The Yukon Nominee Program, a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), allows foreign nationals to become permanent residents of Canada. The program was started in 2002. 

The program is open for skilled workers and business personnel who have experience and need to meet certain education criteria to become a resident of the Yukon Territory.

Since there are thousands of applicants for the YNM every year, the Immigration Branch uses priority criteria to filter applications. Here is the list of the criteria:

1. Individuals with their current work permit approaching the expiry date

2. Individuals with visitor visas already in Canada

3. Current work permit holders with their permit expiring within a year

4. Individuals currently located outside Canada.

Applications falling in category 1 will be counted first. However, it doesn’t guarantee that an application decision before a foreign national’s legal status has expired. 

The immigration branch will take around 12 to 14 weeks to process the application, and this time might increase if more applications are falling in the priority application criteria.

Program Stream

The Yukon Nominee Program is made up of 4 program streams:

1. Critical Impact Worker

2. Skilled Worker

3. Express-Entry

4. Yukon Community Program

Eligibility Criteria for Critical Impact Worker Program

• Individuals must have experience matching the job requirements per the criteria specified in the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

• The minimum educational qualification should be a high school diploma.

• Individuals must have at least 6 months of work experience related to the position being filled. 

• If the applicant is in Canada at the time of applying, they must maintain a work permit throughout the YNP application 

• If the applicant has a study permit for Canada, then provide proof of the following:

  • One year of study for a certificate program

  • Two years of study for a diploma or Bachelor’s degree program or

  • Completion of at least level eight of the English as a Second Language (ESL) program for ESL students at Yukon College.

Candidates must demonstrate sufficient proficiency in either English or French by submitting the results of a language test conducted by an authorized testing agency. Accepted tests include the IELTS (General Training Test only) and CELPIP (General test only) for English or the TEF for French. Minimum scores are as follows:

• CELPIP:

  • 2H for tests taken before April 1, 2014, in each of the four abilities (reading, writing, speaking, listening).

  • 4 for tests taken after April 1, 2014, in each of the four abilities.

• IELTS: 4 in each of the four abilities.

• TEF: 3 in each of the four abilities.

Eligibility for Skilled Worker Stream

• Applicants should have a valid work or student permit if the application is made in Canada.

• Applicants need a valid job offer from an employer based in Yukon.

• Applicants must show proof of at least 12 months of full-time work experience.

• Applicants must meet the different language requirements for the skill level of the position.

• Applicants must intend to live in Yukon and apply to Canada’s Government for permanent residence within the time span of 3 to 6 months of starting work.

Eligibility for Express Entry

To qualify for immigration, applicants must fulfill the criteria of one of the three federal economic immigration programs. They must also:

• Fill out the online Express Entry application to obtain a Profile Number and, if necessary, a Job Seeker Validation Code.

• Possess enough settlement funds to financially support themselves and any accompanying family members in Canada. The required amount depends on the size of the applicant’s family, as determined by IRCC.

• Secure a valid job offer for permanent, full-time employment from an eligible employer in Yukon.

• Demonstrate a sincere intention to reside and work in Yukon.

Eligibility for Yukon Community Program

1. The applicant’s  business must have been in operation for at least 1 full year

2. For your business to be eligible, the owner or operator must be either a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada

3. The Government of Yukon’s Corporate Affairs Branch

4. The Government of Yukon’s Employment Standards Branch

5. Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board

Process to Apply for the Yukon Nominee Program

1. Employers advertise the job locally and nationally.

2. If no qualified Canadians or permanent residents apply, the employer can use the Yukon Nominee Program to fill the position.

3. Review the criteria for each of the 4 Yukon Nominee Program streams.

4. Choose the apt one and apply.  

5. The employer offers a full-time, permanent job to an eligible foreign national.

6. The employer and the foreign national fill out all required forms for the Yukon Nominee Program.

7. The employer completes all forms and documents and submits the application to the Yukon Nominee Program.

8. If approved, the employer sends the compliance fee and a job offer letter to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) via the Employer Portal.

9. Once approved, the foreign national becomes a nominee.

10. If the nominee is outside Canada, they follow the IRCC visa requirements for their country of residence.

11. If the nominee is in Canada under a temporary resident permit, they can continue working until renewal.

12. The employer and nominee sign a Tri-Partite Agreement (TPA) with the Yukon government.

13. The nominee submits an application to the IRCC for permanent residency within 6 months of signing the TPA.

14. The nominee can work under temporary work permit until they get permanent residency.

15. The nominee has to undergo different checks for security, health, and criminality.

16. After IRCC approves the permanent residency application, the nominee becomes a permanent resident of Canada.