01
NOC duty-matching worksheet
Put your real duties next to the NOC lead statement and main duties, so the letter describes the trade you're claiming.
Tracks / Skilled trades
In a skilled trade? Get reference letters that prove the trade.
Templates, scripts, and a NOC duty-matching worksheet for electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, and the other trades on the 2026 list. In Canada or abroad.
Get the kit for $29
Instant download. English and French editions, in Word, Google Docs, and PDF.
3,000
invitations in the one trades draw of 2026, with a cutoff of 477
25
trade occupations on the 2026 list, from electricians and plumbers to welders and carpenters
64%
of 2024 trades-category qualifiers were invited under the Canadian Experience Class
Source: IRCC rounds of invitations data; IRCC category-based selection page; Express Entry Year-End Report 2024, Table 19a. See the full 2026 data report
01 / The problem
Your title says carpenter. The letter has to show carpentry.
Trade draws are narrow. You need at least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in one listed trade, within the past three years. It doesn't have to be one continuous stretch. An officer checks that against the duties in your reference letters.
That's hard in the trades. You worked for three contractors in two years. One was seasonal. One paid you by the hour with overtime. One closed. The foreman who knows your work doesn't have letterhead, and the owner who does has never seen you frame a wall.
How the 60 days go when you start lateDay
01
Invitation lands. You text the owners of three contractors you worked for.
07
One replies with a two-line email. No letterhead, no hours.
19
Another company closed last spring. Nobody left to sign.
36
Your hours changed every season. Nobody can say what your weekly average was.
60
Deadline. The clock doesn't care how the jobsite ran.
The people who submit on time started collecting documents before the invitation came.
02 / What it costs you
Every month of trade experience needs a letter behind it.
The minimum for category draws went up from six months to one year in 2026. If one employer's letter is weak, you can come up short of the year.
And if a company won't sign or no longer exists, you need another way to prove the work, with pay stubs, tax slips, or contracts to back it up.
Hi, confirming [Name] worked with us from 2023 to 2025 as a carpenter. Good worker.
Sent from my phone
Missing: letterhead, duties, hours, pay, signature
- Letterhead with the company's address, phone, and email
- Your name
- Name, title, and signature of your immediate supervisor or the owner
- Every position you held there, with its trade title
- Duties and responsibilities that match your NOC code
- Job status, if it's your current job
- Hours per week, and how seasonal work ran
- Annual salary plus benefits and overtime
- The dates you worked there
03 / The fix
What you'll use most
The whole kit is yours: five modules and a bonus. These are the parts tradespeople open first.
02
Reference letters
The standard letter, a version for people whose title changed at one company, request scripts for owners and former supervisors, and a letter of explanation for when a company won't sign or has closed.
03
Self-employed evidence pack
A client letter template plus an invoice and contract summary sheet, for anyone who worked as a subcontractor. Self-employed time doesn't count toward CEC, so check which program you're in.
04
Letters of explanation
Ready-to-edit letters for employment gaps, overlapping jobs, and documents that are missing or delayed.
05
The 60-day roadmap
Week by week from invitation to submission, with a tracker that shows what's requested, received, checked, and uploaded.
Bonus
Pre-ITA readiness checklist
What to start collecting now, ordered by how long each document takes.
Guides for your situation
How this kit was built
From IRCC's own documents. Nothing made up.
Every requirement in the kit comes from IRCC's published guidance: its instructions for work experience letters and proof of funds, the Express Entry Year-End Report, and the official rounds of invitations data. Every number on this site names its source.
When IRCC changes a rule, the files get updated and you get the new version free.
What this isn't: advice from an immigration consultant or a lawyer. The kit is general information. If your situation is complicated, hire a licensed RCIC or lawyer. You'll still need these documents either way.
- Built from IRCC guidance
- Every stat sourced
- Free updates
- Not affiliated with IRCC
Orderv2026.1
The Express Entry 2026 Document Kit
US$29
One time. Free updates when IRCC changes its requirements.
- All five modules plus the bonus checklistIncluded
- English and French editionsIncluded
- Word, Google Docs, and PDFIncluded
- Instant downloadIncluded
Price in US dollars. In many countries Gumroad lowers it automatically at checkout, based on local purchasing power.
Digital download. All sales are final.
- Independent guide. Not a government site.
- We never call you. No phone number needed.
- Secure checkout by Gumroad.
Questions
FAQ
Which trades count for the trades draws?
The 2026 list has 25 occupations, including electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, HVAC mechanics, and butchers. The full list is on IRCC's category-based selection page.
I worked for several contractors. Is that covered?
Yes. There are request scripts for each employer, a letter for overlapping jobs, and a tracker to add up your months.
I was a subcontractor or self-employed. What now?
Self-employed work has its own proof: evidence you owned the business, evidence of your income, and letters from clients showing the service and the payment. A statement from you alone isn't accepted. Self-employed time also doesn't count toward the Canadian Experience Class. The kit includes a client letter template and an invoice and contract summary sheet. If your situation is complicated, talk to a licensed RCIC or lawyer.
Does it work for Canadian Experience Class?
Yes. Most tradespeople invited in 2024 came through CEC, and the reference letters and roadmap work for CEC, FSW, and FST.
Is this legal advice?
No. These are general templates and checklists. For advice on your own file, use a licensed RCIC or lawyer.
Can't I find all this online for free?
Yes, you can. IRCC publishes its rules, and the forums are full of advice. You're welcome to piece it together yourself, no hard feelings. We spent the hours reading IRCC's guides, year-end reports, and draw data, turned it into fill-in templates and checklists, and we keep it current when IRCC changes something. The $29 buys you those hours back.
Can I get a refund?
No. All sales are final. It's a digital download, the files are yours the moment you buy, and a lot of research goes into building it and keeping it up to date. Read the full list of what's inside before you order.