Apply to hire a foreign worker through the Yukon Community Program

The Yukon Community Program is part of the Yukon Nominee Program.

What is the Yukon Community Program?

This program gives flexibility to employers in Yukon communities. Employers can offer a foreign worker a combination of jobs that add up to 1 full-time position. Full-time means 1,560 hours of work a year. You can create a full-time position by:

• combining up to 3 positions within your business; or
• partnering with up to 2 other employers.

These can be part-time or seasonal positions.

We use the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system to categorize jobs based on their training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER). Nominees in this program can work in any TEER category. The foreign national must meet the minimum:

• work experience;
• education; and
• language requirements for the highest TEER position on the application.

Eligible communities

The Yukon Community Program is for businesses in:

• Carcross;
• Carmacks;
• Dawson City;
• Haines Junction; and
• Watson Lake.

We'll consider applications from Whitehorse employers if they cannot provide full-time hours.

Who can apply?

Only employers can apply.

This program is for employers who:

• cannot find a qualified Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill a position;
• operate small or medium-sized businesses in an eligible Yukon community; and
• would not otherwise qualify for the Yukon Nominee Program.

Who cannot apply?

Foreign nationals cannot apply. We only accept applications from employers.

Eligibility

All employers must:

• be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada;
• have operated their business for at least 1 year; and
• have their business registered with:
  • Yukon Corporate Registry; or
  • Federal Registry.

Employer requirements

As an employer, you must:

• verify the foreign national’s work experience and qualifications before you submit your application;
• attend a screening interview with the foreign national and the Immigration Branch, if requested;
• pay the nominee’s air travel costs to travel to the Yukon from their place of permanent residence, if they are not currently in the Yukon;
• pay the nominee at least the Yukon median wage for the relevant NOC;
• provide free health insurance to the nominee until they are eligible under the Health Care Insurance Plan Act; and
• pay for the nominee’s return air travel costs if the nominee:
  • does not get permanent residency; or
  • is no longer participating in the Yukon Nominee Program.

You cannot:

• charge the worker any fees for the application; or
• recover any costs from them.

Foreign national requirements

The foreign national must:

• have a job offer from Yukon employer(s) that equals a full-time position;
• intend to permanently live in the Yukon;
• have at least a high school diploma;
• meet the education requirements for the applicable TEER;
• have at least:
  • 6 months relevant work experience for:
    • TEER 4 and 5 positions; or
  • 12 months relevant work experience for:
    • TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 positions;
• meet the Canadian Language Benchmark:
  • Level 4 for:
    • TEER 4 and 5 positions;
  • Level 5 for:
    • TEER 2 and 3 positions;
  • Level 6 for:
    • TEER 0 and 1 positions;
• complete all the requirements for their academic program before applying if they’re in Canada on a student visa; and
• maintain legal status throughout the Yukon Nominee Program application and assessment process if they’re currently in Canada.

Community support letter

This program is for filling critical labour market shortages in Yukon communities.

Employers must provide a community support letter showing how the job is filling a critical labour market need. Employers from communities outside Whitehorse must have a letter from:

• the mayor;
• city council;
• local chamber of commerce; or
• Yukon Chamber of Commerce.

Employers in Whitehorse must have a letter from the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce.

Community mentor letter

You must designate a community host or mentor to help the nominee settle in your community. This person will:

• introduce the nominee to community members;
• encourage them to get involved;
• meet regularly with the nominee; and
• report any concerns or developments.

You must provide a community mentor letter outlining:

• the mentor or hosts name;
• a housing plan for the nominee;
• travel arrangements, including picking the worker up at the airport, if needed; and
• plans to help the nominee settle in the community. This includes:
  • getting healthcare;
  • getting a social insurance number;
  • schooling plans for any accompanying family; and
  • other personal arrangements.

Supporting documents from the employer

All employers must submit a:

• copy of their business license;
• copy of their registration with the:
  • Yukon Corporate Registry; or
  • Federal Registry;
• community support letter;
• community mentor letter; and
• completed Use of a Representative form, if applicable.

Supporting documents from the foreign national

The foreign national must provide:

• original language test results from a designated testing organization. The results must be less than 2 years old when you apply;
• employment records confirming their previous employment;
• proof of education, including:
  • high school diploma; and
  • certificates, degrees or diplomas required for the position;
• valid and notarized copies of their:
  • passport;
  • temporary resident documents, if applicable;
  • spouse’s passport;
  • marriage or divorce certificate, if applicable;
  • common law partner’s passport and supporting documents;
  • dependents’ passport, birth certificate, and custody papers, if applicable.

All supporting documents must be certified, true copies. If you include any translated documents, other than English or French, you must include a certified translation.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of both the employer and the foreign national to stay informed of all official updates, alerts, announcements and new developments.

Hiring a representative

You do not need to hire an immigration representative or consultant to apply. It is your choice to hire a representative or apply on your own.

How to apply

1. Review all requirements and eligibility in the:
   • Yukon Community Program criteria;
   • Yukon Nominee Program application handbook; and
   • Yukon Nominee Program policy.
2. Review the Yukon Nominee Program process.
3. Download the application form and complete the employer sections.
4. Have the foreign national complete their sections on the application.
5. Gather all supporting documents.
6. Submit the completed application and supporting documents.
   In person:
   303 Alexander Street, 1st floor, Whitehorse. Our office is open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
   Mail:
   Government of Yukon
   Economic Development (F-1)
   Box 2703
   Whitehorse, Yukon
   Y1A 2C6

Next steps

Standard processing time is 12 to 14 weeks. This time increases with the volume of applications received and the priority application criteria.