Who qualifies for permanent residence under Canada’s new Transport category?
Foreign nationals with work experience in one of four occupations may now be prioritized for Canadian permanent residence under the newly created transport category.
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As of February 18, 2026, Express Entry candidates can qualify if they have at least 12 months’ work experience within the past three years in one of the following occupations:
Occupation National Occupation Classification (NOC) code
Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors 72600
Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers 72410
Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors 72404
Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors 22313
The 12 months of work experience do not have to be continuous.
Prior to the changes made on February 18, qualifying for an occupational category required six months of continuous work experience.
Qualifying for an occupational category provides an advantage by allowing candidates to be invited at a lower score under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) than other kinds of draw types, such as Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws or general draws.
This article will cover:
How to tell if your work experience counts for one of the four transport occupations; and
How to become licensed to practice these occupations in Canada.
Which occupations are eligible under the Transport category?
If you are unfamiliar with how to match your work experience to one of the following occupations, be sure to read the section below explaining how to do so.
Air pilots, flight engineers, and flying instructors (NOC code 72600)
This occupation classification performs some or all of the following duties:
The following job titles are excluded from this occupation classification:
Air traffic controllers and related occupations (72601); and
Ground school instructor (in 41210 College and other vocational instructors).
For more information, including common job titles for these occupations, visit the official NOC page.
Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers (NOC code 72410)
This occupation classification performs some or all of the following duties:
The following job titles are excluded from this occupation classification:
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (72401)
Recreation vehicle service technician (in 72423 Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, and other related mechanics)
Truck trailer assembler (in 94204 Mechanical assemblers and inspectors)
Motor vehicle assemblers, inspectors, and testers (94200)
Auto body collision, refinishing, and glass technicians and damage repair estimators (72411)
Supervisors, motor vehicle assembling (92020)
For more information, including common job titles for these occupations, visit the official NOC page.
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Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors (NOC code 72404)
This occupation classification performs some or all of the following duties:
The following occupations are excluded from this occupation classification:
Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors (93200)
Aircraft engine assembly fitter (in 72405 Machine fitters)
Airworthiness inspector (in 22231 Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers)
Non-destructive test technician (in 22230 Non-destructive testers and inspectors)
Aircraft instrument, electrical, and avionics mechanics, technicians, and inspectors (22313)
For more information, including common job titles for these occupations, visit the official NOC page.
Aircraft instrument, electrical, and avionics mechanics, technicians, and inspectors (NOC code 22313)
This occupation classification performs some or all of the following duties:
The following job titles are excluded from this occupation classification:
Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors (93200)
Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors (72404)
Airworthiness inspector (in 22231 Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers)
Electrical mechanics (72422)
Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (22312)
For more information, including common job titles for these occupations, visit the official NOC page.
Eligibility for the Transport category
To be eligible under the Transport category, candidates must have gained at least 12 months’ full-time work experience (or its part-time equivalent) in a single qualifying occupation within the last 3 years.
This work experience can have been gained anywhere in the world.
The work experience does not need to match the primary occupation on your Express Entry profile, nor does it have to be continuous.
How to tell if your work experience fits into one of the eligible occupations
Under Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC), your work experience is categorized based on the duties you performed, not on your job title(s).
When assessing whether your work experience counts for a given occupation, you must have performed all the duties listed in the lead statement of the NOC, and most of the main duties.
You can look up your NOC code in CanadaVisa+.
For more information on how to find the correct NOC and common pitfalls people encounter when trying to do so, visit our dedicated articles.
How can I start obtaining work experience in these occupations from within Canada?
Licensing and Regulation in Canada
In Canada, regulated occupations are overseen at either the federal or provincial level, depending on the nature of the work.
This applies to the occupations within the new Trade category as well:
Occupation Regulation level
Air Pilots, Flight Engineers, and Flying Instructors (NOC 72600) Federally regulated (Aviation Canada)
Automotive Service Technicians, Truck and Bus Mechanics, and Mechanical Repairers (NOC 72410) Provincially regulated (Provincial authority / Red Seal)
Aircraft Mechanics and Aircraft Inspectors (NOC 72404) Federally regulated (Transport Canada)
Aircraft Instrument, Electrical, and Avionics Mechanics, Technicians, and Inspectors (NOC 22313) Federally regulated (Transport Canada)
Federally regulated occupations — such as those in the aviation industry — are governed by national bodies like Transport Canada, meaning that licensing requirements and standards are consistent across the country.
Provincially regulated trades, on the other hand, are administered by each province or territory’s own apprenticeship and certification authority, and requirements may vary from one region to another.
To become licensed, newcomers must follow the process set out by the governing body for their occupation.
In some cases, there may be licensing steps and/or processes specific to skilled workers with education and/or experience obtained outside Canada, such as having to complete a bridging program or apprenticing under a licensed professional for a set time period.
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