Regina 
Canadians who recently completed an apprenticeship and earned their Red Seal certification could qualify for a new $5,000 federal bonus, including those who became certified last year.
Credit: Thampapon Otavorn/Pexels
The federal government announced that applications for the Team Canada Strong Red Seal Completion Bonus will open November 16, 2026, with eligibility extending back to April 1, 2025.
Who Qualifies for the $5,000 Bonus?
The payment is available to journeypersons who have completed an apprenticeship and received certification in a Red Seal trade designated in their province or territory. A journeyperson is a skilled trades worker who has completed the required training and apprenticeship and obtained certification in their trade.
Applicants must also be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons and must not currently attend high school.
There are two important application deadlines:
- Certified between April 1, 2025, and November 15, 2026: Apply by May 31, 2027.
- Certified November 16, 2026, or later: Apply within 12 months of certification.
Red Seal trades include carpenters, construction electricians, plumbers, welders, cooks, bakers, hairstylists, automotive service technicians, heavy duty equipment technicians, industrial mechanics (millwrights), and refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics, among others.
What Documents Do You Need?
Applicants can prepare now by gathering their Social Insurance Number, mailing address, banking details for direct deposit, Red Seal trade name, certification date, province or territory of certification and apprentice identification number.
An email address is optional but recommended. Some applicants will also need proof of immigration status or additional provincial documentation.
All supporting documents must be submitted within 28 calendar days of starting an application, or the applicant will need to begin again.
Applications will be available through the federal government’s Red Seal Completion Bonus program.
More Financial Support for Apprentices
The bonus is part of the government’s $8 billion Team Canada Strong initiative, aimed at recruiting, training and hiring 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers by 2030–31.
Other planned supports include a $400 weekly training top-up, beginning with eligible training weeks on or after January 3, 2027, and employer incentives of up to $10,000 for hiring eligible first-year apprentices.
“There are good jobs waiting in the Red Seal trades, and not enough certified workers to fill them,” said Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families.
The government estimates Canada will have more than 1.4 million skilled trades job openings between 2024 and 2033.
