Maple News reports that the Government of Yukon is set to implement a new intake-based application model for its Yukon Nominee Program (YNP), beginning January 29, 2025. Under this revamped system, applications will only be accepted during designated intake periods, with a fixed cap on the number of submissions per round.
The first intake for 2025 will accept a maximum of 125 applications. Once that limit is reached, the intake will close, and applicants will need to wait until the next scheduled opening. While the YNP plans to hold these intakes quarterly, the government has not yet confirmed a fixed schedule, allowing flexibility to respond to program demand and federal nomination allotments.
This shift comes in response to an overwhelming volume of applications received in 2024. Yukon’s open year-round application process was met with significant interest, far surpassing its allocated nomination quota from the Canadian federal government. Notably, this influx forced the YNP to temporarily halt application intake from employers located in Whitehorse, the territory’s largest city.
The Government of Yukon has also requested an increase in its nomination allocations for 2025 to better meet local labor market needs and address growing demand. Program administrators have indicated that future intake sizes and frequencies will be influenced directly by the volume of nominations approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Prior to this change, the YNP did not operate on a system of intakes or caps. By moving to a controlled intake model, Yukon aims to provide fairer access, reduce backlogs, and optimize resource allocation.
The Yukon Nominee Program is a vital pathway for skilled foreign workers, entrepreneurs, and their families to gain Canadian permanent residency through territorial nomination, particularly in addressing worker shortages in key sectors such as trades, healthcare, and tourism. The new system is expected to enhance the program’s efficiency and transparency for both applicants and employers.
Maple News will continue to provide timely updates as Yukon finalizes its intake schedule and receives confirmation on nomination allocations for the upcoming year.