Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
Located in the far northwest of Canada, Yukon has a fabled place in the country’s history.
Perhaps most famous for the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890s, Yukon today is home to approximately 30,000 people, living mostly in the capital of Whitehorse. Its economy is composed primarily of mining and tourism. The territory is an ideal place to settle for individuals who value strong communities and the great outdoors.
Prospective immigrants with the skills and experience targeted by the province may get a provincial nomination through Yukon’s Provincial Nominee Program, officially called the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP).
Overview of the Yukon PNP
The Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) has been in operation since 2002.
Yukon uses the YNP to attract more immigrants to the province to address the territory’s labour market needs.
The YNP targets skilled workers and businesspersons who have the work experience and required education to succeed in the Yukon territory.
Yukon welcomes a few hundred immigrants per year. This, however, makes up almost one per cent of the population. The population of the territory recently reached a record-high of over 40,000.
Yukon has one enhanced stream called Yukon Express Entry. The remaining categories are base categories.
This means that the Yukon Express Entry is aligned with Canada’s Express Entry system. A base category, on the other hand, is one that is not aligned with the Express Entry system.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada’s immigration department, uses the Express Entry system to manage the main economic class immigration programs.
If you have an Express Entry profile, you are are given a point score according to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Canada regularly holds Express Entry draws, where the highest-ranked candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence.
If after you apply, you are nominated through a provincial program, you get an extra 600 CRS points.
This means that you will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the next draw.
In addition, you will also get your nomination through the Express Entry profile. You will have to accept this nomination so you can get the extra points.
The main advantage of enhanced immigration streams is that the processing standard is usually six months or less. For base streams, the processing standard may exceed 12 months.
Most PNP immigration streams are base streams, that are not aligned with Express Entry.
You will have to apply directly with IRCC if you get nominated through a base immigration stream.
Yukon Immigration Categories:
If you wish to immigrate to Yukon, then you can choose from the following five options:
- Yukon Express Entry (YEE)
- Skilled Worker
- Critical Impact Worker
- Business Nominee
- Yukon Community Pilot.
The Yukon Express Entry (YEE) program is for foreign skilled workers who have a valid job offer for permanent, full-time work in Yukon. Employers in the territory who cannot find Canadian citizens or permanent residents to fill job openings have access to the Express Entry pool of candidates.
The Skilled Worker program are for foreign skilled workers who are sponsored by a Yukon employer for Canadian permanent residence. You must be working in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level 0, A or B job.
The Critical Impact Worker program is for semi-skilled or unskilled workers who work in an occupation that is in high demand in the territory, and who are sponsored by an employer. You must therefore have a valid job offer from a Yukon employer. However, you do not need to be in Yukon when you apply.
The Business Nominee program is for those with proven business experience who wish to start a new business, partner with an existing business or purchase and operate an existing business in Yukon. You should be ready to make a significant investment in your Yukon-based business.
The Yukon Community Pilot allows those who are already nominated to get a special type of work permit that lets them work for multiple employers in one of the participating Yukon communities. This pilot project is scheduled to run from January 2020 to June 2023.
Yukon Express Entry
Needs job offer? Yes
Processing Time: 12-14 weeks
Minimum Requirements:
- Must meet the requirements of one of Canada’s three economic immigration programs
- Must have an Express Entry profile;
- Must have enough money to support yourself and your family members in Canada;
- Must have a valid full-time, permanent job offer from a Yukon employer;
- Must intend to live and work in Yukon.
How it works:
The first step is for you to receive a job offer from a Yukon employer. The employer must first demonstrate that there is no Canadian citizen or permanent resident available.
The next step is for you to prove that you have enough money to settle in Canada.
You then complete and submit the Yukon Express Entry application form alongside your employer.
IRCC will then provide you with an Invitation to Apply, after which you will have to provide all the required documents to complete your application for permanent residence.
After IRCC and Yukon’s Immigration Unit verify your documents, you will receive your permanent residence.
Yukon Skilled Worker Program
Needs job offer? Yes
Processing Time: 12-14 weeks
Minimum Requirements:
- Must have the education and work experience required for the job (minimum high school diploma);
- Must have at least one year of work experience for the position;
- Must have a valid work permit if the applicant is in Canada;
- Must have a valid job offer;
- Must meet minimum language requirements;
- Employer must meet additional requirement;
How it works:
The first step is for the employer to advertise the position locally and nationally in Canada to make sure that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is currently available for the role.
Next, the employer would extend the job offer to you. The job must be full-time and permanent.
You and your employer will then have to complete all the required forms, and then the employer submits the complete application to Yukon.
If the employer is approved by the Yukon Nominee Program, your information will then be reviewed.
If you are approved, you will become nominated by the territory. You can then use your nomination to apply for a Temporary Work Permit from IRCC, as well as an application for permanent residence.
You can then use the work permit to work in Yukon while your permanent residence application is being processed. Once you meet security, health and criminality checks, you will become a permanent resident of Canada.
Yukon Critical Impact Worker Program
Needs job offer? Yes
Processing Time: 12-14 weeks
Minimum Requirements:
- Must have a permanent full-time job offer;
- Must have the education and work experience required for the job (minimum high school diploma);
- Must have at least six months of related work experience;
- Must have a valid work permit if you are in Canada;
- Must meet the minimum language requirement in English or French;
- Employer must also meet additional requirements.
How it works:
First, you must receive a job offer from a Yukon employer.
The employer must have first advertised the position and shown that there is no Canadian citizen or permanent resident available for it.
The next step is for you and your employer to complete the required forms. Your employer must then submit the application to the YNP.
If the employer is approved, the YNP will then review your information.
If you are approved, you will become nominated by the Yukon territory. You can then apply for a temporary work permit as well as an application for permanent residence, both from IRCC.
Once you get your work permit, you can travel to Canada and work in Yukon with your work permit while you wait for your permanent residence application to be processed.
Business Nominee Program
Processing Time: 12-14 weeks
Minimum Requirements:
- Must achieve a minimum score of 65 points on the Nominee Assessment Grid;
- Must have a minimum of 10 points for language ability on the Nominee Assessment Grid;
- Must achieve a Level 6 in the IELTS (English), or Level 4 in the TEF (French);
- Must have at least three years of entrepreneurial or business management experience;
- Must have at least five years of experience relevant to the proposed business;
- Must have at least CAD $500,000 net worth (verified by a Yukon accounting firm);
- Must have at least CAD $300,000 in liquid assets (verified by a Yukon accounting firm);
- Must prove that your net worth and liquid assets have been obtained through legal means;
- Must submit a Resettlement Plan showing their intention to live in Yukon;
- Must intend to settle in Yukon permanently, and run a business in the territory.
How it works:
You must first make sure that you are eligible to immigrate to Yukon. Then, submit your application on the Yukon website.
After you receive approval in principle, you will be required to submit a Business Plan, that includes an outline of how you will establish a successful business.
At this point, you will have to demonstrate the CAD $300,000 investment in the business, and at least one-third ownership.
You can then apply for a temporary work permit, with which you can travel to Yukon and start your business.
When you arrive in Yukon, you will have to meet with a Yukon Business Nominee Program (YBNP) representative.
You will also need to meet additional requirements for the first year in Yukon as a nominee, and for the second year in Yukon as a nominee.
If you meet all requirements during your two year work period, you will get support by the YBNP in your application to the Canadian federal government for permanent residence.
You must make sure that you hold a valid work permit until you get permanent residence status in Yukon.
Yukon Community Pilot
If you are provincially nominated, the Yukon Community Pilot can help you get a special work permit that would allow you to work for multiple employers in one of the participating Yukon communities.
This pilot program is scheduled to run between January 2020 and June 2023.
Minimum Requirements:
- Must be nominated by the territory;
- Must have 2 or 3 eligible job offers, all of which are in the same participating Yukon community;
- Must have a signed letter of support from the Yukon government;
- Must meet requirements for the work permit.
In addition, your jobs must add up to at least 30 hours of work per week. They must be non-seasonal, and the wage must meet or exceed the minimum wage.
Your work experience must show that you can perform the duties of the jobs offered.
How it works:
You must first make sure that you have been nominated by the territory of Yukon for permanent residence.
In addition, you must get a signed letter of support from the Yukon government. The letter must say that the employer who are offering the jobs need you to work in the community as soon as possible and that the job offers are real. The letter must also include details of the job offers such as the names of the employers, the occupation, the number of hours per week and the job locations.
As part of your application, you will need to submit this signed letter, as well as a copy of the nomination letter from the Government of Yukon.
Once you’re ready, you must apply online on the federal Canadian government website. The application form depends on where you are applying from.
Getting this work permit lets you work for up to three different employers in one of the participating Yukon communities.
The work permit would be valid for 2 years. The employer will not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment.
Participating communities:
- Whitehorse;
- Watson Lake;
- Dawson City;
- Haines Junction;
- Carmacks;
- Carcross.
Contact us for Assistance
Cohen Immigration Law is a leading Canadian immigration law firm with over 45 years of experience. Cohen Immigration Law features over 60 immigration lawyers, paralegals, and professionals who are dedicated to helping you immigrate to Canada.
OSI was founded as the online presence of Cohen Immigration Law. Since its launch in 1994, OSI has grown into one of the globe's most trusted resources on Canadian immigration. If you want to immigrate to Canada through the PNP or another skilled worker pathway, the first step is to complete a free OSI assessment form. If you are eligible for Canadian immigration, a member of the Cohen Immigration Law team will reach out to provide you with as much assistance as possible.
