Are you an experienced transport worker looking for opportunities to migrate to Canada? Discover the ways you can relocate and build a successful work-life in Canada.
Experienced workers from different parts of the world have always chosen Canada as their preferred destination, and the several pathways available for foreign individuals enable immigrants to move into and work in Canada easily. Compared to other countries, some of the reasons why foreigners prefer to move to Canada include Canada’s warm communities, high pay, convenient working hours, affordable cost of living, and a better lifestyle.
Accepting foreigners into Canada is important to help improve the capability of the country’s labor market and economy. Figure out the best ways to immigrate to Canada as a transport worker.
Inclusion of Transport Profession in the Express Entry Category
In 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its first category-based express entry draw for the transport Industry. From that draw, Immigration, Refugees Citizenship Canada had 1000 expert transport workers invited, and their minimum score was 435.
That was to show Canada’s efforts in addressing the gaps and shortages in the country’s labor market.
The Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had chosen six categories for the category-based selection during the express entry draws. The areas selected by the IRCC were those with substantial vacancies in Canada’s labor market for which international transport workers can apply.
As a major decision, the selection process necessitated consultations by the IRCC with government partners, provincial and territorial governments, and other stakeholders of the nation. During the consultations, about 16% of respondents saw labor shortages in trade, transport, and related areas.
Qualified occupations Under the Transport Category in Category-Based Draws
Under the express entry transport profession categories, 10 professions are regarded as eligible. Any foreign individual looking to immigrate to Canada as a transport worker must be trained and experienced in any of the following jobs:
- Managers in transportation
- Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
- Engineer officers, water transport
- Inspectors of aircraft and mechanics
- Railway car drivers and women
- Air pilots, flight engineers, and flying instructor
- Deck officers, water transport
- Drivers of transport trucks
- Air traffic controllers and other related jobs
- Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors
Ways to Immigrate to Canada as a Transport Worker
An effective way for a qualified foreign transport worker to enter Canada is through express entry category-based draws. But, there are also several other options for transport workers to get into Canada to work.
Standard Express Entry Draw
Aside from the category-based draws, the normal draw is another way to immigrate to Canada as a transport worker.
These express entry draws consider the applicant’s comprehensive ranking system (CRS) score more than their work experience.
Applications of qualified foreigners that the express entry uses come from three economic immigration programs. The programs are The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canada Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
The FSWP is especially for transport workers with high experience and skill levels. Foreigners must demonstrate their work experience, proficiency, education, and ability to adapt to changes to qualify. If they meet the criteria, immigrants can apply for permanent residence.
Canada Experience Class (CEC)
The CEC is a program that benefits immigrants who have already worked in Canada. Transport workers are also eligible for this program. To qualify, an individual needs only to demonstrate their work experience and language skills obtained in Canada.
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
The FSTP program is made just for tradespeople, including transport workers. The program is for people with special skills and experience in certain trades and can hence be used as a path to immigrate to Canada as a transport worker.
Individuals who wish to apply for the Canadian permit using the express entry must assess themselves to see if they qualify for any of the three programs mentioned above.
Eligible candidates can then upload their profile to the IRCC website and await a response.
The standard express entry draws assesses applicants using a points-based system and ranks candidates’ profiles against each other. Along with all other applicants in the pool, the individuals will be given a score and thereafter ranked.
When a candidate’s CRS score is above the cut-off in the draw, an Invitation To Apply (ITA) is sent to them, thereby allowing them to apply for permanent residence in Canada.
Candidates who receive the ITA must apply for permanent residency within sixty days of receiving the invitation.
Other Immigration Programs for Transport Drivers
The Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)
The PNP is an immigration process handled by the local governments in eleven out of the thirteen total provinces and territories in Canada. The other two provinces, Quebec and Nunavut, do not use the Provincial nomination program. This is a reliable immigration pathway to immigrate to Canada as a transport worker.
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) and Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) are other ways for an immigrant to enter Canada as a transport worker.
The Atlantic Immigration Program
The AIP is a program that gives skilled foreign workers the opportunity to move into and get permanent residence in any of Atlantic Canada’s four provinces: New Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and Labrador.
Through the AIP, employers in Canada can seek experienced and skilled immigrants to fill the gaps in the labor market and help new workers easily settle in.
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The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
The RNIP is a community-driven program handled by eleven communities in Canada. The communities use this program to attract new, skilled foreign individuals, connect them to other community members, and match their skills with available jobs.
Under any of the above programs, the provinces or territories can select workers who would best fill the gap in that region’s labor market. The government of these provinces or territories can then invite the skilled individual to move into the territory.
Foreign transport workers who want to immigrate to Canada as a transport worker would be at an advantage and most likely to be considered for immigration if they apply to a program handled in a territory where the labor gap in the transport industry is huge.
Immigration Programs for Transport Workers in Quebec
Besides the pathways above, Quebec has some programs under which foreign transport workers interested in Canada’s majority French-speaking region can apply. This is another way to immigrate to Canada as a transport worker.
These programs include Quebec’s Regular Skilled Workers Program (QSWP) and the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ).
Foreign transport workers interested in moving into the province are invited through the QSWP program to submit an expression of Interest (EOI) form using an online portal.
Like the federal government’s FSWP, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) chooses foreign individuals from the QSWP pool and invites them to apply for permanent residency in the province.
The PEQ program affords foreign graduates who are schooled in Quebec and workers who have gained experience in Quebec the opportunity to get a Quebec selection certificate very fast. Transport drivers who had worked there fall under this category.
All permanent residents in the province must have a selection certificate.
Conclusion
Canada offers a variety of immigration programs for skilled transport workers. You can easily immigrate to Canada as a transport worker, as these programs address the labor market gaps and support economic growth, providing transport workers with opportunities to have successful careers. Foreigners should assess their qualifications and choose the most suitable program to begin their journey to Canada.
