.png)
For Brits moving abroad
Moving to Canada as a Tradesperson
Last checked: October 2026
Moving to Canada as a tradesperson is one of the strongest routes for Brits, because skilled trades have their own Express Entry category. Canada is short of trades workers. A large share of its experienced tradespeople are reaching retirement, and the country is trying to build far more homes than it has workers for. BuildForce Canada, which tracks the construction workforce, expects more people to retire from construction over the next decade than to join it.
The demand isn't only in housing. Infrastructure, energy and resource projects, including mining in the north, also need electricians, welders and heavy equipment workers, though much of that work is remote and on rotation.
The big difference from the UK is that most trades are certified by each province, not nationally. Before you can work, you'll usually need your UK qualification assessed by the province you're moving to, and for some trades you'll need to pass an exam. The Red Seal endorsement lets you work in your trade across most of Canada.
Here's how it works, which trades are in demand, and what to check before you apply.
Trades in demand in Canada
All of these trades are in Canada's Express Entry trades category, which picks skilled workers for permanent residence.
Electrical
Electrician (except Industrial and Power System), Industrial Electrician, Electrical Mechanic, Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic
Plumbing and gas
Plumber, Gas Fitter
Building
Carpenter, Cabinetmaker, Bricklayer, Concrete Finisher, Roofer and Shingler, Floor Covering Installer, Painter and Decorator
Metal and engineering
Welder, Sheet Metal Worker, Machinist, Construction Millwright and Industrial Mechanic
Vehicles and equipment
Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanic
Supervisors and other trades
Contractor and Supervisor (Carpentry Trades), Contractor and Supervisor (Mechanic Trades), Water Well Driller
Canada has no food group, since it took cooks off the list, so "Food and other trades" becomes "Supervisors and other trades".
Put the 12-months paragraph under box 2. I still need to check this list against canada.ca before it goes live.
Visa Options When Moving to Canada as a Tradesperson
Canada has several ways in for UK tradespeople. Some lead straight to permanent residence, while others let you work in Canada first and apply to stay later. Which one suits you depends on whether you have a job offer, your age, and which province you want to live in.
Express Entry
Most UK tradespeople apply through Express Entry, Canada's main route to permanent residence. You create a profile, get a points score, and wait to be invited to apply. The Federal Skilled Trades Program sits inside Express Entry and is built for trades workers, but you need either a job offer from a Canadian employer or a certificate of qualification from a province.
Provincial Nominee Programs
Each province runs its own programme to pick the workers it needs. A nomination adds a big boost to your Express Entry score, and some provinces target trades directly, so check the province you want to live in.
Employer-sponsored work permits
If a Canadian employer offers you a job, you can often move on a work permit first and apply for permanent residence later. The employer usually needs government approval to hire from overseas.
Working holiday
Younger Brits can apply for a working holiday visa through International Experience Canada. It's temporary, but it lets you work in Canada and gain the Canadian experience that helps a later Express Entry application. Check the age limit and quota for the current year on canada.ca.
Getting Your UK Trade Recognised in Canada
There's no single national body that assesses trades in Canada. Each province certifies its own tradespeople, so you'll deal with the trade authority where you plan to live, such as Skilled Trades Ontario, SkilledTradesBC, or Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training.
Usually you'll send proof of your UK qualifications and work experience, and if they're accepted you'll sit a written exam in your trade. Pass it and you get a certificate of qualification, which you can also use for the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
In some trades, including electrician and plumber in most provinces, certification is compulsory, so you can't legally work without it. If your trade is a Red Seal trade, passing the Red Seal exam lets you work across most of Canada without certifying again in each province.
Moving to Canada from the UK with Your Family
If you get permanent residence through Express Entry, you can include your partner and dependent children on the same application, so the whole family gets permanent residence together. Your partner can be a husband, wife or common-law partner you've lived with for at least a year.
If you move on a work permit first, your partner may be able to get an open work permit, which lets them work for almost any employer in Canada. Your children can usually study at a local public school while you're there.
Once you're permanent residents, public schooling is free and your family can join the provincial health plan. Some provinces have a waiting period before health cover starts, so check the rules for your province and arrange private health insurance for the gap.
Our free relocation app compares your trade, age and priorities, and ranks the countries that suit you best. It takes less than a minute.
Questions about moving to Canada as a tradesperson?
Send us a message and we’ll get back to you within one to two days.
.jpg)