Team Canada Strong · Apprenticeship completion
Canada Apprenticeship Completion Bonus 2026: $5,000 | Opens Nov 16
Canada’s Red Seal Completion Bonus supports people who completed a registered apprenticeship and earned certification in a Red Seal trade designated in their province or territory. Certification and apprenticeship completion must both be supported.
Official update: Site verified:
- Per eligible trade
- CAD 5,000
The current official program pages do not state a cumulative maximum. This does not establish unlimited entitlement. Confirm multiple-trade cases with the program; passing another exam alone does not create another entitlement.
Applications open November 16, 2026
As verified on 2026-11-03, applications are not yet open. Check your eligibility and prepare documents now. Use the government program page for the official application route and current status.
Anonymous eligibility precheck
Check one trade at a time. Answers stay in this page and are cleared when you leave or reset. No SIN, name, bank details or documents are requested. A positive result is not approval.
Requirements to check
- Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person.
- Complete apprenticeship training as an apprentice registered with a provincial or territorial authority, and obtain certification in the designated Red Seal trade.
- Have a certification date on or after April 1, 2025. Use the certification date, not the exam or training start date.
- Not be a regular full-time high school student. Adult learning and professional upgrading classes are excluded from that definition.
- Confirm the trade is designated in the province or territory of certification, and meet the application and document deadlines.
Your certification date sets the deadline
| Certification date | Apply by |
|---|---|
| April 1, 2025–November 15, 2026 (inclusive) | May 31, 2027 |
| November 16, 2026 or later | Within 12 months of certification |
Submit all required supporting documents within 28 calendar days of your application date. If documents arrive late, a new application is required. This does not extend the original application deadline.
Documents and information to prepare
Prepare these privately. This site does not collect, store or upload them. Provide them only through the official application system.
- Social Insurance Number (SIN). All protected persons, and permanent residents whose SIN starts with 9, also need proof of status in Canada.
- Mailing address; email is optional but recommended.
- Banking information for direct deposit.
- Red Seal trade name, certification date and province or territory of certification.
- Apprentice identification number, plus apprenticeship completion and trade certification evidence from the responsible authority.
Ontario: two documents required
- Certificate of Qualification
- Certificate of Apprenticeship
Ontario reprint exception: if the Certificate of Apprenticeship you need reprinted was originally issued before April 2, 2025, provide a Certificate of Apprenticeship Confirmation Letter in its place. The Certificate of Qualification is still required. This is not a general alternative for all applicants.
The official provincial and territorial document list is available. As of November 3, 2026, Quebec still says “Details to follow”. Use the official entry for your province or territory.
View the official provincial and territorial document list ↗Frequently asked questions
Can I apply now?+
As verified on 2026-11-03, applications are not open. The announced opening date is November 16, 2026. This page links to the official program page.
How much is paid per trade, and is there a total limit?+
The bonus is CAD 5,000 for each eligible Red Seal trade in which you completed a registered apprenticeship and received certification. The current official program pages do not state a cumulative maximum. This does not establish unlimited entitlement. Confirm multiple-trade cases with the program; passing another exam alone does not create another entitlement.
Does a TEA and exam pass make me eligible?+
No automatic eligibility follows. The published rules require completion of training as a registered apprentice as well as certification. A TEA or Trade Qualifier challenge alone does not meet that apprenticeship-completion requirement. Confirm complex training histories with the official program.
What is the deadline for a 2025 certification?+
Certifications dated April 1, 2025 through November 15, 2026 have a May 31, 2027 application deadline. Certifications from November 16, 2026 require an application within 12 months.
Do adult learning or upgrading classes count as high school?+
The official glossary excludes adult learning and professional upgrading classes from its regular full-time high school student definition. All other requirements still apply.
Which Ontario documents are required, including for an old certificate reprint?+
Ontario requires a Certificate of Qualification and a Certificate of Apprenticeship. Ontario reprint exception: if the Certificate of Apprenticeship you need reprinted was originally issued before April 2, 2025, provide a Certificate of Apprenticeship Confirmation Letter in its place. The Certificate of Qualification is still required. This is not a general alternative for all applicants.
When are supporting documents due?+
All required documents are due within 28 calendar days of the application date. A late submission requires a new application and does not extend the original deadline. The official provincial and territorial document list is available. As of November 3, 2026, Quebec still says “Details to follow”. Use the official entry for your province or territory.
Is this the former Apprenticeship Completion Grant?+
No. The former CAD 2,000 Apprenticeship Completion Grant closed on March 31, 2025. Use the new Red Seal Completion Bonus official program page for application information.
Check your trade and certification pathway
Official sources
- Program overview ↗
- Eligibility and deadlines ↗
- Official glossary and apprenticeship definitions ↗
- October 23, 2026 announcement ↗
- Official Red Seal trade list ↗
- Prepare to apply: provincial and territorial documents ↗
This page and precheck provide general information, not approval. Personal eligibility, accepted documents and application status remain subject to the Government of Canada and the responsible provincial or territorial authority.