Yukon has the smallest population of any Canadian region. Much of the Yukon’s economy is connected to mining, hydroelectricity and tourism. Outdoor life is especially celebrated in Yukon with hunting, fishing, kayaking, ice climbing and dog sledding popular. Whitehorse is the most well-known city in Yukon where the majority of people live. The cost of housing in the Yukon is generally lower than other Provinces in Canada, but the purchase of supplies can be costly depending on your location.
Immigration aspirants wishing to settle and work in Yukon and become Canadian permanent residents can apply through three major categories of PNP programs and also can apply through Business programs and Community Pilot Program. There is no requirement to be working in the Yukon already in order to apply. You will need either a joboffer from a Yukon based company, or the ability and intention to establish a business in the Yukon in order to qualify in any of the available categories.
The Skilled Worker Program is for qualified workers who have a job offer from a Yukon employer in a skilled position (NOC 0, A or B).The requirements of this program are majorly based on a job offer, language, and previous work experience.
• You have a job offer from an employer in the Yukon that meets all the criteria for nomination (no LMIA required)
• you have at least one year of work experience related to the position being offered
• Relevant Education and work experience required for the job as per the criteria specified in the NOC for your intended position
• For skill levels 0 and A, scored a min CLB 7 for Skill level 0 and A or a min CLB 5 for Skill level B on a valid language test
• Intention to live and work in Yukon
• Apply for permanent residency within 6 months of the employment starting date
• Employer must be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada
• business must have been in operation for a min of 1 year in the Yukon, or is a recognized government body
• business must have a license to operate and be registered on Yukon’s corporate registry
• employer must meet minimum advertising requirements to demonstrate there are no local workers to fill the vacant position
• note that some types of businesses are excluded
To apply under the Yukon express entry program, candidates first need to be eligible for the Federal Express Entry pool. On successful Expression of Interest in the express entry profile, the province can nominate the people who have education, skilled work experience, language ability and other factors to help them settle successfully into Yukon’s labor market and communities. The candidate must:
• Meet the minimum requirements for the Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Enter into IRCC’s Express Entry pool and have an Express Entry profile number and job seeker validation code
• The foreign national must show settlement funds to support themselves and their families upon arrival to Canada
• Have a valid, permanent, full-time job offer from an employer in Yukon
The Yukon Critical Impact Worker stream caters to candidates who possess a job offer under a semi skilled position included in the NOC (C or D) categories. The minimum requirements for the candidate to be eligible are as follows:
• 6 months of relevant work experience for the position being nominated
• Relevant Education and work experience required for the job as per the criteria specified in the NOC, with a minimum of High School completed
• Minimum high school education
• For skill levels C and D, candidates scored a min CLB 4 on a valid language test
• Intention to live and work in Yukon
• Apply for permanent residency within 6 months of the employment starting date
The Yukon Community Pilot is work permit component program managed by Federal Territorial Permanent Resident Stream. The Yukon community pilot program got introduced in July 2020 and will remain open for the next three years. The continuation of the program will be extended after monitoring the development of the community.
• must be in Car cross, Carmacks, Dawson City, Haines Junction, Watson Lake or Whitehorse
• offer additional employer supports such as housing
• advertise the position as required, and demonstrate no qualified PRs or Canadians are available
• have been in operation for at least 1 full year
• owner or operator is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
• the business is not involved in current labour disputes and is in good standing with:
o the Government of Yukon’s Corporate Affairs Branch.
o the Government of Yukon’s Employment Standards Branch; and
o Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board.
Yukon is looking out for interested entrepreneurs who wish to operate their own businesses in the province and contribute to the provincial economic development. Yukon Business Nominee program permits the Government of Yukon to nominate those applicants who have sufficient business experience and capability either to become a partner in a business or purchase an existing running business in Yukon.
In order to apply for the Yukon Business Nominee Program, the candidate must have:
• A Score of at least 65 points on the assessment grid of the Yukon program
• Minimum high school education
• Minimum 3 years of entrepreneurial or business management experience and at least 5 years of work experience relevant to the business
• you have never been refused by IRCC or made a refugee claim
• No active applications for any other provincial or territorial nominee program and
• Hold a position within the business of National Occupational Classification 0 or A.
• Intention to permanently live in Yukon
• The legal net worth of minimum $500,000 verified by an accounting firm of Yukon
• Legal Liquid assets of minimum $300,000 verified by a Yukon accounting firm
• Investment plan of at least $300,000 in capital investments for the business in the first 2 years. ( Capital investments include purchases such as property or equipment )
To be considered as an eligible business, the business must:
• Be a new business or a purchase of an existing Yukon business
• Be managed by the candidate
• Not be a passive investment; and
• The business should be among the strategic sectors; Information technology, Manufacturing, Value-added processing, Forestry, Tourism products, attractions, services and facilities, Energy, Mining or mineral development, Agriculture, Cultural industries, Film, and video production
The generic application process flow for eligible candidates is as follows:
• Applications meeting the basic program requirements are placed in a pool of potential candidates.
• Candidates selected from the pool are asked to submit the necessary documents to verify the information in the original application. If the application meets the eligibility requirements, candidates are called for an interview in Yukon.
• After the interview, the business proposal is assessed by Yukon officials. Once the assessment comes positive, candidates receive support in getting a two-year work permit from IRCC to establish the business in Yukon.
• After two years, candidates meeting the requirements are nominated for Permanent Residence.