Learn about the Yukon Nominee Program process for 2026

For 2026, IRCC allocated a maximum of 282 nominations to the Yukon Nominee Program. 

We’re expecting significantly more applications than available spots, so we’re using a strategic approach to rank submissions based on the 2026 priorities. 

Employers submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) during the 2 intake periods. If chosen, the employer will receive a Letter of Invitation to submit a full application for the program and attend an information session. 

Applications received prior to January 23, 2025 and Expressions of Interests submitted in 2025 will not carry over. You will need to submit a new expression of interest with all information up to date.

Priorities for 2026 

We’ll prioritize the following individuals for the Yukon Nominee Program in 2026: 

• Regulated health care professionals
• Employers in rural Yukon
• Foreign nationals who:
  • have lived and worked in the Yukon for at least 1 year;
  • are Yukon University graduates;
  • are Francophone or French-speaking; or
  • received a Temporary Measure Letter of Support in 2024 or 2025. 

For more information on the priorities, including how we’ll confirm the information submitted during application review, read the Operational Guidelines. 

Significant dates 

• January 19, 9 am to January 30, 4:30 pm - EOI intake #1
• February 9 to 13 - First round of invitations to apply sent
• February 16 or February 18 - Information session for employers invited to apply in intake #1
• March 4 by 4:30 pm - Applications from first round due
• July 6, 9 am to July 17, 4:30 pm - EOI intake #2
• August 3 to 7 - Second round of invitations to apply sent
• August 10 or August 12 - Information session for employers invited to apply in intake #2
• August 26 by 4:30 pm - Applications from second round due

Employers 

The employer must: 

• clearly demonstrate that they have tried to hire Canadians or permanent residents but have been unsuccessful;
• be a permanent resident or citizen of Canada;
• have been operating in the Yukon as:
  • a registered Yukon business with an office in the Yukon for at least 1 year;
  • an industry association with an office in the Yukon for at least 1 year before applying to the program;
  • a municipal or First Nation government for at least 1 year; or
  • a non-profit organization for at least 2 years, with funding for the upcoming year.
• have the required licenses under applicable federal, territorial and municipal requirements; and
• not be operating any of the following types of businesses:
  • bed and breakfasts of less than 10 rooms
  • hobby farms
  • home-based businesses or distribution operations
  • taxi-cab companies
  • businesses owned and operated by active Yukon business nominees
  • passive investments
  • business consultation and personal services
  • real estate
  • holdings companies 

For employer responsibilities, read Hire a foreign worker.

Foreign workers 

The foreign worker must: 

• have the necessary and documented education, skills and experience to perform the role;
• meet minimum language proficiency requirements for the stream;
• have valid status to work if already in Canada;
• not be a refugee claimant or be in Canada on visitor status; and
• have a guaranteed job offer in the Yukon with an employer who meets program eligibility requirements. 

The Skilled Worker stream, Critical Impact Worker stream and Express Entry stream will have their own additional requirements.

We use the National Occupational Classification (NOC code) system to group jobs together. TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities. The employer chooses the stream based on the TEER. 

Skilled Worker stream 

The Skilled Worker stream is for management jobs or jobs that need higher education. This includes positions classified as: 

• TEER 0;
• TEER 1;
• TEER 2; and
• TEER 3. 

Foreign workers must have 12 months relevant work experience for this stream.  

For full details, visit Apply to the Skilled Worker and Critical Impact Worker streams to hire a foreign worker.

Critical Impact Worker stream 

The Critical Impact Worker stream is for entry-level jobs. This includes positions classified as: 

• TEER 4; and
• TEER 5. 

Foreign workers must have 6 months relevant work experience for this stream.  

For full details, visit Apply to the Skilled Worker and Critical Impact Worker streams to hire a foreign worker. 

Express Entry stream

This stream is for foreign nationals who are part of the Government of Canada’s Express Entry pool. The foreign worker must meet 1 of the following federal immigration programs: 

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

Employers can apply through this stream for positions classified as: 

• TEER 0;
• TEER 1;
• TEER 2; and
• TEER 3. 

For full details, visit Apply to Express Entry Stream to hire a foreign worker.

Language tests 

The foreign worker must meet the Canadian Language Benchmark: 

• Level 6 for TEER 0 and 1;
• Level 5 for TEER 2 and 3;
• Level 4 for TEER 4 and 5.

For Express Entry requirements, see Express Entry: Who can apply from the Government of Canada. 

We only accept original test results from a designated testing organization. The results must be less than 2 years old.

How it works 

Submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) is not an application to the Yukon Nominee Program. It’s an online form that employers submit to see if they’ll be invited to apply this year. You’ll provide basic information about the foreign worker you want to nominate and the job they’ll fill. 

After the intake is closed, we’ll invite selected employers from the EOI pool to apply. These invitations are based on how high they score in priority areas. 

Expressions of Interests submitted in 2025 will not carry over. You will need to submit a new expression of interest with all information up to date.

Expression of Interest intake dates 

Intake 1: Open

Opens January 19, 2026, at 9 am Yukon Standard Time. 

Closes January 30, 2026, at 4:30 pm Yukon Standard Time. 

Intake 2: Closed

Opens July 6, 2026, at 9 am Yukon Standard Time. 

Closes July 17, 2026, at 4:30 pm Yukon Standard Time.   

Submit an Expression of Interest

How to submit an Expression of Interest 

The employer will complete 2 forms: 

1. The Expression of Interest online form; and
2. The consent to share information form, with sections for both the employer and the foreign worker to fill out.   

Required information 

The online form will ask employers to provide the following information: 

• Business name
• Employer contact information
• Location of the position
• The National Occupational Classification (NOC) for this position
• Which Yukon Nominee Program stream you’re applying for
• Foreign national’s name
• Whether the foreign worker is currently in Canada on a work or study permit
• How long the foreign worker has lived and worked in the Yukon full-time
• Whether the foreign worker speaks French and has passed a French language test
• Whether the employer has submitted and EOI for this foreign national in 2025
• If the foreign national is a Yukon University graduate
• If the foreign national works in a Yukon-regulated health care position   

Next steps 

We'll notify all applicants if they’ll be invited to apply or not. We’ll send successful employers instructions on how to submit a full application. Unsuccessful EOI submissions may reapply on the next intake. 

If invited to apply, employers will be required to submit documentation to confirm the information that was part of the Expression of Interest.

Review of the application process 

1. Employers advertise the position locally and nationally. No qualified Canadian or permanent resident applies.
2. The employer offers a full-time, permanent position to an eligible foreign worker.
3. The employer submits an Expression of Interest for the Yukon Nominee Program.
4. If invited to apply, the employer completes all forms and provides required information before the deadline.
5. If the application meets all eligibility requirements, the Government of Yukon approves the application.
6. If the nominee is not in Canada, they must apply for the necessary visa and work permit through Government of Canada.
7. The employer and nominee sign the Tri-Partite Agreement with the Government of Yukon.
8. The nominee applies for permanent residency within 6 months.
   • Until the nominee is a permanent resident, they have a temporary work permit.
9. If the Government of Canada approves the application for permanent residency, the nominee becomes a permanent resident.

The Government of Canada grants work permits and permanent residency. The Government of Yukon cannot change those decisions. 

How to apply once you receive an invitation 

Fill out the Yukon Nominee Program application form. The 2026 application will be available once invitations are sent.

• This application includes a list of documents you must provide. Detailed instructions will be available in the updated YNP Handbook.
• If you do not include all the forms and documents on the checklist, we’ll return your application to you. We do not process incomplete applications. When you submit your application, we’ll confirm with you that it’s complete. 

All documents must be valid. Employers are responsible for making sure all documents are up to date. This includes language results, business license, job advertisements and Yukon Corporate Online Registry. If any supporting documents expire, you must submit the updated versions.  

During application assessment, we may ask for additional information. This must be provided by the stated deadline. 

Asking about your application 

Only employers can ask about application status. We cannot give the foreign national candidate that information. If the foreign national has questions, they should talk to their employer. 

Nominations issued so far 

As of January 2026, we’ve processed 0 applications. The Government of Canada decides how many nominations are available for each calendar year.