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Skilled trades · Government of Canada · Free help

The $5,000 Red Seal Completion Bonus

Finished your apprenticeship and earned your Red Seal? The Government of Canada says you will be able to apply for $5,000 per certification starting November 16, 2026. Here is who qualifies, the dates and what to get ready.

How to applyGet free help

By , founder, U.S. Air Force veteranPublished Last reviewed How we research and correct this

The short answer

What you need to know

$5,000
per Red Seal certification, up to $50,000 in total
Nov 16
2026: the application portal opens
Apr 1
2025: certified on or after this date? You can apply
May 31
2027: the deadline if you were certified before Nov 16, 2026

Who qualifies

  • You completed an apprenticeship and earned certification in a designated Red Seal trade on or after April 1, 2025
  • You are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person
  • You are not currently attending high school
  • Permanent residents whose SIN starts with a 9, and protected persons, must also show proof of status

Deadlines

  • Certified April 1, 2025 to November 15, 2026: apply by May 31, 2027
  • Certified on or after November 16, 2026: apply within 12 months of your certification date
Official page on Canada.caIs my trade Red Seal?

Not eligible yet?

Still an apprentice? The bonus is paid when you are certified, not while you train. Read how apprenticeship works, then see the other funding you can use along the way.

Start with the trades guide · Other funding

How to apply

Applying, step by step

The Government of Canada runs the application. This is the order that makes it easiest.

  1. Check your trade is a designated Red Seal trade

    Not every trade is. See the list of all 54 or the official Red Seal list.

  2. Check your certification date

    It must be on or after April 1, 2025. The date decides your deadline: May 31, 2027 for certifications up to November 15, 2026, or 12 months from your certification date after that.

  3. Get your details together

    Social Insurance Number, mailing address, banking information for direct deposit, your trade and certification date, your province or territory and your apprentice identification number. Permanent residents with a SIN starting with 9 and protected persons also need proof of status.

  4. Wait for November 16, 2026

    The portal is not open yet. The Government of Canada says it will accept applications starting that day.

  5. Apply on Canada.ca and submit everything within 28 days

    Once you start, you have 28 calendar days to submit all documents or you start again. Some provinces may ask for more.

Free help from Launch League

Want a hand with the application?

Nick will walk you through it, free, whether you are a tradesperson or a trades employer.

  • Check whether you qualify and whether your trade is Red Seal
  • Get your documents together before you start so you finish inside the 28-day window
  • Walk through the official Government of Canada application while you fill in your own
  • Employers: work out which apprenticeship programs fit your business and what you need to apply
  • No charge and no catch. You enter your SIN and banking details yourself on the government site. We do not collect or store them, cannot approve an application and cannot guarantee a result
Ask for free application helpAll skilled trades help

Questions

Red Seal bonus, answered

What is the Red Seal Completion Bonus?
It is a Government of Canada payment of $5,000 for each designated Red Seal trade certification, up to $50,000 in total, for people who completed an apprenticeship and were certified on or after April 1, 2025.
When can I apply for the Red Seal Completion Bonus?
The Government of Canada says the application portal opens November 16, 2026. If you were certified between April 1, 2025 and November 15, 2026, apply by May 31, 2027. If you are certified on or after November 16, 2026, apply within 12 months of your certification date.
Who qualifies for the $5,000 Red Seal bonus?
You must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person, not currently attending high school, and have completed an apprenticeship and earned certification in a designated Red Seal trade on or after April 1, 2025. Permanent residents whose SIN starts with a 9, and protected persons, must also show proof of status.
Is my trade eligible?
Only designated Red Seal trades count. There are 54 Red Seal trades out of more than 300 designated trades in Canada. Check the official Red Seal list, or our list of all 54, for yours.
I was certified in 2025. Can I still get the bonus?
If your certification was on or after April 1, 2025 and your trade is a designated Red Seal trade, the Government of Canada says you will be able to apply once the portal opens on November 16, 2026, and you have until May 31, 2027.
Can I get it more than once?
The bonus is $5,000 per Red Seal certification, up to $50,000 in total.
What do I need to apply?
Your Social Insurance Number, mailing address, banking information for direct deposit, your Red Seal trade and certification date, your province or territory of certification and your apprentice identification number. An email address is optional but recommended. Some provinces may ask for more. All documents must be submitted within 28 calendar days of starting an application.
Does it cost anything to apply, and can Launch League help?
You apply to the Government of Canada directly. Launch League offers free help: Nick can check your eligibility, help you get your documents together and walk through the official application with you. You enter your own SIN and banking details on the government site, and we do not collect or store them. We cannot approve an application or guarantee a result.

Source: Government of Canada, Red Seal Completion Bonus and the October 23, 2026 news release, read November 1, 2026. Rules and dates can change, so confirm on Canada.ca. Launch League is independent of the Government of Canada and does not run this program.

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