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Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
Last updated: 2026-09-17
The Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) is the territory's route to permanent residence, and it differs from most provincial programs in one important way: the employer files everything, not the worker. Employers submit an Expression of Interest during fixed intake windows and may only file a full application for a specific foreign worker once invited. Allocations are small — IRCC gave Yukon a maximum of 282 nominations for 2026 — so ranking is competitive. Yukon also runs a separate Business Nominee Program for entrepreneurs starting or buying a business in the territory.
- Who it suits
- Workers with a Yukon job offer in either skilled or entry-level positions, people who have worked or studied in Yukon, and entrepreneurs
- Who applies
- The employer files the EOI and the application — one application per foreign worker
- Language
- CLB 6 for TEER 0 and 1; CLB 5 for TEER 2 and 3; CLB 4 for TEER 4 and 5
- 2026 allocation
- A maximum of 282 nominations
Official processing times
Taken from IRCC's own processing times tool and synced twice a month.
| Application type | Published processing time |
|---|---|
| Provincial nominee — Express Entry | about 7 months |
| Provincial nominee — base track | about 13 months |
IRCC data updated: October 9, 2026 · Synced by us: 2026-10-20
Processing times are IRCC's statistics on applications it has already finished — a guide, not a commitment. Individual files vary with document completeness, requests for more information and background checks. For applications where the time depends on where you file, only a few common locations are listed; use IRCC's tool for others.
The streams
Skilled Worker
- For management roles and jobs requiring higher education
- Occupations in TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3
- 12 months of relevant experience, gained in the last 10 years
- Language by level: CLB 6 for TEER 0 and 1, CLB 5 for TEER 2 and 3
Critical Impact Worker
- For entry-level jobs — the most accessible route into Yukon
- Occupations in TEER 4 and 5
- Only 6 months of relevant experience, gained in the last 10 years
- Language: CLB 4
Express Entry
- For candidates already in the federal Express Entry pool
- Positions in TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3
- You must also qualify under the CEC, FSW or FST program
- A nomination adds 600 CRS points
Business Nominee Program
- Separate from the three worker streams, for entrepreneurs
- At least 65 points on the assessment grid and CAD $500,000 net worth
- Only ten strategic sectors qualify; retail, restaurants and real estate are excluded
- The business must not yet have been bought or started when you apply
2026 priorities
Applications far exceed the allocation, so Yukon ranks Expressions of Interest against these priorities.
- Regulated health care professionals
- Employers in rural Yukon
- Candidates who have lived and worked in Yukon for at least one year
- Yukon University graduates
- Francophone or French-speaking candidates
- Candidates who received a Temporary Measure Letter of Support in 2024 or 2025
The three worker streams compared
| Stream | Occupation level | Experience | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Impact Worker | TEER 4/5 | 6 months relevant | CLB 4 |
| Skilled Worker | TEER 0/1/2/3 | 12 months relevant | CLB 6 for TEER 0–1; CLB 5 for TEER 2–3 |
| Express Entry | TEER 0/1/2/3 | Per the federal program | Per the federal program, usually higher |
Language results must be originals from a designated testing organization and less than two years old. Work experience must have been gained within the ten years before the application.
Yukon's official eligibility page →Employer requirements — often overlooked
This is an employer-driven program: if the employer does not qualify, the worker cannot be submitted at all.
- The employer must be a Canadian permanent resident or citizen
- The business must be registered in Yukon with an office there, operating for at least one year before applying; the same applies to industry associations and municipal, First Nation or territorial governments
- Non-profits must have operated for two years, with funding secured for at least one year after applying
- All required federal, territorial and municipal licences must be current and valid
- Ineligible businesses include bed and breakfasts under 10 rooms, hobby farms, home-based or distribution operations, taxi companies, businesses owned by active Yukon business nominees, passive investments, business consultation and personal services, real estate and holding companies
- Yukon publishes a list of employers banned from the program — worth checking before signing anything
Requirements for the worker
- Valid temporary resident status, maintained, if you are in Canada when the application is filed
- You must not be a refugee claimant
- A guaranteed job offer in Yukon that meets local economic demand
- Proof of qualifying work experience (6 months for critical impact worker, 12 months for skilled worker, both within the last 10 years)
- Language results meeting the level for the position
- An intention to live in Yukon, and to file for permanent residence with IRCC within six months of starting work
Business Nominee Program thresholds
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Assessment score | At least 65 points on the grid |
| Net worth | At least CAD $500,000, with lawful source verified by a Yukon accounting firm |
| Liquid assets | At least CAD $300,000 in cash, bonds and similar instruments |
| Investment | A commitment to invest at least CAD $300,000 in capital investments in the first two years, excluding housing, partly personal vehicles and operating costs |
| Experience and education | At least three years of entrepreneurial or business management experience and five years of relevant work experience; high school minimum |
| Your role | You must hold a TEER 0 or 1 position in the business |
| Sectors | Only IT, manufacturing, value-added processing, forestry, tourism, energy, mining, agriculture, cultural industries and film and video production |
Note the reversal of the usual model: the business must not yet have been purchased or started when you apply. Excluded sectors include passive investments, retail, wholesale and distribution, restaurants, financial services, business consultation and personal services, most professional services, real estate, holding companies and gas stations.
Official Yukon Business Nominee Program criteria →How it works
- 1
Confirm both sides qualify
The employer must be a Canadian permanent resident running an eligible Yukon business of at least one year; the worker needs a guaranteed offer, the right experience and language results.
- 2
The employer files an EOI during an intake window
The EOI asks about both the employer and the candidate and is scored against that year's priorities. A fresh EOI is required at every intake.
- 3
Wait for a Letter of Invitation
The highest-ranking submissions are invited, and the employer must attend an information session on filing the application.
- 4
File the complete application by the deadline
One application per foreign worker, with all documents, before the published deadline.
- 5
Sign the Tripartite Agreement
Successful applicants sign an agreement between the Government of Yukon, the nominee and the employer; compliance checks may happen at any time.
- 6
Apply for permanent residence within six months
The nominee must file with IRCC within six months of approval; Express Entry candidates add 600 points.
Common questions
Can I apply to the YNP myself?+
No. Yukon's program is employer-driven: the employer files both the EOI and the application, one per foreign worker. What you can do is find an eligible Yukon employer, secure a guaranteed job offer, and have your experience and language results ready so the employer can file during the intake window.
Can I still submit now?+
Both 2026 intakes (January 19–30 and July 6–17) have closed, and applications from the second round were due August 26. Yukon states that unsuccessful EOIs do not carry over, so preparation now should target the 2027 intake, with dates to be published by the territory.
Are the language requirements high?+
They are moderate by Canadian standards: CLB 6 for TEER 0 and 1, CLB 5 for TEER 2 and 3, and CLB 4 for TEER 4 and 5. Results must be originals from a designated organization and under two years old. Express Entry candidates must also meet the federal standard, which is usually higher.
Who has the best chance in 2026?+
Regulated health care professionals, candidates employed by rural Yukon employers, people who have lived and worked in Yukon for a year, Yukon University graduates, French speakers, and holders of a 2024 or 2025 Temporary Measure Letter of Support. Meeting several of these raises the ranking considerably.
Can I open a restaurant or retail store under the business program?+
No. Yukon's business program accepts only strategic sectors — IT, manufacturing, value-added processing, forestry, tourism, energy, mining, agriculture, cultural industries and film production. Restaurants, retail and wholesale, real estate, financial services, gas stations and holding companies are excluded. Note too that the business must not already have been purchased or started when you apply.
Wondering whether you qualify?
Contact us for an assessment and plan tailored to your background.
Book a consultationThis page summarizes official information from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for general reference only. Immigration rules change often, so always check IRCC's latest requirements. Every case is different — contact us for an assessment of your situation.
Sources (IRCC official website)
- Government of Yukon: the 2026 process, priorities and dates
- Government of Yukon: employer and worker eligibility
- Government of Yukon: skilled worker and critical impact worker streams
- Government of Yukon: Express Entry stream
- Government of Yukon: Business Nominee Program
- Government of Yukon: business nominee eligibility