Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu urged eligible applicants to prepare in advance of the portal opening, in an announcement from Employment and Social Development Canada on October 23.

The bonus is part of Team Canada Strong, an $8 billion government investment that aims to recruit, train and hire 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers over five years.

Who can apply

Journeypersons who completed an apprenticeship and obtained certification in a designated Red Seal trade on or after April 1, 2025 are eligible.

Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons, and must not currently be attending high school, the department said.

Permanent residents whose Social Insurance Number begins with a 9, and protected persons, must also provide proof of status in Canada.

What to prepare

Applicants are asked to start gathering documents now, including their Social Insurance Number, mailing address and banking details for direct deposit.

They will also need the name and certification date of their Red Seal trade, the province or territory of certification and their apprentice identification number.

An email address is optional but recommended, and some provinces or territories may require additional documents, the department said.

Deadlines

Applicants must submit all supporting documents within 28 calendar days of starting an application, or they will have to apply again.

Those certified between April 1, 2025 and November 15, 2026 must apply by May 31, 2027.

For certifications obtained on or after November 16, 2026, applications must be received within 12 months of the certification date.

Why the government is doing it

Canada will have more than 1.4 million job openings in the skilled trades between 2024 and 2033, the government said.

The openings are needed to build homes, expand transit and develop energy infrastructure, it said.

Hajdu said there are good jobs waiting in the Red Seal trades but not enough certified workers, and that the bonus is meant to recognise apprentices who see their training through.

The government also provides nearly $1 billion a year in other apprenticeship supports, including loans, project funding, tax credits, Employment Insurance benefits and support for the Red Seal Program, according to the department.