Yukon, formerly known as the Yukon Territory, is a mountainous region in northern British Columbia. The Northwest Territories to the east, British Columbia to the south, and Alaska to the west are its neighbours. The Yukon Provincial Nominee Program is available to immigrants who wish to relocate to Yukon (Yukon PNP).
The low population, abundant mineral riches, and vast expanses of pristine wilderness make Yukon a sought-after tourist destination. As the Yukon’s capital city, Whitehorse has a population of more than two-thirds of the state’s whole population. About a third of the population is descended from indigenous peoples. Most of the rest of the population is descended from Europeans or has a mix of native and immigrant ancestry. The Yukon PNP welcomed 310 immigrant families to Yukon in 2019 by granting them permanent residence.
Yukon Immigration Streams
Because Yukon is so sparsely inhabited, skilled and semi-skilled immigrants have a lot of options when it comes to settling down there.
The Yukon Provincial Nominee Program is the primary source of new immigrants to the territory. In order to be eligible for immigration to the Yukon, a person must fall into one of the following categories:
The Northwest Territory PNP Operates Through 5 Streams:
Express Entry
Yukon Express Entry is open to anyone who meet the requirements of the federal Express entry pool and who want to work and live in the territory (YEE). To streamline its existing immigration procedures, the Yukon implemented an Express Entry system in March 2015. People who have previously been accepted into the Express Entry pool of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and who possess the essential qualifications for effective integration into the Yukon’s workforce and communities can now be nominated by the government.
| To immigrate under this category you will have to: |
|---|
| Meet the requirements of one of the three federal economic immigration programs; |
| Complete the online Express Entry application to receive a profile number and, if applicable, a Job Seeker Validation Code; |
| Have sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and any accompanying family members upon arriving in Canada; |
| Have a valid job offer for permanent, full-time work from an eligible Yukon employer |
| Have a genuine intention to live and work in Yukon |
Skilled Worker Program and the Critical Impact Worker Program
If you have a job offer for a position included in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) A, 0, or B categories, you should apply for the Skilled Worker stream.
| You must: |
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| Have a student visa or a valid Temporary Work Permit (TWP), issued by the relevant authorities if you are already living in Canada when you apply; |
| Not be a visitor or someone who claims refugee status; |
| Have a job offer from an employer in the Yukon that meets all the criteria for nomination; |
| Be able to show proof of work experience or education that qualifies you for the position; |
| Be able to show proof of education credentials as per the program requirements. You will need to have an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) done to show this if you graduated from a school outside of Canada; |
| Meet the language criteria needed to accurately fulfill your position’s duties. For more detailed information on this requirement you can consult the province’s Application Handbook; |
| Have the intention to live and work in the province; |
| Apply for permanent residence within 3-6 months of your employment starting date; |
| Have a minimum of six months of relevant work experience in a full-time position within the past ten years before you apply if you are applying for the Critical Impact Worker Program; and |
| Have a minimum of 12 months of relevant work experience in a full-time position within the past ten years before you apply if you are applying for the Skilled Worker Program |
In addition to the above requirements, if you are applying under the Critical Impact Worker, you need to:
- Have worked for the same employer offering the permanent position on a valid work permit for a minimum of six months prior to the application or obtained a minimum score of 55 points on the Yukon Nominee Program Pre-Assessment points grid; and
- Obtain a minimum score of 55 points on the Yukon Nominee Program Pre-Assessment points grid
Yukon Community Pilot
One of the requirements to become a permanent resident under the YPNP is that you work in an occupation for at least 30 hours per week. The Yukon Community Pilot allows an applicant with a provincial nomination from the Yukon government to work two or three jobs simultaneously in order to meet that requirement. The jobs must be for continuous (non-seasonal) work in one of the following participating communities:
- Whitehorse
- Watson Lake
- Dawson City
- Haines Junction
- Carmacks
- Carcross
Business Nominee Program
The Business Nominee Program is ideal for overseas entrepreneurs who wish to start a business in Yukon. In the beginning, you must ensure that you and the prospective firm meet a long number of prerequisites, nevertheless.
You must meet all of the following personal eligibility conditions in order to apply for this stream.
| You must: |
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| Achieve a minimum score of 65 points on the assessment grid; |
| Have a Canadian high school diploma or the equivalent; |
| If your business requires further education, you must have that too; |
| Have a minimum of three years of business management or entrepreneurial experience; |
| Have at least five years of experience relevant to your business; |
| Not be a refugee or refugee status seeker in Canada; |
| Must never have been denied immigration status by the Canadian government; |
| Have no active applications for any other immigration streams or programs; |
| Have a minimum net worth of CAN$500,000, as well as a letter from an accounting firm based in Yukon stipulating you came by the wealth by legal means; |
| Including cash, bonds, and derivatives, have a minimum of CAN$300,000 in liquid assets. You will also need a letter from an accounting firm based in Yukon stipulating you obtained the assets by legal means; |
| Intend to settle, live and run your business permanently in Yukon; |
| Hold a position in your business that falls under the NOC 0 or A identifications; |
| Have not yet engaged in the purchasing or opening of a new business at the time of your application; and |
| Through a business plan, show your intention to invest at least CAN$300,000 in your business within two years. |
In addition to the above requirements, your proposed business must:
- Be a new business or the purchase of an existing business to be managed by you. You may not be a passive investor.
- Fall under one of the prescribed strategic sectors
