time or seasonal work count?
An equal amount of part-time experience can count. Non-continuous periods may also qualify under the current rule, but the total hours, dates and duties must be clearly documented.
Are construction managers and home-building managers really included?
Yes. The current list includes TEER 0 management occupations as well as TEER 2 and 3 trades. Eligibility follows the exact official NOC list.
Does being a licensed electrician guarantee an invitation?
No. Licensing may help prove professional standing, but the candidate must still meet Express Entry and category requirements and rank high enough by CRS in a round.
Does the trade category give extra CRS points?
No separate CRS points are awarded merely for category membership. Eligible candidates are ranked by their existing CRS scores.
Official government sources
General information only. This page was reviewed on the date shown, but IRCC may change categories or instructions without notice. Verify the live government source before relying on any requirement.