The Yukon has entered into an agreement with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to facilitate the issuance of work permits to prospective applicants of the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP). Foreign nationals living in the Yukon with work permits that have expired since May 16, 2024, or that are set to expire before December 31, 2024, will be eligible to apply for a new Yukon-specific work permit. This permit will be valid for up to two years.
This new agreement specifically applies to foreign nationals who had valid work authorization as of May 16, 2024, and are currently established in the Yukon. Their employer must plan to nominate them for permanent residency through the YNP in 2025 or 2026. If eligible, the Government of Yukon will provide a letter of support to accompany the foreign national’s work permit application to IRCC.
Candidates for this temporary measure must submit a request and all required information to the Department of Economic Development no later than 4:30 pm on Tuesday, October 15, 2024. This will allow the department to issue all letters of support in time for foreign nationals to apply to IRCC for their new work permit. IRCC’s deadline to apply for the work permit under this agreement is December 31, 2024. Program eligibility and the request form for a letter of support is available on Yukon.ca.
This temporary measure responds to concerns from foreign nationals and the business community surrounding the temporary intake pause on the Yukon Nominee Program. Issuing these work permits will help to support foreign workers settled in the Yukon as they pursue their path to permanent residency, while helping Yukon businesses to retain staff.
Candidates with questions should contact the Government of Yukon’s Immigration Branch at yukon.nominee@yukon.ca, by phone at 867-667-5131, or toll free 1-800-661-0408, extension 5131.
Drop-in sessions are also taking place at 303 Alexander Street, 1st floor, in Whitehorse, on Thursdays from 1 pm to 4 pm.
This agreement is a critical development that will allow foreign nationals to remain in the Yukon and continue to provide valuable contributions to our labour market until they are able to apply to the Yukon Nominee Program. I want to thank the Government of Canada for its support in implementing this collaborative approach to immigration in the territory. This temporary measure will help provide greater certainty for foreign nationals who call the Yukon home as we work to support their transition to permanent residency.
By giving new work permits for skilled workers in Yukon, we are not only supporting local labour market needs in critical sectors, but also giving more temporary residents a clear pathway to permanent residence. This agreement is a key step in our ongoing collaboration with provinces and territories to spread the benefits of immigration across the country, and strengthen the social and economic fabric of our communities. This option remains on the table for other provinces and territories who need to retain their skilled workers.
By providing work permits for skilled workers in the Yukon, we are helping local employers retain their valuable staff. This initiative is also a positive boost for the economy and supports the growth of our population. I have personally advocated strongly to make this happen, ensuring that our community benefits from these changes. This agreement underscores the federal government’s commitment to supporting and strengthening the social and economic fabric of our communities and the North.
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This temporary measure will provide Government of Yukon support for up to 215 temporary workers to apply for new, up to two-year, Yukon-specific work permits. They can then continue working in the territory until their employer submits an application for their Permanent Residency under the Yukon Nominee Program in 2025 or 2026.
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Eligible individuals have to demonstrate they meet the eligibility criteria and are expected to pursue transition to permanent residency in 2025 and 2026.
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These skilled workers are filling key job vacancies in Yukon and are actively contributing to Canada’s economy and social diversity.
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Chambers of commerce provided valuable feedback and information to support the development of this initiative. The government will continue to work with these partner organizations to retain foreign nationals who provide critical support to our labour market, while strengthening communities.
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca
Damian Topps
Economic Development
867-667-5378
damian.topps@yukon.ca