Situated in the far northwest of Canada, Yukon is a fabled place. Today, the place is home to over 30,000 people living in the capital of Whitehorse. Its economy is composed primarily of mining & tourism. In addition, the territory is an ideal place to settle for people who value a strong community & great outdoors. Prospective immigrants with the relevant skills & experience targeted by the province might get a provincial nomination via the Yukon Provincial Nominee Program. 

Here’s all you need to know about the program. Thus, make sure you stick with us till the end!

Yukon Provincial Nominee Program: An Overview 

The Yukon Provincial Nominee Program has been in operation since 2002. The province uses this program to attract more immigrants to the province in order to address its labor market needs. Well, the Yukon Provincial Nominee Program targets skilled professionals & businesspersons who have the work experience & necessary education to succeed in the territory. 

Yukon welcomes a few hundred immigrants/ newcomers every year. However, this makes up over 1% of the population. Moreover, the territory has an enhanced stream known as Yukon Express Entry. The remaining categories are base categories. 

This implies that the Yukon Express Entry is aligned with Canada’s Express Entry system. On the other hand, the base category isn’t aligned with the Express Entry system.

IRCC uses this system to manage the main economic class immigration programs. You are granted scores according to CRS if you have an Express Entry profile. Canada holds these draws regularly, inviting the highest-ranking applicants to apply for PR.   Moreover, if you apply & are nominated via a provincial program, you get an extra 600 points. This implies you will receive an ITA for PR in the next draw. 

In addition, you will also obtain your nomination via Express Entry Profile. You just have to accept the nomination to get extra points. A significant advantage of enhanced immigration streams is that the processing standard is generally of six months or less. For base streams, the processing standard might exceed 12 months. 

Most PNP immigration streams are base streams which aren’t aligned with the Express Entry program. Well, you will have to apply directly with IRCC in case you get nominated via a base immigration stream. 

 

Yukon Immigration Strategies

If you wish to immigrate to Yukon, you can choose from these five alternatives: 

• Yukon Express Entry 

It is for foreign skilled professionals with a valid job offer for full-time work in Yukon.

• Skilled Worker 

It is for foreign skilled professionals whom a Yukon employer sponsors for Canadian PR.

• Critical Impact Worker 

This program is for semi-skilled/ unskilled workers who work in an in-demand profession.

• Business Nominee

This program is for those with proven business experience who wish to begin a business. 

• Yukon Community Pilot

It is for individuals who are already nominated to get a special type of work permit, which lets them work for multiple employers. 

Yukon Express Entry   

Job Offer Requirement: Yes

Processing Time: 12 -14 weeks 

Minimum Requirements:

An applicant must:

• Meet the requirements of one of three economic immigration programs
• Have an Express Entry profile
• Have sufficient money to support yourself & family members in Canada 
• Intend to live & work in the Yukon
• Have a valid full-time, permanent employment offer from a Yukon employer 

How It Works  

The primary step is for you to obtain an employment offer from a Yukon employer. The employer should first represent that there is no Canadian citizen or permanent resident available. 

Further, you must prove that you have sufficient money to settle in Canada. You then complete & submit the Yukon Express Entry application alongside your employer. 

IRCC will then provide you with ITA, after which you will provide all the essential documents to complete your application for permanent residence. After IRCC & Yukon’s Immigration Unit verify your documents, you will obtain your PR. 

Yukon Skilled Worker Program 

Job Offer Requirement: Yes

Processing Time: 12-14 weeks

Minimum Requirements: 

An applicant must: 

• Have the education & relevant work experience needed for the job
• Have at least one year of work experience 
• Meet minimum language requirements 
• Meet additional requirements
• Have a valid work permit 
• Have a valid job offer 

How It Works 

The Yukon Skilled Worker program is one of the top immigration programs under the Yukon Provincial Nominee Program. The first step is to advertise the position locally & nationally in Canada to ensure that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident is presently available for the role. 

Further, the employer would extend the employment offer to you, which must be full-time & permanent. Then, you & your employer will complete all the required forms & submit them.

Your information will be further reviewed if the Yukon Provincial Nominee Program approves the employer. Well, if approved, you will become nominated by the territory. Afterwards, you can use the nomination to apply for a Temporary Work Permit from IRCC & PR application. 

Finally, you can use the work permit in the territory while your PR application is being processed. Once you meet security & health & criminality checks, you will become a permanent resident of Canada. 

Yukon Critical Impact Worker Program 

Need A Job Offer? Yes

Processing Time: 12-14 weeks 

Minimum Requirements: 

An applicant must: 

• Have a permanent full-time job offer
• Have the education & relevant work experience 
• Have at least six months of related work experience 
• Meet minimum language requirement in French/ English 
• Meet additional requirements 
• Have a valid work permit if you are in Canada 

How It Works 

You have to obtain an employment offer from a Yukon employer. The employer should first advertise the position & show that there is no permanent inhabitant or Canadian citizen available for the job. 

Further, you & your employer must complete the necessary forms & submit them to the Yukon Provincial Nominee Program. 

If the employer is approved, the Yukon Provincial Nominee Program will review the information. On the other hand, if you are approved, you will be nominated by the Yukon territory. Then, you can apply for a PR & temporary work permit from IRCC. 

Once you get your work permit, you can easily travel to Canada & work in Yukon with your work permit while you wait for your application to be processed. 

Business Nominee Program 

Processing Time: 12-14 weeks 

Minimum Requirements: 

An applicant must: 

• Achieve at least a score of 65 on the Nominee Assessment Grid 
• Have a minimum of ten points for language ability on the grid
• Achieve Level 6 in IELTS or Level 4 in TEF
• Have at least three years of entrepreneurial/ business management experience
• Have a minimum of five years of experience relevant to the proposed business
• Have at least CAD 500,000 net worth
• Prove that your net worth & liquid assets have been obtained by legal means 
• Have a minimum of CAD 300,000 in liquid assets 
• Submit a Resettlement plan demonstrating their intention to live in Yukon
• Intend to settle in the territory permanently & run the business there 

How It Works 

First, you must ensure you are eligible to immigrate to Yukon. Further, submit your application on the Yukon official website.  After you obtain approval in principle, you will be required to submit a business plan, which includes an outline regarding how you will establish a business. 

At this point, you must demonstrate the CAD 300,000 investment in business & one-third ownership. You can further apply for a temporary work permit to travel to the territory & begin your business. 

When you come to Yukon, you will have to meet with a YBNP, i.e., Yukon Business Nominee Program representative. In addition, you will also need to meet additional requirements for the initial & second year in Yukon as a nominee. 

If you meet all requirements during your two-year work period, you will get supported by the business nominee program in your application to the federal government for PR.  Lastly, you must ensure that you hold a valid work permit until you get PR status in Yukon.  

Yukon Community Pilot         

If you are nominated provincially, the Yukon Community Pilot can help you get a specialized work permit, which would allow you to work for multiple employers in one of the participating communities of Yukon. 

Minimum Requirements: 

An applicant must: 

• Be nominated by Yukon
• Have 2-3 eligible employment offers, all of which are in the same participating Yukon community
• Meet the requirements of the work permit 
• Have a signed letter of support from the Yukon government 

Moreover, the jobs must add at least 30 work hours per week. They should be non-seasonal, and the wage must meet/ exceed the minimum wage. 

Furthermore, the work experience must show that you can perform the job duties. 

How It Works: 

You have to first ensure that the territory has nominated you for permanent residence. 

Moreover, you must obtain a signed letter of support from the government of Yukon. The letter must say that the employer who is offering employment needs you to work in the community as soon as possible. Also, the letter includes details of employment offers, like the names of the employees, occupation, number of hours per week, & job locations. 

As part of your application, you need to submit the signed letter & a copy of the nomination letter from the government. Once ready, you must apply online on the federal government website. Well, the application form depends on where you are applying from.

Lastly, you must note that the work permit is valid for two years. The employer will not need an LMIA. 

Conclusion 

The Yukon Provincial Nominee Program is a pathway for skilled professionals & others to obtain Canadian PR. Focusing on addressing local market needs & promoting economic development, the program is integral to Yukon’s growth. 

The program allows individuals to contribute their skills & resources to the territory, thus fostering social & economic vitality. Moreover, through this program, the territory welcomes diverse talents & investments, benefiting the entire territory. 

Thus, the Yukon Provincial Nominee Program is a valuable tool for both aspiring immigrants/ newcomers & Yukon. 

FAQs

• What is the Yukon Provincial Nominee Program? 

Through YPNP, prospective immigrants with skills & experience receive a nomination certificate, thus allowing the applicant to apply for PR with processing times faster than other Canadian immigration classes.  

• How does the Yukon Provincial Nominee Program Work? 

The YNP accepts applications under four main nomination programs, i.e.,

• Yukon Express Entry 
• YNP Skilled Worker Program 
• YNP Critical Impact Worker program 
• Yukon Business Nominee Program 

• Is an individual required to live & reside permanently in Yukon once they immigrate? 

As part of any PNP application, applicants must submit a Settlement Plan indicating why they wish to live in the province & how they are planning to settle. Applicants must also sign an ‘intention to reside’ along with the application. Moreover, the Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedom ensures that all permanent residents & Canadian citizens are allowed to work & reside in any region across Canada. Thus, once an applicant obtains a PR, they have the right to work & reside in any province/ territory in Canada.