Canada Express Entry Draw: 3,500 Trades Candidates Invited at CRS 476

Canada has started October with good news for skilled trades professionals in the Express Entry pool.

In a new Trades Occupations draw held on October 1, 2026, a total of 3,500 candidates received Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residence. The CRS cut-off for the round was 476.

The draw was conducted at 12:47:55 UTC under Trades Occupations, 2026 – Version 3.

October 1 Express Entry Draw Details

Category: Trades Occupations, 2026 – Version 3

Invitations issued: 3,500

CRS cut-off: 476

Date: October 1, 2026

Rank required: 3,500 or above

Tie-breaking date: May 28, 2026 at 16:55:23 UTC

For candidates sitting at the cut-off score of 476, the tie-breaking rule becomes important. Where two or more candidates had the same score, their profile submission date and time determined who received an invitation.

What This Draw Means for Trades Candidates

For people working in skilled trades, this draw is worth paying attention to.

Canada's category-based Express Entry system gives IRCC the flexibility to invite candidates with experience in occupations that match the country's economic and workforce priorities.

This means CRS is not the only part of the picture. A candidate's occupation, work experience, language ability and eligibility under an Express Entry program can all play an important role.

The latest round also shows why candidates shouldn't simply create an Express Entry profile and leave it untouched. Keeping employment history, language results and other information updated can make a real difference when a relevant invitation round takes place.

Is This a Good Time to Enter the Express Entry Pool?

If you work in an eligible trade occupation and have been considering Canada PR, it may be worth checking your eligibility now.

Start by identifying the correct NOC for your work experience and calculating your CRS score. From there, you can get a clearer idea of whether Express Entry is suitable for your profile and where improvements may be possible.

Already in the pool? Review your profile carefully. Even relatively small changes to language scores, work experience, education or other CRS factors can affect your ranking.

Planning for Canada PR?

There is no single Express Entry strategy that works for everyone.

At Visas Avenue, we assess a candidate's profile based on factors such as age, education, work experience, occupation and language ability before suggesting a suitable Canada PR pathway.

If you are a skilled trades professional and want to understand where you stand after the latest Express Entry draw, getting your profile assessed can be a practical first step.

Disclaimer: Immigration rules and Express Entry requirements can change. Applicants should confirm the latest eligibility criteria and program requirements before applying.

- Cathlin