Last week, IRCC conducted its first-ever Express Entry category-based draw for transport professions. This comes as the nation takes another step towards addressing areas of the national labor market with some of the most notable employment gaps & shortages. Below are the ways of immigrating to Canada as a transport worker.  

 Why Transport Professions Were Selected As An Express Entry Category 

The six categories selected for Express Entry category-based selection are made up of professions selected based on employment industries when there are significant shortages in the labor market. 

Part of this decision process also involved IRCC consultations with government partners, territorial as well as provincial governments, & other national stakeholders. 

Throughout the consultations, ‘trades, equipment operations, transport, & other related professions were viewed as the sector experiencing the greatest needs by over 16% of respondents.’

Professions Eligible For Category-Based Selection In Transport Category 

The ten professions mentioned below are eligible for the transport occupation category under Express Entry: 

  • Railway car men/women
  • Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
  • Engineer officers, water transport
  • Deck officers, water transport
  • Transport truck drivers
  • Air traffic controllers and related occupations
  • Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors
  • Managers in transportation
  • Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
  • Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors

Ways Of Immigrating To Canada As A Transport Worker 

Apart from Express Entry category-based selection, the following are the ways of immigrating to Canada as a transport worker. Take a look!

  • Standard Express Entry Draw 

While category-based draws are a specific way for applicants with relevant work experience in transport professions to arrive in Canada, they are also eligible for immigration to this nation via standard Express Entry draws. 

These draws prioritize an applicant’s CRS score instead of their specific employment experience. As a result, this helps in considering applications from three economic immigration programs, i.e., CEC, FSTP, & FSWP. 

In order to apply for Canadian immigration via Express Entry, a potential applicant must self-evaluate if they are qualified for one of the three programs mentioned above. 

At this time, eligible applicants can upload their profile on the IRCC website & await a decision. 

Moreover, the so-called ‘standard’ Express Entry draws utilize a points-based system to rank applicant’s profiles against one another. Your profile will be granted a score & ranked alongside other applicants in the pool. 

Applicants with a CRS score above the draw cut-off will obtain an ITA during a standard Express Entry draw. This will enable ITA recipients to apply for a PR in Canada. 

Note: ITA recipients will have 60 days from the date they obtain their invitation to submit a final application to IRCC. 

  • PNP & More 

Local governments operate Provincial Nominee Programs in 11 of Canada’s 13 total territories & provinces. Other ways of immigrating to Canada as a transport worker include the Atlantic Immigration Program Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot.

The programs mentioned above enable any province/ territory that operates these initiatives to choose skilled professionals that the local government feels would help to address local market gaps. These individuals will further obtain an invitation to immigrate to that territory/ province from the local government. 

Accordingly, in the case of transport professions, immigration applicants who apply for a program operated in a province/ territory with a specifically significant labor gap in the transport profession industry would put themselves in a good position in order to be selected for Canadian immigration. 

  • Other Provincial & Federal Alternatives

The AIP encourages immigration to four provinces that make up ‘Atlantic Canada’,i.e., Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, & Newfoundland & Labrador. Simply put, the AIP helps local employers find international talent which they can hire to help fill labor market gaps. In addition, they can help immigrants to transition to life in this nation by offering them a formulated settlement plan. 

Moreover, the RNIP is a ‘community-driven’ immigration program with over 11 participating communities nationwide. Through this immigration program, participating communities take the lead in enticing newcomers/ immigrants & matching them with local job vacancies, promoting a welcoming community, & connecting immigrants to established members of the community & local settlement services. 

  • Quebec 

In addition to the above-mentioned ways of immigrating to Canada as a transport worker, Quebec also has numerous immigration pathways which can be used for immigration to the nation’s only French-speaking region. 

These include Quebec’s Regular Skilled Workers Program & Quebec Experience Program. 

The QSWP is a program which invites immigration applicants interested in settling across the province to submit an EOI form via an online portal. Like the federal government FSWP, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration selects individuals from DSQP’s applicant pool & invites them to apply for PR in Quebec. 

Moreover, the PEQ offers a fast-track way for foreign graduates & individuals with work experience to get a Quebec selection certificate. This selection certificate is necessary for PR in Quebec.