Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is marking the beginning of the fourth quarter with a groundbreaking accomplishment as the Largest Ever Express Entry Trades Draw On October 1 Issues 3500 PR Invitations to skilled technical workers.Organized under the Trade Occupations category, IRCC issued 3,500 PR invites to become Permanent Residents of Canada. The CRS threshold needed to qualify was fixed at 476, 42 points below recent Canadian Experience Class thresholds.
Highlights of Largest Ever Express Entry Trades Draw On October 1
- Draw Date – October 01, 2026
- Draw Category – Trade Occupations category
- Total Invitations Issued – 3,500
- Minimum CRS Score Required – 476
Understanding the 476 Score Threshold and Trade Advantage
CRS score cut-off of 476 is a considerable trading advantage for candidates having skill trade experience. On September 29 CEC draw, candidates had to have a minimum score of 518. However, qualified candidates in this draw having skill trade experience got Invitations to Apply (ITA) at 42 points lower than the cut-off score.
In spite of a period of 5 months from the April 2 draw where 3,000 ITA’s were offered at CRS 477, CRS score has reduced only by 1 point while the size of the draw increased.
It means that there is a relatively stable moderate number of qualified trades in the Express Entry Pool, which enables large draw sizes to maintain low cut-off scores.
Comparison of 2026 Express Entry Skill Trades Draws
The following table demonstrates trends regarding the number of invitations and minimum score requirements used in both trades draws that were made in 2026.
| Draw Date | Round Type | ITAs Issued | Minimum CRS Score | Score Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 1, 2026 | Trade Occupations | 3,500 | 476 | -1 point |
| April 2, 2026 | Trade Occupations | 3,000 | 477 |
— IRCC has extended 6,500 ITAs for trades professionals in 2026 through two selection rounds.
Trades Occupations Category Occupations in 2026
After changes to the category criteria at the beginning of the year and excluding food service occupations such as cooks, Trades Occupations category will include the following core industrial, residential construction, and mechanical infrastructure trades:
- Electrical & Mechanical Trades – Electricians (industrial and construction), HVAC Technicians, plumbers, and pipefitters.
- Construction & Structural Trades – carpenters, welders, Structural metal fabricators, Bricklayers, and heavy equipment operators.
- Machinists & Maintenance Trades – heavy equipment mechanics, Millwrights, and industrial machinery mechanics.
Applicants must prove their work experience of at least one year of continuous full-time skilled work experience in an eligible trades NOC occupation with language skills meeting the program threshold levels.
What Invited Trades Professionals Need to Do
Candidates who have been given an ITA in the Largest Ever Express Entry Trades Draw On October 1 Offers 3500 PR Invitations have 60 days in total to submit their online applications for permanent residence.
Some of the key steps to be taken by invited candidates –
- Work Experience Verification – Candidates need to provide references that detail the work they do on a daily basis, employment agreements, and proof of payment to verify their work experience in a specific eligible trade NOC group.
- Trade Certifications and License – Although not required in all the federal streams, having a provincial certificate of qualification or trade apprenticeship helps support the candidate’s profile.
- Medical and Police Check – Medical examinations in advance with panel physicians, as well as police certificates from countries lived in for six months or more since the age of 18.