Overview
The Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) lets the territory nominate foreign workers whom Yukon employers want to hire permanently. After nomination, the worker applies to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence within six months.
Employer-led
The employer submits all forms and applications, one per foreign worker. The worker cannot submit an EOI alone.
Three worker streams
Skilled Worker (TEER 0–3), Critical Impact Worker (TEER 4–5) and Yukon Express Entry (TEER 0–3, federal Express Entry candidates).
2026 allocation
IRCC allocated a maximum of 282 nominations to Yukon for 2026. Yukon nominated 312 people in 2025.
Separate business program
Foreign entrepreneurs use the Yukon Business Nominee Program (YBNP), which has its own 65-point assessment grid.
Worker streams and published requirements
| Requirement | Skilled Worker | Critical Impact Worker | Yukon Express Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jobs covered | Management and TEER 0–3 | Entry-level, TEER 4–5 | TEER 0–3 |
| Related work experience | 12 months | 6 months | 6 months |
| Language (CLB/NCLC) | 6 for TEER 0–1; 5 for TEER 2–3 | 4 | 7 for TEER 0–1; 5 for TEER 2–3 |
| Federal program | Not required | Not required | Eligible for the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program, with a valid Express Entry profile and settlement funds |
Rules for every worker
- Full-time job offer from a Yukon employer and intention to live permanently in Yukon.
- At least a high school diploma, plus the education the TEER requires.
- Language test results less than two years old when the employer applies.
- Students in Canada must finish their program before the employer applies; anyone in Canada must keep legal status throughout.
Rules for the employer
- Canadian citizen or permanent resident owner; business operating for at least one year (two years for non-profits) and registered with the Yukon or federal corporate registry.
- Advertised the job in Canada for at least four weeks in at least three places, including Job Bank and two local media, stating title, duties, weekly hours and exact wage; no qualified citizen or permanent resident available.
- Pays at least the Yukon median wage for the NOC, the IRCC employer compliance fee, the worker's travel to Yukon, free health insurance until the worker qualifies for territorial coverage, and return travel if the worker does not obtain permanent residence or leaves the program.
- May not charge the worker any application fee or recover costs from the worker.
2026 selection: priorities and intakes
Each EOI is scored against the 2026 priorities and the highest-ranking employers in each intake are invited to apply. Yukon does not publish the point values on the process page; it refers to its Operational Guidelines.
Priority: health care
Regulated health care professionals.
Priority: rural employers
Employers in rural Yukon.
Priority: Yukon ties
Foreign nationals who have lived and worked in Yukon for at least one year, Yukon University graduates, and Francophone or French-speaking candidates.
Temporary measure cases
Recipients of a 2024 or 2025 Temporary Measure Letter of Support do not submit an EOI; Yukon contacts them about next steps. Employers who submitted an EOI in 2025 but were not invited receive points.
| 2026 round | EOI intake | Invitations | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | January 19–30 | February 9–13 | March 4, 4:30 p.m. |
| Round 2 | July 6–17 | August 3–7 | August 26, 4:30 p.m. |
EOIs and applications submitted before the July 2026 intake did not carry over; employers had to resubmit with current information.
Yukon Business Nominee Program
Money
Net worth of at least $500,000 and liquid assets of at least $300,000, both verified by a Yukon accounting firm as legally obtained; at least $300,000 in capital investment within the first two years (a personal home, partly personal vehicles and operating costs do not count).
Experience and education
At least three years of entrepreneurial or business management experience and five years of work experience relevant to the business; at least a high school diploma; a TEER 0 or 1 role in the business.
Language
IELTS level 6 in English or TEF Canada level 4 in French, or the equivalent on other tests in IRCC's equivalency charts.
Eligible businesses
New or purchased businesses in sectors such as technology, manufacturing, value-added processing, forestry, tourism, energy, mining, agriculture, cultural industries and film. Excluded: passive investments, retail, wholesale, restaurants, financial and most professional or personal services, real estate, holding companies and gas stations.
Applicants must score at least 65 points on the assessment grid, must not have started or bought the business before applying, and must not have an active application in another nominee program. Qualifying applicants enter a candidate pool for six months; those selected submit verification documents and a business plan, then make an exploratory trip and attend an in-person interview in Yukon. Approved applicants receive support for a two-year work permit, and nomination support comes at the end of that period if the conditions are met. Yukon's pages do not list a program fee or say whether intake is open in 2026; confirm with the program before preparing a file.
NOC and TEER: the switch between streams
Identify the five-digit NOC code from the duties before choosing a stream or language level. The job ads, offer, experience letters and forms should all describe the same occupation.
TEER 0–1
Skilled Worker needs CLB 6 and 12 months of related experience; Yukon Express Entry needs CLB 7 and 6 months.
TEER 2–3
CLB 5 for both Skilled Worker and Yukon Express Entry.
TEER 4–5
Critical Impact Worker: CLB 4 and at least six months of related experience.
Licensing
The health care priority does not replace Yukon professional licensing for regulated occupations.
Find your NOC code and TEER category
The employer-led sequence
- Employer checks eligibility and recruitsConfirm the year of operation, registration, four weeks of advertising and a genuine full-time offer at or above the Yukon median wage.
- Worker matches NOC and streamUse TEER to choose Skilled Worker, Critical Impact Worker or Express Entry, and meet the experience, language and education rules.
- Employer submits the EOI during an intakeThe online EOI and a consent form with employer and worker sections.
- Yukon ranks against its prioritiesOnly the highest-ranking employers are invited to apply.
- Employer and worker submit the applicationEach completes their sections and documents (certified true copies, certified translations) by the deadline, in person or by mail.
- Worker applies to IRCC within six months of nominationYukon Express Entry nominees apply through Express Entry; others use the non-Express Entry route. Keep status and employment conditions throughout.
Documents, submission and contacts
- Employer documents: business licence, proof of registration with the Yukon or federal corporate registry, a Use of Representative form if applicable, and copies of at least three job advertisements.
- Worker documents: language test results less than two years old, employment records, proof of education (high school diploma and any credential the job requires), a copy of the Express Entry profile for that stream, and notarized copies of passports and any temporary resident, spouse or partner, and dependant documents. All documents must be certified true copies, and translations from languages other than English or French must be certified.
- Settlement funds (Yukon Express Entry): the worker must prove sufficient funds; the federal government sets the amount by family size.
- Where to submit: in person at 303 Alexander Street, first floor, Whitehorse (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), or by mail to Government of Yukon, Economic Development (F-1), Box 2703, Whitehorse, Yukon Y1A 2C6. The 2026 application handbook was listed as "coming soon" on the official pages.
- Business Nominee Program: Yukon states a decision within 12 to 14 weeks of a complete application, longer when volumes are high. Applicants must not be refugees or have an active refugee claim, and must never have been denied immigration by the Government of Canada. The official pages list no program fee.
- Contact: Immigration Branch, 867-667-5131 or 1-800-661-0408, extension 5131.
Frequently asked questions
Can I submit a Yukon EOI myself?
No. In the worker streams the employer submits the EOI and the application.
Can my employer charge me for the application?
No. Yukon prohibits employers from charging workers application fees or recovering program costs from them.
Will there be another intake in 2026?
Yukon announced only two 2026 intake periods, and both have closed. Watch the official process page for 2027 details.
Official sources
- Government of Yukon: Yukon Nominee Program process for 2026
- Government of Yukon: Yukon Nominee Program update for 2026 (news release, January 12, 2026)
- Government of Yukon: Yukon Nominee Program for foreign workers
- Government of Yukon: Skilled Worker and Critical Impact Worker streams
- Government of Yukon: Express Entry stream
- Government of Yukon: Yukon Business Nominee Program
- Government of Yukon: Business nominee eligibility requirements
- Government of Yukon: Apply to run your own business in Yukon
- IRCC: Fee list
This page is general information about Canadian immigration law and policy as of the date above. It is not legal advice for your situation. Programs, forms and fees change often; check the official sources before you apply.