Previously known as the Yukon Territory, Yukon is seated among high plateaus and mountains on the northwestern side of Canada. It borders the Northwest Territories to the east, British Columbia to the south, and Alaska (a United States state) to the west. Immigrants intending to immigrate to Yukon can apply to the Yukon Provincial Nominee Program (Yukon PNP).
Yukon is famous for its mineral wealth abundance, meager and sparse population, and unspoiled and sizable wilderness areas. Two-thirds of Yukon's population live in Whitehorse, the provincial capital. Almost one-third of the population is of Native American origin. The rest are descendants of European settlers or mixed immigrant and aboriginal descent.
Due to Yukon’s sparse population, skilled and semi-skilled immigrants have many opportunities of obtaining PR status in the province. The Yukon PNP has different categories for different types of immigrants.
Make Your Move to CanadaFor Immigrants with Job Offers in Yukon
Immigrants fortunate enough to receive a job offer from an employer in Yukon can use the following program to apply to immigrate to the province.
Yukon Express Entry
Eligible candidates who want to enter the Express Entry pool and intend to live and work in Yukon can apply for the Yukon Express Entry stream (YEE). Yukon added the Express Entry system to its existing immigration programs in March 2015.
This stream allows Yukon to nominate candidates who already are in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry pool and possess the requisite education, language ability, skilled work experience, and other factors that can assist them in settling and integrating successfully into Yukon’s labor force and urban and rural communities. Eligibility requirements for this stream can be outlined as follows:
| Immigration Under This Category Requires That You Must: |
|---|
| Meet the requirements of the three Express Entry programs; |
| Make sure you complete and submit the online Express Entry application and receive a profile number (and Job Seeker Validation Code if applicable); |
| Have settlement funds sufficient to support yourself and family members upon arriving in Canada; |
| Have a valid offer of employment for a permanent, full-time job post from an eligible employer in Yukon. |
| Have intentions to live and work in Yukon |
Skilled Worker Program
The Yukon Skilled Worker Program forms part of Yukon's PNP immigration pathways. It was designed to assist employers in filling crucial job vacancies for which citizens or permanent Canadian residents needed the qualifying skills to fulfill. Employers are the driving force behind and directly influence the number of foreign workers accepted into the program based on the number of job vacancies in the province.
Apply for the Skilled Worker stream if you have been offered a job in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) 0, 1, 2, or 3 categories.
| Immigration Under This Category Requires That You Must: |
|---|
| Have a valid Temporary Work Permit (TWP) or a student visa granted by the relevant Canadian authorities if you live in Canada already when submitting your application; |
| Not be someone who claims refugee status or is a visitor; |
| Be offered a job from an employer in the Yukon meeting all the criteria for a provincial nomination; |
| Show proof of sufficient education or work experience for the position or; |
| Show valid proof of education credentials per the program eligibility requirements. Conduct an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) to show this if you graduated from an educational institution outside of Canada; |
| Satisfy the language requirements needed to fulfill your position’s duties. For a detailed breakdown of information on this requirement, consult the province’s Application Handbook; |
| Have genuine intentions to settle and work in the province; |
| Apply for permanent residence 3-6 months before the date of presumption of your work duties; |
| Have at least 12 months' worth of relevant work experience in a full-time job position in the past ten years. |
Critical Impact Worker Program
The Yukon Critical Impact Worker Program was introduced by the provincial government of Yukon to assist local businesses that need TEER 4 and 5, or low-skilled labor, to fill labor shortages in the market.
This program is driven by employers who target low-skilled and semi-skilled workers intending to live and work in Yukon. Applicants under this program can apply for a work permit and permanent residency status.
| Immigration Under This Category Requires That You Must: |
|---|
| Have a valid Temporary Work Permit (TWP) or a student visa granted by the relevant Canadian authorities if you live in Canada already when submitting your application; |
| Not be someone who claims refugee status or is a visitor; |
| Be offered a job from an employer in the Yukon meeting all the criteria for a provincial nomination; |
| Show proof of education or work experience qualifies you for the position or; |
| Show valid proof of education credentials. Conduct an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) to show this if you graduated from an educational institution outside of Canada; |
| Satisfy the language requirements needed to fulfill your position’s duties. For a detailed breakdown of information on this requirement, consult the province’s Application Handbook; |
| Have genuine intentions to settle and work in the province; |
| Have at least 12 months' worth of relevant work experience in a full-time job position that is in the past ten years; |
| Work for the same employer that offers a permanent position using a valid work permit for at least six months in the ten years before submitting your application |
| Have at least 55 points on the Yukon Nominee Program Pre-Assessment grid |
Get Your Start in Canada
For Immigrants That Want to Start a Business in Yukon
If you have a great business idea that you think can be capitalized on in Yukon, then you can use the following immigration streams to apply.
Business Nominee Program
If you want to operate your business in Yukon, the Business Nominee Program is your most suitable program.
You must ensure that you and your intended business meet the list of requirements. You must meet the following individual eligibility requirements to apply for this immigration stream.
| Immigration Under This Category Requires That You Must: |
|---|
| Have at least 65 points on the assessment grid; |
| Have a Canadian high school diploma or the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA); |
| Should your business require further education; you must obtain it; |
| Have at least three years of entrepreneurial or business management experience; |
| Have at least five years of relevant business experience; |
| Not be a refugee status seeker or refugee in Canada; |
| Must not have previously been denied immigration status by the government of Canada; |
| Have no active applications for any other immigration program or stream; |
| Have at least a net worth of CAD 500,000 and a letter from a Yukon-based accounting firm indicating that you earned your wealth by legal means; |
| Including cash, derivatives, and bonds valued at least CAD 300,000 in liquid assets. You need a letter from a Yukon-based accounting firm indicating that you earned your wealth by legal means; |
| Intend to settle and operate your business permanently in Yukon; |
| Hold a business position that falls under NOC TEER 0 or 1; |
| Have not yet purchased or opening a new business when you submitted your application; |
| Show you intend to invest at least CAD 300,000 in your business within two years through a business plan. |
Along with the above requirements, your business must:
- Be purchased from an existing business to be managed by you or a new business. You must not be a passive investor.
- Be under one of the prescribed strategic sectors
For People With Multiple Jobs in Yukon
Yukon’s provincial government prioritizes the immigration needs of people with multiple jobs. The following immigration pilot is the most common permanent residency pathway for people already residing and working multiple jobs in Yukon.
Yukon Community Pilot
The Yukon Community Pilot Program (YCPP) is a permanent resident stream (jointly managed by the territorial and federal government) that has a work permit component to attract and permanently settle immigrants in Yukon by testing innovative approaches to immigration.
The YCPP started in 2020 and it is set to end during/at the end of this year.
To be eligible for this work permit stream, foreign nationals must have a job offer lined up in a participating community in Yukon and two to three employment offers with at least three employers that permit you to accumulate 1,560 working hours in a single year (equal to annual full-time work) in the following participating communities:
- Whitehorse
- Watson Lake
- Dawson City
- Haines Junction
- Carmacks
- Carcross
You must have the following criteria to apply for a work permit through the YCPP:
- Permanent, valid job offer
- Signed letter of support from the Yukon Government
- Sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependent family members
- Sufficient funds to go back to your home country
Yukon: Opportunities, Benefits, and Enriching Lifestyle
Yukon is a great place to live for many reasons. Here are five reasons why you should consider moving to Yukon:
Secure, Safe and Peaceful Environment
The province is a secure and safe place to live, with many peaceful environments for people to stroll through and savor the natural beauty.
An Active Lifestyle
Those who select Yukon as their immigration destination enjoy an active but peaceful lifestyle with year-round cultural events.
Multicultural and Diverse Population
Yukon communities have diverse populations, with 25 percent of people being of First Nations (Indigenous) descent.
Job Opportunities
Due to its growing economy and need for skilled workers in specialized, critical industries, Yukon has developed a lot of job opportunities. The province is notorious for having abundant natural resources such as gold, lead mines, and zinc, which account for more than 30 percent of the mineral production in Canada.
Yukon has a thriving tourism industry where visitors worldwide experience natural beauty and outdoor activities. The diverse economy of the province includes healthcare, government services, and education. You can use a lot of online job portals such as eJobbo, IndeedCanada, Glassdoor, and MonsterCanada to search for work in Yukon.
Natural Beauty
The natural beauty of Yukon is well-renowned, with three of the 42 national parks in Canada, such as the Kluane National Park and Reserve, where Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak, is situated.
Live Your Best Life in Yukon Today!
If Yokon piques your interest as an immigration destination then as a means of making sure that your application is successful we recommend using the services of a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants.
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) are legalized and authorized representatives trained and qualified to mediate Canadian immigration policies on behalf of clients.
They represent and guide individuals through the process of immigrating to Canada. RCICs adhere to strict codes of conduct and ethics and can be held to account for their actions by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC).
RCICs can evaluate candidates to find the right immigration pathway for them, create your Express Entry profile, help you fill out your immigration forms, and source and validate your documents.
With regards to interacting with Canadian immigration authorities, they can also represent you to Canadian immigration authorities and provide you with the support and guidance needed throughout your application.
Ready to Start Your Journey?FAQs
Can I Immigrate Through the Yukon PNP if I Don't Have a Job Offer?
No, as the Yukon PNP is designed to fill the job vacancies in the province, you need a job offer to immigrate through the Yukon PNP. However, you can move to Yukon in several ways without a job offer. Here's a handy breakdown:
What Jobs Are In-Demand in Yukon?
Yukon has vacancies in various occupations across multiple industries. Here's a full breakdown of the in-demand occupations in Yukon to give you the full picture.