Canadian immigration as a transport worker can fetch you several opportunities and career growth. Recently, IRCC conducted an Express Entry draw for those in the transport professions. This emerged as a step toward combating the existing labor shortages in the transport sector. This was the first time the Express Entry category-based selection draw occurred for transport occupations.
Canada has a huge demand for truck drivers and other positions related to the transportation field. Hence, those working in the transport sector are in great luck.
The reason behind choosing transport occupations for the new Express Entry category
The specific employment industries facing major labor shortage challenges were chosen among the six new categories for Express Entry. Additionally, IRCC even conducted several meetings with stakeholders, government partners, and provincial and territorial governments.
Nearly 16 percent of the respondents reiterated the significant requirement of workers in the trades, transport, and equipment operations.
Which transport occupations are eligible for the category-based draws?
The following transport occupations are eligible for the category-based draws:
- Transport Truck Drivers
- Deck Officers, Water Transport
- Aircraft Assemblers and Aircraft Assembly Inspectors
- Railway Traffic Controllers and Marine Traffic Regulators
- Air Traffic Controllers and Related Occupations
- Engineer Officers, Water Transport
- Transportation Managers
- Aircraft Mechanics and Aircraft Inspectors
- Railway Car Men/Women
- Air Pilots, Flight Engineers, and Flying Instructors
Canadian immigration as a transport worker – what are the possible options?
The transport workers can explore the following ways for Canadian immigration besides Express Entry Category-based selection draws:
The Express Entry standard draws
The Category-based selection draws enable transport workers to move to Canada through the specific draws targeting transport occupations. However, experienced individuals in transport sectors continue to be eligible for the standard Express Entry draws. Furthermore, these workers will be chosen on the basis of the scores they receive under the Comprehensive Ranking System. This means they will not be chosen based on their specific experience but through the three chief programs. These economic programs include the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the FSTP.
To start with this method of Canadian immigration, candidates must self-analyze whether they are eligible for the pathway. This implies that they will have to check out the separate eligibility criteria of the three economic-class programs. They must gain eligibility for at least one of the above programs.
Eligible candidates must upload an Express Entry profile on the official IRCC website and wait until the department makes a decision.
The standard Express Entry draws evaluate candidates using the points system of CRS. Further, they will receive a score on the basis of their profile and human capital factors. This score will help them get a ranking against other candidates within the Express Entry pool.
IRCC outlines a minimum score for candidates, and if they score higher than the minimum score threshold, they will receive ITAs to apply for Canadian Permanent Residence.
Once they receive an invitation, they must submit the final application within sixty days.
Provincial Nominee Program
The local governments administer Provincial Nominee Programs within 11 out of 13 provinces and territories. Quebec and Nunavut continue to remain exceptions to this. Transport workers can access the Atlantic Immigration Program and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot for Canadian immigration.
These PNPs help the provinces or territories to get the right skilled workers who are best suited to bridge the labor shortage gap. The local government further issues invitations to these individuals to immigrate to the specific province or territory.
Those working in any transport occupations will have significant chances of immigrating if they apply to a province or territory that is undergoing a labor shortage gap on a larger scale. This means they will immediately have higher chances of getting an invitation if they apply via a program in a prominently demanding region.
What about other options at the federal or provincial level for Canadian immigration as a transport worker
The Atlantic Immigration Program is the one that enables Atlantic immigration possible in the Atlantic provinces. These include Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick. This program assists local Canadian employers to recruit workers from foreign countries. This helps them combat the existing labor shortage gaps quite significantly. Newcomers in these regions also get help in the form of settlement plans when they arrive in Canada.
Similarly, RNIP is a significant initiative that targets the community and consists of 11 communities as participants throughout Canada. This immigration measure helps participating communities in the following ways:
- Welcome and invite newcomers and align them with appropriate available job positions.
- Encourage a welcoming community.
- Connect new immigrants with the already established community members.
- Local Settlement Services.
Quebec’s unique immigration pathways
Besides these programs, Quebec is another province that offers numerous prominent immigration pathways. Therefore, transport workers can explore a variety of immigration pathways to move to French-speaking Quebec. The options are as follows:
- Quebec’s Regular Skilled Workers Program
- Quebec Experience Program
The QSWP issues invitations to candidates who would like to settle in this province. This invitation allows them to submit an Expression of Interest using an online portal. Similar to the FSWP of the federal government, MIFI consistently hires candidates from the QSWP pool and issues them invitations to permanently settle in Quebec.
On the other hand, PEQ is yet another expedited program for international graduates and those with Quebec work experience to attain a Quebec Selection Certificate. This selection certificate authorizes permanent residence in Quebec and is compulsory.
