The Yukon government is temporarily suspending the acceptance of Whitehorse-based applications for the Yukon Nominee Program with effect immediately. The goal of this action is to expedite the processing of current applications. The program will continue to accept submissions for candidates in Yukon remote communities.
Whitehorse’s applications have been temporarily suspended as a proactive effort to control the present level of submissions. Between January 1, 2024, and May 6, 2024, 590 applications were received by the Yukon Nominee Program. 483 applications were still undergoing processing as of May 6, with 107 of these nominations having been handled by the branch. This exceeds Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) 430 nominee cap for the Yukon in 2024.
The Yukon government is dedicated to making sure the Yukon Nominee Program can support the province’s long-term immigration and labor market objectives. Acknowledging the distinct obstacles that companies in remote Yukon towns have when recruiting staff, it is imperative that applications from these areas be consistently accepted in order to meet their local labor requirements.
The current prioritizing criteria will stay in effect in order to support the continuation of vital business activities for enterprises that depend on the program. In 2025, the Yukon government plans to start accepting applications from companies in Whitehorse.
“The Yukon Nominee Program is an excellent way for Yukon businesses to expand their workforce and enable newcomers to Canada to make the Yukon home. Despite the pause in Whitehorse, our team is diligently working on processing existing applications and continues to accept those to support rural Yukon. Our government is committed to providing and supporting essential initiatives to meet the needs of our growing territory and build a strong, sustainable economy.”
Premier and Minister of Economic Development Ranj Pillai
Quick factsÂ
- Employers drive the Yukon Nominee Program, which helps fill critical roles in the territory.
- An application for the Yukon Nominee Program typically takes 12 to 14 weeks to process.
- The amount and complexity of applications submitted determine how long they take to process. 89 days is the average processing time at the moment.
- Prioritization criteria are posted on Yukon.ca. Currently, the Yukon Nominee Program is processing applications in the following priority:
- Current work permit holders with approaching expiration dates.
- Visitor visa holders are already in Canada.
- Current work permit holders with a permit expiring within a year.
- Individuals currently located outside Canada.
