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:

Air Pilots

Main duties:

Prior to departure, pilots conduct pre-flight inspections and verify passenger and cargo distribution to ensure weight and balance requirements are met.

They coordinate with ground crews and air-traffic control, brief crew members on flight procedures, and direct crew activities throughout the flight, including contacting control towers for clearances and instructions.

During flights, they monitor aircraft equipment and systems, maintain communication with dispatchers and weather forecasters, and respond to and report any emergencies or malfunctions.

Following each flight, they prepare evaluation reports. Pilots may also train others on new equipment or prepare them for license revalidation or upgrade examinations. Additionally, they may fly experimental aircraft to assess performance and safety, or participate in operations such as search and rescue, forest firefighting, aerial surveying, and crop dusting.

Flight Engineers

Main duties:

Prior to takeoff, flight engineers inspect the aircraft according to a pre-flight checklist and verify passenger and cargo distribution to confirm weight and balance requirements are met.

During flights, they assist pilots in monitoring aircraft systems and equipment, performing any necessary in-flight repairs such as replacing fuses and adjusting instruments, and following emergency procedures in the event of equipment malfunction or failure.

Following each flight, they conduct post-flight inspections, document any malfunctions and the corrective actions taken, and report required repairs to ground maintenance personnel.

Flying Instructors

Main duties:

Flying instructors teach student pilots the procedures and techniques of operating aircraft, as well as ground-school subjects such as navigation, radio procedures, and flying regulations.

They also provide training to licensed pilots seeking additional certification.

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:

Automotive service technicians

Main duties:

Automotive service technicians begin by reviewing work orders and consulting with their supervisor before inspecting vehicles and conducting road tests.

They use computerized diagnostic tools and other testing devices to identify and isolate faults in automotive systems.

Once diagnosed, they adjust, repair, or replace components across a wide range of systems, including the fuel system, brakes, steering and suspension, engine and drive train, emission control and exhaust, cooling and climate control, and electrical and electronic systems, using hand tools and specialized repair equipment.

Following repairs, they test and adjust the affected systems to ensure they meet manufacturer performance specifications.

They also carry out scheduled maintenance services such as oil changes, lubrications, and tune-ups, and advise customers on the work performed, the overall condition of their vehicle, and any future repair requirements.

Truck and bus mechanics

Main duties:

Transport truck mechanics adjust, repair, or replace parts and components across a wide range of commercial transport truck systems, including the chassis, frame, cab, body, engine and drive train, air brakes, steering, and fuel, hydraulic, electrical, and electronic systems.

They also perform similar repair and replacement work on truck-trailer systems, covering structural, brake, and electrical components.

Mechanical repairers

Main duties:

Motor vehicle manufacturing mechanical repairers inspect and test mechanical units — such as engines, transmissions, axles, and brake systems — to identify faults and malfunctions.

Upon diagnosis, they confirm their findings with a supervisor to determine whether a unit should be repaired or replaced. They then carry out the necessary repairs or replacements using hand and power tools and subsequently test and adjust the units to ensure they meet performance specifications.

They also complete reports to document any issues identified and the work performed.

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:

Aircraft mechanics

Main duties:

Aircraft mechanics troubleshoot structural, mechanical, and hydraulic systems to identify problems, then adjust and repair them in accordance with specifications, technical drawings, manuals, and established procedures.

They repair and overhaul these systems, as well as install or modify aircraft engines and mechanical, hydraulic, flight control, fuel, and pneumatic systems. When required, they dismantle airframes, engines, or other aircraft systems for repair, overhaul, and cleaning before reassembling them.

They also perform and document routine maintenance, and are responsible for ordering and maintaining an inventory of parts and supplies.

Aircraft inspectors

Main duties:

Aircraft inspectors examine the structural and mechanical systems of aircraft to ensure they meet Transport Canada and company standards for performance and safety.

They also oversee the work of aircraft mechanics carrying out maintenance, repair, overhaul, or modification of aircraft and their mechanical systems to verify adherence to established standards and procedures.

Additionally, they are responsible for maintaining detailed records of repairs, inspections, and certifications for each aircraft.

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:

Aircraft instrument

Main duties:

Aircraft instrument mechanics and technicians repair, overhaul, install, calibrate, and test aircraft instruments.

Aircraft electrical mechanics and technicians

Main duties:

Aircraft electrical mechanics and technicians repair, overhaul, modify, install, and test aircraft electrical systems and equipment.

Avionics mechanics and technicians

Main duties:

Avionics mechanics and technicians troubleshoot, repair, overhaul, test, modify, install, and inspect aircraft electronic systems and components, including communications, navigation, and auto flight equipment.

Avionics inspectors

Main duties:

Aircraft instrument, electrical, and avionics inspectors examine and test aircraft instrument, electrical, and avionics systems to ensure that their installation, maintenance, repair, and overhaul meet Transport Canada and company standards for performance and safety.

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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