First Express Entry draw under the new Transport category
The draw was conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on 7 August, 2026. Candidates invited in the round had to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 470 and create an Express Entry profile by 2:55 p.m. UTC on October 11, 2025.
August 7, 2026 Express Entry Transport Draw Summary
| Category | Details |
| Draw Date | August 7, 2026 |
| Program | Express Entry |
| Draw Type | Transport occupations |
| Invitations Issued | 300 |
| Minimum CRS Score | 470 |
| Tie-Breaking Date | October 11, 2025 |
| Tie-Breaking Time | 2:55 p.m. UTC |
| Selection Authority | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) |
The 300 ITAs were given to candidates who met the criteria for the Transport category and were among the highest-scoring candidates in the Express Entry pool.
Canada Introduces a Renewed Transport Category
Transportation is one of the category-based Express Entry selections in Canada. IRCC conducts category-based draws to identify candidates in the Express Entry pool with particular skills or work experience that align with Canada’s economic priorities.
Canada has introduced new categories for 2026 and renewed several existing categories. IRCC’s 2026 Express Entry strategy included the Transport category among its new or renewed priorities. IRCC said the 2026 Transport category is meant to bring in workers with experience in jobs such as pilots, aircraft mechanics and inspectors.
Who is included in the 2026 Transport Category?
To be eligible for a Transport-category invitation, candidates must first meet the minimum requirements of Express Entry and one of the three economic immigration programs administered through the system. They also need to meet the specific requirements defined for the Transport category.
In general, candidates for 2026 should have a minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience or equivalent part-time experience in the three years preceding the application. The experience has to be in one eligible transport occupation and could have been obtained in Canada or abroad. The eligible occupations listed by IRCC for the 2026 Transport category are:
| Occupation | NOC 2021 | TEER |
| Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 | 2 |
| Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 72600 | 2 |
| Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors | 22313 | 2 |
| Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers | 72410 | 2 |
IRCC notes that candidates must also meet all requirements specified in the instructions for the particular invitation round.
How Category-Based Express Entry Selections Work
The application management system for three federal economic immigration programs in Canada is called Express Entry:
Federal Skilled Trades Program
Federal Skilled Workers Program
Canadian Experience Class
In category-based selection, IRCC searches the Express Entry pool for candidates who meet the requirements of a specific category, and then ranks eligible candidates based on their CRS scores. The top candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence. Category-based draws differ from general Express Entry draws in that eligibility for a particular occupational or language category is an additional requirement.
First Transport Draw with a CRS Score of 470
The first 2026 Transport selection had a CRS cut-off of 470. In this draw, candidates with a CRS score of at least 470 would have been invited, if all other criteria were met.
Transport Category Removed Previously From Selection
The latest draw is a major shift in Canada’s strategy for transport occupations. Earlier the Transport category was part of the selection based on the Express entry category but it was removed from the category list in February 2025.
RCC reinstated the category in February 2026, but with a much different list of eligible occupations. This means that candidates that may have qualified under the previous Transport category should not assume that their occupation is still eligible under the 2026 version. Instead, applicants should compare their present occupation and work experience to the 2026 NOC codes and eligibility criteria published by IRCC.
Why Canada Is Targeting Transport Workers
Transport workers are an integral part of Canada’s supply chains, aviation sector, movement of goods and economic infrastructure overall. With the category-based approach, IRCC can focus on candidates with particular occupational backgrounds instead of just overall rankings in the CRS.
Express Entry Selections 2026
| Draw Type | Draws in 2026 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 16 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 13 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 9 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 2 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 2 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 2 |
| Trades | 1 |
| Transport | 1 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 1 |
The Transport category had issued 300 ITAs through its first selection.
What This Means for Transport Workers
The first transport-category draw means a major opportunity for eligible workers in Canada’s targeted transportation occupations. Some air pilots, aircraft mechanics, avionics technicians, and some automotive service technicians and mechanics may be eligible for category-based selection if they have the required work experience and meet the Express Entry criteria. But just having a transportation-related job doesn’t automatically make you eligible. Candidates should verify:
- Their correct 2021 NOC code.
- Whether their occupation is included in the 2026 Transport category.
- Their qualifying work experience.
- Their Express Entry program eligibility.
- Their language test results.
- Their education and, where applicable, Educational Credential Assessment.
- Their CRS score.
- Their admissibility to Canada.
- Any additional requirements specified for the particular draw.
What Should Eligible Candidates Do Now?
Those eligible among transport professionals should look to make or keep an Express Entry profile. Candidates who are currently in the Express Entry pool should make sure their information is correct and up to date, especially for their:
- Employment history.
- NOC classification.
- Work experience.
- Language results.
- Education.
- Family information.
- CRS factors.
A candidate’s eligibility for a category-based draw depends on meeting the requirements of that category at the time of the invitation round.
Key Takeaways
The key takeaways from Canada’s first 2026 Transport category selection is:
- 300 ITAs issued by Canada in first Express Entry draw for Transport category.
- The draw was held on 7 August 2026.
- Minimum CRS score was 470.
- Candidates must have submitted their Express Entry profile before 2:55 p.m. (UTC) on October 11, 2025.
- In 2026 the Transport category was reintroduced with a new list of eligible occupations.
- Eligible occupations include aircraft mechanics and inspectors, air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors, aircraft avionics-related occupations, and certain automotive service technicians and mechanics.
- For Transport category 2026, candidates require a minimum of 12 months relevant work experience in the last 3 years generally.
- Work experience may have been obtained in Canada or elsewhere.
- Candidates must also meet the Express Entry criteria and the specific invitation round criteria.
- The draw on 7 August was the first draw under the new Transport category.
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Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Immigration programs, processing times, eligibility requirements, and application procedures may change without notice. Readers should consult official Government of Canada resources or seek professional immigration advice before making any immigration decisions.
