Through the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP), prospective immigrants with the skills and experience targeted by the territory may receive a Yukon Provincial Nomination Certificate, after which they can apply for Canadian permanent residence with the Government of Canada.  Yukon Nominee Program Official Site. The Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) offers individuals who wish to settle in Yukon five pathways to become Canadian permanent residents:

1. YNP Express Entry (YEE)

Candidates who have created a profile and are already placed in the federal Express Entry pool and who are interested in living and working in Yukon may apply to the Yukon Express Entry stream (YEE). Then via the YNP, a candidate in the federal Express Pool who expresses a desire to settle in Yukon may be nominated for Canadian permanent residence by Yukon. Receiving a Yukon nomination will boost the candidate’s score by 600 CRS points, greatly increasing his or her chance of being invited to apply for permanent residence.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Yukon Express Entry, applicants must:

  • Meet the requirements of one of the three federal Express Entry 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 in Canada;
    • The amount of money required is based on the size of the applicant’s family, as determined by IRCC.
  • Have a valid job offer for permanent, full-time work from an eligible Yukon employer; and
  • Have a genuine intention to live and work in Yukon.

2. YNP Skilled Worker Program

Under this stream, Yukon employers may nominate foreign nationals working in skilled occupations for Canadian permanent residence.

Eligibility Requirements for Foreign Nationals

To be eligible candidates must:

  • Possess education and work experience that satisfy the requirements of the job as per the criteria specified in the National Occupational Classification (NOC); NOTE: The minimum acceptable level of education is a high school diploma.
  • Demonstrate at least one year of related work experience for the position being filled. This work experience may be gained outside Yukon;
  • If in Canada at the time of application, maintain a valid work permit throughout the YNP application and assessment process; and
  • If in Canada on a study permit, provide proof of One year of study for a certificate program,
  • Two years of study for a diploma or Bachelor degree program, or
  • Completion of at least level eight of the English as a Second Language (ESL) program for ESL students at Yukon College.

Eligibility Requirements for Employers

Employers must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident;
  • Be registered and operating a business in Yukon for at least one year, or must be a recognized government body in Yukon;
  • Meet minimum territorial labour standards;
  • Provide a copy of the business license, and be registered in Yukon’s corporate registry;
  • Provide to nominees, free of charge, health insurance that gives similar coverage to what a Yukon resident would receive until the nominee is eligible for government health benefits;
  • Offer a job with a wage equal to or exceeding prevailing median wage in the occupation in Yukon;
  • Pay the nominee’s cost of travel to Yukon from his or her country of residence abroad, if not already in Yukon;
    • Employers are not required to pay the travel costs of the nominee’s family or dependents.
  • Pay for return travel costs if the nominee does not obtain permanent residency;
  • Arrange for a screening interview with a Yukon Government Immigration officer if the foreign national is already in Yukon;
    • Both the foreign national and employer must be present for the interview.
  • Verify previous work experience and qualifications of the foreign worker before submitting an application;
  • Submit the offer of employment information and pay the compliance fee of $230 using the IRCC Employer Portal before the foreign national applies for an employer-specific work permit if the foreign national is exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process; and
  • Advertise the job opening for at least four weeks prior to submitting an application to the YNP.
    • The advertisement must remain posted to actively seek qualified Canadians and permanent residents until the date that the YNP issues a decision.
    • A minimum of two local and one national recruitment effort are required.

3. YNP Critical Impact Worker Program

The Critical Impact Worker stream is employer-driven and targets prospective immigrants in National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level C or D occupations. It was designed to help Yukon employers sponsor workers for immigration who have experience in a semi-skilled or unskilled occupation in high demand in the territory. Sponsored applicants must receive a job offer from a Yukon employer; however, they are not required to be in Yukon at the time of application.

Eligibility Requirements for Foreign Nationals

  • Education and work experience must satisfy the requirements of the job as per the criteria specified in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) (the minimum acceptable level of education is the completion of high school)
  • Proof of education/credentials – The applicant must submit their high school certificate or its equivalent in order to meet the minimum education requirement. If higher education is required for the position/NOC, please submit educational diplomas, certificates, degrees, etc.
  • Demonstrate at least six months of related work experience for the Critical Impact Worker stream for the position being nominated for;
  • Language Proficiency Test: Applicants must provide valid original test results from a language test administered by a designated testing agency. The accepted tests are IELTS General Training or CELPIP General for English and TEF for French. NOTE: Language tests are valid for two years from the date of the test; therefore, language tests must be less than two years old when you submit your application for the Yukon Nominee Program.
  • Foreign nationals, who are looking to work in jobs that fall in Skill Level C or D, are required to have minimum scores in each category (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking). These scores are:
    • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP):
      • 2H for CELPIP-General Tests before April 1, 2014, in each of the four abilities (listening, speaking, reading, and writing)
      • 4 for CELPIP-General Tests after April 1, 2014, in each of the four abilities (listening, speaking, reading, and writing)
    • International English Language Testing Score (IELTS):
      • 4 for IELTS-General Training test in each of the four abilities (listening, speaking, reading, and writing)
    • Test d’évaluation du Français (TEF) (to test proficiency in French):
      • 3 for TEF in each of the four abilities (listening, speaking, reading, and writing)
  • Foreign workers who are currently in Canada must maintain a valid work permit throughout the YNP application and assessment process. If you are unable to provide the YNP with a valid work permit your application will be declined. Please be advised that if you are under Implied Status, you are not eligible to apply for nomination through the YNP.
  • Any foreign national who is in Canada on a student permit needs to provide proof of one year of study for certificate programs or two years of study for diploma programs or completion of a Bachelor’s program before being considered for the Yukon Nominee Program. Foreign Students who are enrolled in the ESL program at Yukon College must have completed Level 8 of the ESL program.

Eligibility Requirements for Employers

Employers must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident;
  • Be registered and operating a business in Yukon for at least one year, or must be a recognized government body in Yukon;
  • Meet minimum territorial labour standards;
  • Provide a copy of the business license, and be registered in Yukon’s corporate registry;
  • Provide to nominees, free of charge, health insurance that gives similar coverage to what a Yukon resident would receive until the nominee is eligible for government health benefits;
  • Offer a job with a wage equal to or exceeding prevailing median wage in the occupation in Yukon;
  • Pay the nominee’s cost of travel to Yukon from his or her country of residence abroad, if not already in Yukon;
    • Employers are not required to pay the travel costs of the nominee’s family or dependents.
  • Pay for return travel costs if the nominee does not obtain permanent residency;
  • Arrange for a screening interview with a Yukon Government Immigration officer if the foreign national is already in Yukon;
    • Both the foreign national and employer must be present for the interview.
  • Verify previous work experience and qualifications of the foreign worker before submitting an application;
  • Submit the offer of employment information and pay the compliance fee of $230 using the IRCC Employer Portal before the foreign national applies for an employer-specific work permit if the foreign national is exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process; and
  • Advertise the job opening for at least four weeks prior to submitting an application to the YNP.
    • The advertisement must remain posted to actively seek qualified Canadians and permanent residents until the date that the YNP issues a decision.
    • A minimum of two local and one national recruitment effort are required.

4. Yukon Business Nominee Program (YBNP)

The YBNP targets individuals with proven business skills looking to own and operate a business in Yukon and make a significant contribution to the community.

Yukon is seeking people with entrepreneurial skills who can participate in Yukon’s business community and help expand and diversify its economy. Applicants must be willing to hold an active managerial role in the Yukon business.

If an applicant is approved by the program, he or she becomes a nominee and will receive support for a Two Year Work Permit issued by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The work permit gives the nominee the opportunity to establish him/herself, family, and business in Yukon. At the end of the two-year period, those who meet all the eligibility requirements will be supported by the territory in their application to IRCC for Permanent Residence.

Eligibility Requirements

Individuals must:

  • Achieve a score of at least 65 points on the assessment grid.
  • Have at least a high school education. If your business requires more education, you must also provide proof of these credentials.
  • Have at least 3 years of entrepreneurial or business management experience;
  • Have at least 5 years of work experience that is relevant to your business;
  • Not be a refugee or have an active request for refugee status with the Government of Canada;
  • Have never been denied immigration by the Government of Canada;
  • Have no active applications for any other provincial or territorial nominee program;
  • Have a net worth of at least $500,000 CAD. You must also have documentation and verification by a Yukon accounting firm that you obtained it through legal means;
  • Have a minimum of $300,000 in liquid assets. This includes things like cash, bonds, and cash derivatives. You must also have documentation and verification by a Yukon accounting firm that you obtained it through legal means;
  • Intend to permanently live in Yukon;
  • Agree to live in Yukon with dependents, if applicable, while managing and investing in your own business in Yukon.
  • Hold a position within your business of National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0 or A.
  • Have not yet purchased or started your business in Yukon at the time of your application to the program.
  • Show how you will invest at least $300,000 in capital investments for the business in the first 2 years.
    • This does not include any capital investments made before your acceptance into the Yukon Business Nominee Program.
    • Capital investments include purchases such as property or equipment. It does not include purchases such as a house, vehicles that are only partially for the business, and operational or maintenance expenses.

The Federal Express Entry System

Candidates who have created a profile in the federal Express Entry system AND have also applied for and received a nomination from YNP, are awarded an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score at the federal level, on top of the points that they have in the federal Express Entry pool. The additional 600 CRS points virtually guarantee that the candidate will also receive an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence under the federal Express Entry system.

The Canadian federal government and the provincial and territorial governments regularly draw candidates from the federal Express Entry pool to issue Invitations to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence, based on the particular needs and shortages in the country or provinces.

In order to enter the federal Express Entry pool, candidates must first create an Express Entry profile. You must meet the eligibility requirements for one of the three federal government programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Class; the Federal Skilled Trades Class; and the Canadian Experience Class. A job offer is not required to enter or be selected from the Express Entry pool although additional CRS points are awarded to those who already have a job.

Based on the information you entered in your federal Express Entry profile you will be given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and placed into a pool of candidates ranked by their CRS score. Your CRS is a numerical value, out of a possible 1,200, determined by your core human capital. This is essentially your age, work experience, educational background, ability to adapt, and language skills.

A limited number of candidates with the highest CRS points in the pool are issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residence through regular federal Express Entry draws which typically take place every two weeks. Nomination under a provincial program like YNP gives a candidate in the federal Express Entry pool an additional 600 points which effectively guarantees that they will be invited to apply for PR.

Optimize your chances of success!

What are your options for Canadian Immigration? You can consider any of the following pathways to Canadian Immigration:

Chugo Immigration Service is authorized to offer Canadian Immigration and Citizenship services under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The Principal Consultant, Pius Chukwuma Ekwulugo RCIC, is a member in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and has helped many foreigners to start a new life in Canada. We will help you too!

For effective and diligent legal help regarding Canadian Immigration matters, we partner with Weekes Law Office.

WHAT DO I DO NEXT?

Are you looking for an immigration pathway to Canada? If you do not know where to look and how to start, we invite you to book an eligibility consultation with us. We will prepare an individualized assessment report for you and guide you on your immigration journey to Canada.

We advise you to complete the assessment questionnaire now in order to properly plan your application.

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