Learn about the Yukon Nominee Program process

Notice of application process changes for 2025

Applications to the Yukon Nominee Program exceeded the Yukon’s allocations in 2024. As a result, we paused acceptance of applications from Whitehorse employers.

We’ll reopen application intake from all employers on January 29, 2025, at 9 am Yukon Standard Time. For 2025, we’ll use an intake approach so we can accept applications throughout the year. We’ll accept up to 125 applications for the intake beginning on January 29. Once we receive the set number of applications, we’ll close submissions until the next intake. 

We expect to hold intakes quarterly. The actual number of intakes depends on the allocations the Yukon receives from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. We anticipate that we’ll receive the Yukon’s 2025 allocations in late February. Once we have the allocations, we’ll post the remaining intake dates and the number of applications we’ll accept for each.

Learn more about the 2025 intake approach.

Program streams

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

• Critical Impact Worker;
• Skilled Worker;
• Express-Entry; and
• Yukon Community Program.

On the pages above you'll find:

• eligibility requirements;
• Stream-specific criteria; and
• Information on how to apply.

Yukon Nominee Program process

1. Employers eligible for the Yukon Nominee Program advertise the position locally and nationally. If no qualified Canadian or permanent resident applies, the employer may use the Yukon Nominee Program to fill the position.
2. No qualified Canadian or permanent resident applies for the position.
3. The employer reviews criteria for each of the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) streams and chooses which stream to apply for.
4. The employer offers a full-time, permanent position to an eligible foreign national.
5. The employer and the foreign national complete all required forms for the Yukon Nominee Program.
6. The employer ensures all forms and documents are attached, completes and submits the application to the Yukon Nominee Program. 
7. Once approved, the employer submits the compliance fee and the letter of offer to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) via the Employer Portal.
8. Once an application is approved, the foreign national becomes a nominee.
   • If the nominee is not in Canada at the time of approval, they must comply with the IRCC visa requirements for their country of residence.
   • If the nominee is in Canada under a temporary resident permit when their application is approved, they may continue to work until their permit is due for renewal. At that time, the candidate can apply for a new work permit or renew it.
9. Once we approve the application, the employer and nominee must sign a Tri-Partite Agreement (TPA) with the Government of Yukon.
10. The nominee submits an application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency within 6 months of signing the TPA.
11. The nominee works for the employer under a temporary work permit while their permanent residency is being processed.
12. The nominee meets all admissibility checks (security, health, criminality).
13. Once the permanent residency application is approved by the IRCC, the nominee becomes a permanent resident of Canada.

IRCC assesses each nominee's eligibility for work permits and permanent residency. The YNP and the Government of Yukon are not responsible for IRCC's decision to grant or deny permits or permanent residency. We cannot appeal those decisions.

Inquiring about an application

The Yukon Nominee Program is an employer-driven program. Only employers can inquire about application status.

Maintaining legal status

Foreign nationals currently in Canada must maintain their legal status throughout the Yukon Nominee Program application process and at the time of assessment. Otherwise, we will decline your application. 

If the foreign national is on maintained status, they may not be eligible for the program. For example, if they are on an extension of a post-graduate work permit or a working holiday visa.

Employer responsibilities

Required documents

The Yukon Nominee Program application form includes a checklist of documents you must provide. If you do not include all the forms and documents on the checklist, we will return your application to you. We will not process incomplete applications, and will not place them in the processing queue. 

If you resubmit your application with all documents, we will confirm with you that it is complete. We will process it based on the date we receive the resubmission.  

Throughout the application processes and at the time of assessment, employers must ensure that all supporting documentation is valid. This includes language results, business license, job advertisements, Yukon Corporate Online Registry (YCOR), and any other applicable documents. If any supporting documents expire, submit updated versions to reduce processing times. 

Wages

Throughout the application processes and at the time of assessment, employers must ensure the following:

• The offered wage meets or exceeds the higher of either:
  • the current median wage set by the Government of Canada; or
  • the current minimum wage set by the Government of Yukon.
• The annual income meets or exceeds the low income cut-off (LICO) before tax for the family size. 
  • Use figures for population 30,000 to 99,999 for all communities.

Canada updates the median wage annually in November. The Yukon updates the minimum wage annually in April. Statistics Canada updates the low income cut-off index annually mid-year.