Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) resumed its trades-focused Express Entry draws on September 18, marking the first such draw in nearly a year. A total of 1,250 candidates were issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency under the federal Express Entry system’s trades category.
To qualify in this latest round, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 505—a notably high cut-off compared to other recent category-based draws. While the cutoff is steep, industry observers expect it to trend downward in future rounds as IRCC continues to issue invitations across targeted occupations.
The trades category was launched in 2023 as part of IRCC’s new category-based selection strategy, aimed at addressing labor shortages in key economic sectors. These targeted draws prioritize skilled tradespersons such as cooks, electricians, welders, and carpenters who meet Canadian labor market needs.
According to internal planning documents from IRCC, the department intends to issue approximately 3,300 invitations to eligible trades workers in the second half of 2025. With only 1,250 issued so far, an estimated 2,050 ITAs could still be allocated by year-end—though this number remains subject to change.
To help applicants better understand what kind of profiles are successful in trades-focused draws, Maple News provides a fictional example based on current draw trends:
Kavitha Mustafa, a 25-year-old cook from India, would be a strong candidate. She holds a two-year diploma in culinary food management, along with two years of work experience overseas and one year of Canadian experience. Additionally, she’s licensed as a cook by Skilled Trades Ontario and has obtained her Certificate of Qualification (CoQ). With this profile, Kavitha likely meets or exceeds the CRS cut-off of 505 required in the recent draw.
As IRCC intensifies its focus on attracting skilled professionals through targeted immigration pathways, tradespeople who meet the program criteria are encouraged to build competitive Express Entry profiles. Credentials such as Canadian work experience, provincial trade certifications, and language proficiency can significantly boost CRS scores.
Maple News will continue to monitor Express Entry developments closely and provide timely updates as more category-based draws unfold in the coming months.