The Yukon government has officially outlined its strategy for allocating the limited number of permanent residence (PR) nominations it has received for 2025 under the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP). Due to a significant reduction in its annual nomination quota from the federal government, Yukon now faces the challenge of managing high demand with a smaller pool of available spots. In a statement provided to CIC News, a territorial representative shared a detailed breakdown of how these 215 nomination spaces will be distributed in the coming year. The distribution reflects a careful effort to balance existing commitments, labor market needs, and strategic priorities for regional immigration.
The allocations for 2025 are set as follows:
- 152 nominations for new Invitations to Apply in 2025
- 55 nominations for applications carried over from 2024 that align with current priorities
- 8 nominations reserved for regulated healthcare occupations
- Total nomination allocation for 2025: 215
This year, like many other provinces and territories, Yukon faced a significant reduction—losing 50% of its previous allocation—bringing the total number of available nominations to just 215.
Due to increasing demand from Yukon employers and limited nomination spaces, the territory introduced an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. Under this system, employers submit EOIs on behalf of prospective workers, and the YNP issues invitations to those deemed highest priority.
As of May 23, Yukon announced it had already received more EOIs aligned with its 2025 priorities than available nomination slots. A territory spokesperson also confirmed that no additional EOI intake is expected in 2025, meaning employers who haven't yet submitted EOIs may have to wait until 2026.
Yukon’s 2025 EOI Intake Reaches Capacity
“We received more eligible submissions than the number of nomination slots available during the recent EOI intake. These submissions now form our EOI pool,” a Yukon representative shared with CIC News. “At this time, we don’t expect to conduct another EOI intake in 2025.”
The territory has already started issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for 2025. However, candidates who have not yet received an ITA may still be invited later in the year, depending on the application approval rate and availability of remaining spots from the current pool.
How Yukon’s New EOI System Works
The Expression of Interest (EOI) system is a recent shift in the Yukon Nominee Program’s (YNP) approach. Before this change, employers could directly apply to the YNP for the nomination of foreign workers without needing to go through an ITA process. If approved, the nominated worker could then apply for permanent residence through the federal government.
In December 2024, Yukon announced plans to move to quarterly intakes while keeping the direct application route. However, that plan changed when the federal government cut Yukon's nomination allocation in half.
In response, Yukon officially launched the EOI system in early 2025, with the first intake window running from March 31 to April 22, 2025. This move was aimed at managing the overwhelming demand and ensuring that nominations are aligned with the territory’s evolving labour market needs.
Yukon’s 2025 Nomination Priorities
For 2025, the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) is prioritizing applicants who previously received temporary measure letters of support. These letters were issued to foreign nationals already residing in Yukon, whose employers committed to nominating them for permanent residence in either 2025 or 2026.
After these priority applicants are considered, the remaining nomination slots will be filled through a random draw from the pool of eligible submissions.
Who qualifies for the 2025 nomination pool?
Submissions considered for nomination include:
- Foreign nationals who hold temporary support letters
- Individuals who have lived and worked in Yukon for at least one year
- Graduates of Yukon University
- French-speaking candidates
Temporary Support Letters for Nominee Candidates
On March 14, 2025, the Yukon government introduced a measure to help foreign workers whose work permits were expiring in 2025. Through this initiative, eligible workers could apply for a territorial support letter that allowed them to obtain a Yukon-specific work permit valid for up to two years.
To qualify, the worker needed their employer to commit to supporting their PR nomination in 2025 or 2026, along with meeting other program requirements. The application window for these support letters was open from March 19 to April 2, 2025.
This measure was implemented in line with a federal temporary public policy aimed at easing work permit access for individuals in provincial nominee programs.
