Eligibility Requirements for the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)

Under the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP), candidates may qualify under one of the following categories:

• Yukon Express Entry (YEE)
• Skilled Worker Program
• Critical Impact Worker Program
• Yukon Business Nominee Program (YBNP)

Yukon Express Entry (YEE)

Candidates who are eligible to enter the federal Express Entry pool and are interested in living and working in Yukon may apply to the Yukon Express Entry stream (YEE). Yukon added an Express Entry stream to its existing immigration programs in March 2015. This stream allows the province to nominate individuals who are already in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) Express Entry pool and who have the necessary education, skilled work experience, language ability, and other factors to help them settle successfully and integrate into Yukon’s labour market and communities.

To enter the federal Express Entry pool, candidates must be eligible for one of the three federal economic immigration programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class

Candidates who meet all eligibility requirements of one of these three federal programs must begin by creating an Express Entry profile on the IRCC website. Based on the information the candidate submits, his or her profile will be scored and the top-ranking profiles will be invited to apply for permanent residence. Receiving a Provincial or Territorial Nomination will boost the candidate's score by 600 points, greatly increasing his or her chance of being invited to apply for permanent residence.

Benefits of YEE

Benefit for Employers

The Express Entry system helps employers meet critical labour shortages with foreign skilled workers when they cannot find Canadians or permanent residents to fill openings for full-time, permanent jobs, despite reasonable recruitment efforts. Express Entry provides employers with greater flexibility than other immigration programs. With YEE, employers can take advantage of improvements to Canada’s Job Bank, an online search tool that matches prospective immigrants with Canadian employers and jobs based on their skills, knowledge and experience.

Employers who use YEE do not have to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or pay for the foreign worker’s travel costs.

Benefit for Individuals

Express Entry helps eligible potential economic immigrants find permanent work in Yukon when employers cannot find Canadians or permanent residents to fill job openings. Applicants receive priority processing under Express Entry and most receive permanent residence within six months of verification of their completed application as a result.

Minimum Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for Yukon Express Entry, applicants must:

• 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 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.

YEE Application and Nomination Process

A valid offer of employment from an eligible Yukon employer will trigger a YNP Nomination for the Express Entry (EE) candidate and, subsequently, an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to IRCC for permanent residence.

There are 10 steps in the YEE application and nomination process. They are as follows: 

1. The employer finds a suitable foreign skilled worker.
2. The employer offers the foreign national a job after demonstrating there is no Canadian or permanent resident available and/or suitable for the position.
3. The worker meets the requirements for one of the three federal economic immigration programs.
4. The worker completes an online application in IRCC’s EE system and enters the EE candidate pool. The worker obtains an EE Profile Number and, if applicable, a Job Seeker Validation Code.
5. The worker proves that he or she has sufficient settlement funds.
6. The employer and worker jointly complete and submit the Yukon Express Entry application form.
7. The worker receives an ITA from IRCC.
8. The worker provides all necessary documents to IRCC to complete the permanent residence application.
9. IRCC and Yukon’s Immigration Unit verify the worker’s documents.
10. The worker receives permanent residence.

Skilled Worker Program

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

Minimum Eligibility Requirements for Foreign Nationals

Individual applicants must meet the following requirements:

• 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;
• If in Canada at the time of application, maintain a valid work permit throughout the YNP application and assessment process;
• 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; and

Additional Language Requirements

All individuals must demonstrate sufficient English or French language proficiency by providing results from a language test administered by a designated testing agency, including IELTS (General Training Test only) and CELPIP (General test only) for English or TEF for French.

Foreign nationals seeking employment in NOC Skill Level 0 or A occupations must obtain the following minimum scores in each language category (Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking):

• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP):
  • 4L for tests taken before April 1, 2014 in each of the four abilities.
  • 7 for tests taken after April 1, 2014 in each of the four abilities.
• International English Language Testing Score (IELTS): 6 in each of the four abilities.
• Test d’évaluation du Français (TEF): 4 in each of the four abilities.

Foreign nationals seeking work in NOC Skill Level B occupations must obtain the following minimum scores in each language category (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking):

• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP):
  • 3L for tests taken before April 1, 2014 in each of the four abilities.
  • 5 for tests taken after April 1, 2014 in each of the four abilities.
• International English Language Testing Score (IELTS): 5 in each of the four abilities.
• Test d’évaluation du Français (TEF): 3 in each of the four abilities.

Minimum 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 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 issuea a decision.
  • A minimum of two local and one national recruitment efforts are required.

Critical Impact Worker Program

Under this stream, Yukon employers may nominate foreign nationals with skills and experience that are in-demand in the territory. The Critical Impact Worker stream is employer-driven and targets prospective immigrants in National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level C or D occupations.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements for Foreign Nationals

Individuals must meet the following requirements:

• 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 six months of related work experience for the position being filled;
• 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.
• Demonstrate sufficient English or French language proficiency by providing results from a language test administered by a designated testing agency, including IELTS (General Training Test only) and CELPIP (General test only) for English or TEF for French. Candidates must obtain the following minimum scores:
  • CELPIP:
    • 2H for tests taken before April 1, 2014 in each of the four abilities (reading, writing, speaking, listening).
    • 4 for tests taken after April 1, 2014 in each of the four abilities.
  • IELTS: 4 in each of the four abilities.
  • TEF: 3 in each of the four abilities.

Minimum 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 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 issuea a decision.
  • A minimum of two local and one national recruitment efforts are required.

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.

Minimum Eligibility Criteria

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

In order to be eligible under the Yukon Business Nominee Program, applicants must:

• Achieve a minimum score of 65 points on the Nominee Assessment Grid (including a minimum of 10 points for language ability);
• Achieve at minimum either:
  • Level 6 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or
  • Level 4 in the Test d’Evaluation De Francais (TEF);
• Have at least three years of entrepreneurial or business management experience;
• Have at least five years of relevant experience related to the proposed business venture; 
• Have a minimum net worth of $500,000 CAD, verified by a Yukon accounting firm;
• Have at least $300,000 CAD in liquid assets (cash, bonds, cash derivatives etc.), verified by a Yukon accounting firm;
• Provide proof that the claimed net worth and liquid assets has been obtained through legal means;
• Submit a Resettlement Plan demonstrating their intent to establish Yukon residency; and
• Intend to settle permanently in Yukon and actively operate a business in the territory.

Business Plan

The Business Plan is submitted after the applicant has received approval in principle on eligibility and on their proposed venture. It must include a detailed business plan that outlines how the applicant will establish a successful business venture in one of the industries listed on the Strategic Sector List (see below). The applicant must demonstrate a minimum $300,000 CAD investment in the business with a minimum 33.33 percent (one-third) ownership. In addition, the applicant must demonstrate active and ongoing management of the business.

Additional Requirements For Year One in Yukon as a Nominee

Upon arrival in the territory, nominees must have a mandatory meeting with a YBNP representative. If delays occur the nominee is required to inform the YBNP office immediately. Additionally, the nominee’s residency and start-up process must begin immediately. All legal documents supporting such activity must be provided to the YBNP and documentation showing proof of business operations is required throughout the year. All nominees must meet with YBNP staff or be visited on-site (business or residence) on a quarterly basis.

Additional Requirements for Year Two in Yukon as a Nominee

Nominees are expected to have their business operational and all members of the family residing year-round in Yukon by their second year in the territory. During this second year, nominees are to produce all documentation to support their application for Permanent Residence.

This documentation includes:

• Year End Financial Statements (Notice to Reader),
• Person residence rent receipts or mortgage statements,
• Personal utility receipts,
• Business rent receipts or mortgage payments,
• Business utility receipts,
• List of business suppliers and customers,
• Other documents required by the YBNP.

Lastly, all nominees will be subject to a final on-site visit (at home or at work).

Final Approval For Support Of Permanent Residence

Nominees must complete the necessary requirements during the two year work period In order to be supported by YBNP in their application to IRCC for permanent residency. Once the nominee receives the letter of final approval, he or she must apply to IRCC for Permanent Residence within three months. Nominees are responsible for ensuring they hold a valid work permit until they receive permanent resident status from IRCC.

An individual must provide proof of the following in order to be considered for nomination to IRCC:

• He or she resides in Yukon;
• His or her business in Yukon is operational; 
• He or she has met the investment requirements; and
• He or she has met the meeting requirements.

Nominee Assessment Grid

Using the Nominee Assessment Grid, applicants are awarded a score based on seven selection factors including Business Resources, Personal Net Worth, Age, Prior Visit, Education and Training, Work Experience, and Language Ability. 

To be eligible, candidates must score a minimum of 65 points, including a minimum of 10 points in the Language Ability section. 

Business Resources

Points in this section are awarded based on the amount of investment planned in the business.

Liquid Assets

Liquid Assets points are awarded based on proof of cash, demand deposits with a bank or financial institution, short-term deposits and readily marketable investments including publicly traded stocks or bonds.

Personal Net Worth

Personal Net Worth points are awarded based on the documented proof of assets less liabilities.

Age

Points are awarded for age according to the date indicated on the applicant’s passport.

Prior Visit

Points are awarded based on documented proof that the applicant has travelled to Yukon prior to the submission of an application.

Education and Training

Education points are awarded based on the documented proof of completed education and training programs.

Entrepreneurial/Business Management Experience

Points are awarded based on documented proof of entrepreneurial or business management experience.

Work Experience

Points in the work experience category are awarded based on documented proof of relevant experience for the business being proposed (unless it is already demonstrated in the documents provided to show business management or entrepreneurial experience).

Language Ability

Points are awarded for language ability according to documented proof of training and ability in either English or French. The only accepted form of documented proof is an original certificate from either the English IELTS or French TEF programs.

Location of Proposed Business

Points are awarded based on the location of the proposed business.

Strategic Sectors List

Only businesses in one of the sectors identified on this list are eligible under the YBNP. If a sector is not on this list, a nominee cannot open or invest in a business within that sector in order to meet their eligibility requirements.

The following are the eligible strategic sectors:

• Information Technology
• Manufacturing
• Value-added processing
• Forestry
• Tourism Products, Attractions, Services and Facilities
• Energy
• Mining/mineral development
• Agriculture
• Cultural industries
• Film and video production

Businesses in the following sectors are not eligible: 

• Holding companies
• Most professional services
• Financial services
• Retail, wholesale operations, distribution operations
• Passive investments
• Restaurants
• Business, consultation and personal services
• Real estate
• Gas stations