Government reopens applications after 'unprecedented demand' in 2024 led to pause of YNP program
The government of Yukon has announced significant updates to its Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) application process for 2025.
Designed to improve planning and flexibility, the program will reopen for new applications on Jan. 29, 2025, at 9 a.m. Yukon Standard Time, introducing an intake-based approach to manage application volumes.
The YNP will accept up to 125 completed applications during the first intake. Once the cap is reached, submissions will close until the next intake period.
The program’s intake schedule for the remainder of 2025 depends on the allocation numbers Yukon receives from IRCC, expected in late February. According to the government of Yukon, the program’s approach may be adjusted if federal immigration targets or allocation numbers change.
“The updates to the intake model will help spread intake over the year, to help employers and foreign nationals to plan for their applications and give them more flexibility in timing their submissions,” says the government.
In 2024, demand exceeded available allocations from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), says the Yukon government. The updates aim to provide more predictability for employers and foreign nationals planning to submit applications.
Unprecedented demand in 2024 led to a pause in accepting applications from Whitehorse employers. Additionally, the YNP anticipates carrying over roughly 150 extra applications from 2024 into 2025.
Any approved applications from this backlog will count against the Yukon’s 2025 allocations, affecting how many new applications can be processed in the upcoming year.
The Yukon government has requested an increase in its allocation for 2025. Once confirmed, it will announce further intake dates and the number of applications to be accepted per intake.
The Department of Economic Development also confirmed it is discussing potential measures with the federal government to assist individuals whose work permits are set to expire in 2025. Details on these measures will be announced as they become available.
The Yukon Nominee Program includes four streams:
Employers eligible for the YNP must advertise positions locally and nationally, ensure offered wages meet or exceed government standards, and complete a detailed checklist of required documents to submit applications. Incomplete submissions will be returned and not processed.
Once approved, nominees must work for the sponsoring employer under a temporary work permit while their permanent residency application is processed. All eligibility decisions for work permits and permanent residency are made by IRCC.
For more information on the Yukon Nominee Program, including detailed eligibility requirements and application processes, visit Yukon Nominee Program Process.
