Canada Holds First Express Entry Draw Under New Trades Category

In this latest round, IRCC issued 3,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Trades Occupations category, highlighting Canada’s continued focus on skilled trades workers.

Key Requirements for This Draw

To qualify for this draw, candidates needed to meet the following criteria:

• A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 477
• Must have created their Express Entry profile before 8:53 p.m. UTC on February 14, 2026

Express Entry Draw Result – 2nd April 2026

Date	EE Draw Category	No. of ITAs	Minimum CRS Score Requirement	Tie-breaking rule
2 April 2026	Trades Occupations, 2026-Version 3	3,000	477	February 14, 2026 at 20:53:54 UTC

Click here to see the complete list of Express Entry draws until date

First Trades Draw After Rule Changes

This is the first draw under the updated Trades category, following changes to work experience requirements introduced in February 2026. Trades occupations continue to be a priority category for Canada in both 2025 and 2026, reflecting strong labour market demand.

Draw Type	Number of Draws
Provincial Nominee Program	7
Canadian Experience Class	6
French-Language proficiency	3
Physicians with Canadian work experience	1
Healthcare and social services	1
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience	1
Trades	1

From this trend, it’s clear that Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws are leading the selection pattern in 2026.

Total ITAs Issued in 2026

Canada has already issued a significant number of ITAs this year, indicating that immigration targets continue to remain active and on track.

Draw Type	ITAs Issued
Canadian Experience Class	30,250
French-Language proficiency	18,000
Healthcare and social services	4,000
Provincial Nominee Program	2,939
Physicians with Canadian work experience	391
Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience	250
Trades	3,000

What This Means for Applicants

This draw highlights that Trades occupations are now a major focus in Canada’s immigration strategy. Along with Trades, candidates with:

• Canadian work experience
• Provincial nominations

are still receiving strong priority in 2026.

If you are planning your Express Entry profile, this is a clear signal that targeting priority categories like trades can improve your chances. Keeping your profile updated and aligned with current trends is becoming more important than ever.

What This Means for Applicants

If you are planning to apply for Canada PR, this trend gives you a clear direction. Having Canadian work experience or qualifying under CEC can greatly improve your chances of receiving an ITA.

At the same time, relying only on a basic Express Entry profile may not be enough anymore. You need a focused plan—whether that means gaining relevant experience, improving your CRS score, or exploring other targeted categories.

Plan Your Canada PR Journey with the Right Strategy

With Express Entry becoming more targeted in 2026, understanding which pathway suits your profile—whether CEC, PNP, or category-based draws—has become more important than ever, as it can directly influence your chances of success.

Visas Avenue can help you assess your profile and guide you through a practical, step-by-step process, so you can move ahead with better clarity toward your Canada PR goal. You can connect with their team for a detailed evaluation and understand your best possible options. Call Toll-Free at 78-18-000-777 or email info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar