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The Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) offers a pathway to permanent residency immigration program for skilled workers and employers supporting local labour needs.
At Sohi Law Group , we provide federal immigration law services to assist clients and employers preparing Expressions of Interest (EOI) under the 2025 Yukon Nominee Program.
Our immigration lawyers are based in British Columbia and licensed by the Law Society of British Columbia. We advise on eligibility, documentation, and submission strategies under federal and territorial nominee processes.
We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Yukon or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Our role is to guide clients through the lawful application process and ensure that submissions meet current procedural and policy standards.
Our Services Include:
- Assessing eligibility for Yukon priority categories (workers, graduates, Francophone candidates, etc.)
- Preparing Expression of Interest (EOI) submissions
- Advising Yukon employers on compliance and sponsorship requirements
- Coordinating with federal IRCC processes for permanent residency
Key Dates for the 2025 Yukon Nominee Program Intake
The Yukon government has confirmed that the Expression of Interest (EOI) intake period for 2025 will run from March 31, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. to April 22, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. Yukon Standard Time. During this three-week window, eligible employers and foreign workers can submit their EOIs for consideration under the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP). Once the submission period closes, all complete EOIs will be assessed according to the territory’s established priority categories before any remaining nominations are distributed through a random draw.
Because the total number of available nominations has been reduced to 215 for 2025, applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare their documentation early and ensure that all employer information and supporting materials are accurate and complete before the deadline.
Disclaimer: Legal services are provided by lawyers licensed to practise law in British Columbia and regulated by the Law Society of British Columbia. Immigration advice is provided under federal Canadian immigration law. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Yukon or Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). All information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice specific to any individual case.
Who Qualifies Under Yukon’s Priority Categories
Under the new 2025 Expression of Interest (EOI) system, the Yukon government has introduced clear priority categories to help target nominations toward applicants who best meet the territory’s economic and community goals. Priority will be given to foreign workers who have lived and worked in Yukon for at least one year, graduates of Yukon University, Francophone or French-speaking candidates who complete their language testing in French, and applicants who received a Temporary Measure Letter of Support in 2024 or 2025.
These categories reflect Yukon’s commitment to retaining skilled workers already contributing to the local economy, supporting locally educated graduates, strengthening Francophone communities, and addressing specific labour market shortages. Candidates who meet one or more of these criteria will receive preference during the EOI assessment before any remaining nomination spaces are filled through a random draw.
How the New Random Draw System Works
After applicants in Yukon’s designated priority categories have been assessed and ranked, any remaining nomination spaces for 2025 will be distributed through a random draw system. This new approach is designed to promote fairness and transparency while ensuring that opportunities remain available across the territory.
Under the system, 15% of the available nominations are reserved for rural Yukon communities, while 85% are allocated to employers and applicants based in Whitehorse. Eligible EOIs that were submitted during the official intake period will be entered into the draw, and selections will be made at random until the annual nomination limit—set at 215 for 2025—is reached. This structure allows Yukon to balance local labour market needs between rural and urban regions, providing a fair chance for qualified applicants regardless of location or industry.
The Role of Employers in the Yukon Nominee Program
Employers play a central role in Yukon’s 2025 Expression of Interest (EOI) Nominee Program. Under the new employer-driven model, Yukon-based employers are responsible for submitting EOIs on behalf of the foreign workers they wish to nominate. This ensures that every application is directly tied to a verified labour market need within the territory. Employers must demonstrate that their job offers meet Yukon’s program requirements, including providing fair wages, full-time employment, and evidence that local recruitment efforts were made before hiring a foreign worker.
Once an employer’s EOI is accepted, their nominated worker may then be considered under the relevant priority categories or included in the random draw for selection. This approach streamlines the process, strengthens accountability, and helps Yukon target nominations where they are most needed—supporting economic growth while maintaining fair hiring practices for both local and international workers.
Changes from the 2024 Nominee Program
The 2025 Yukon Nominee Program introduces several important changes compared to the 2024 process, marking a shift toward a more structured and equitable selection system. The most significant change is the adoption of a formal Expression of Interest (EOI) system, replacing the previous continuous intake model. This means applications will now be accepted only during a specific intake period—from March 31 to April 22, 2025—rather than on an ongoing basis.
Additionally, the number of available federal nominations has been reduced from 430 in 2024 to 215 in 2025, prompting Yukon to prioritize applicants with stronger local ties, such as those with Yukon work experience or Yukon University education. The new program also introduces priority categories and a randomized draw allocation (15% rural, 85% Whitehorse) to ensure fair regional distribution. These updates collectively aim to improve efficiency, transparency, and alignment with Yukon’s long-term labour market and community development goals.
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