Just two days after first hinting at broader occupational targeting, IRCC has officially activated a new Transport category within Express Entry, giving priority to four aviation and automotive trades when issuing Invitations to Apply. Eligible occupations include air pilots and flight instructors (NOC 72600), aircraft mechanics and inspectors (NOC 72404/22313) and automotive service technicians and heavy-duty mechanics (NOC 72410). Candidates need at least one year of full-time experience in the past three years to be considered.(cicnews.com)
Canada’s airports and aircraft-maintenance firms have lobbied for a dedicated pathway since the post-pandemic travel rebound exposed a shortage of certified engineers and mechanics. The federal government predicts that up to 30 % of the industry’s skilled workforce will retire by 2030, making talent attraction urgent. By carving out a transport-specific pool, IRCC can invite lower-CRS candidates whose skills match acute labour needs even if they lack advanced degrees or bilingual proficiency.
![IRCC launches new Transport category under Express Entry]()
For technicians, pilots and mechanics who are still abroad, securing the correct entry documents is the first hurdle. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) can walk you through every Canadian visa option, flag missing paperwork, book consulate appointments and track processing in real time—helping you land in Canada smoothly so you’re ready when an Express Entry invitation arrives.
For foreign workers already in Canada on employer-specific work permits, the new category provides a faster route to permanence and may reduce turnover for airlines investing in costly training. Provincial aviation clusters—especially in Manitoba and Atlantic Canada—are expected to leverage the federal pathway alongside their own nominee streams.
Immigration lawyers advise prospective applicants to update their Express Entry profiles immediately, ensuring that job-title wording and National Occupational Classification codes precisely match IRCC’s eligibility list. The department has not yet confirmed the frequency or size of transport-specific draws, but insiders expect the first invitations as early as March 2026.
Canada’s airports and aircraft-maintenance firms have lobbied for a dedicated pathway since the post-pandemic travel rebound exposed a shortage of certified engineers and mechanics. The federal government predicts that up to 30 % of the industry’s skilled workforce will retire by 2030, making talent attraction urgent. By carving out a transport-specific pool, IRCC can invite lower-CRS candidates whose skills match acute labour needs even if they lack advanced degrees or bilingual proficiency.
For technicians, pilots and mechanics who are still abroad, securing the correct entry documents is the first hurdle. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) can walk you through every Canadian visa option, flag missing paperwork, book consulate appointments and track processing in real time—helping you land in Canada smoothly so you’re ready when an Express Entry invitation arrives.
For foreign workers already in Canada on employer-specific work permits, the new category provides a faster route to permanence and may reduce turnover for airlines investing in costly training. Provincial aviation clusters—especially in Manitoba and Atlantic Canada—are expected to leverage the federal pathway alongside their own nominee streams.
Immigration lawyers advise prospective applicants to update their Express Entry profiles immediately, ensuring that job-title wording and National Occupational Classification codes precisely match IRCC’s eligibility list. The department has not yet confirmed the frequency or size of transport-specific draws, but insiders expect the first invitations as early as March 2026.
