Yukon Nominee Program Update for 2026 Just Dropped

For 2026, the Government of Yukon has officially updated its Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) priorities and intake process. It has confirmed the number of nominations available and the groups most likely to be selected. The update provides important clarity for temporary residents, graduates, and skilled workers who are already living and working in Yukon – or planning to do so this year. 

With just 282 nominations available for 2026, understanding these priorities early can make the difference between being competitive or missing out.

Key takeaways 

• Yukon will have 282 nomination spaces under the Yukon Nominee Program in 2026 

• There will be two employer intake periods: January and July 

• Strong priority is given to health care workers, rural employers, and people already established in Yukon 

• Some applicants – including Temporary Measure Letter of Support recipients – will not need to submit an expression of interest 

Two intake periods – and why employers matter 

The Yukon Nominee Program is a fully employer–driven program. This means interested applicants cannot apply on their own. Instead, a Yukon employer must submit an online expression of interest (EOI) during one of the two official intake periods: 

• January 19 to January 30, 2026 

• July 6 to July 17, 2026 

During these windows, employers provide basic information about the person they wish to support. EOIs are then scored against Yukon’s priorities, and the highest–scoring employers in each intake are invited to submit a full nomination application.  

One change this year that’s worth noting –– Employers who submitted an EOI in 2025 but were not invited to apply will receive additional points in 2026. This improves the chances for employers who missed out in 2025. 

If you are hoping to be nominated in 2026, you should be speaking with your current or potential employer well in advance. It’s crucial to make sure your employer understands:  

• the intake dates,  

• eligibility requirements, and  

• how the scoring system works. 

It’s critical that you start working with your employer ASAP to get things in motion, especially for the January 19 intake. The earlier you get in, the better – since the intake may close early if the EOI volumes are high.  

Who Yukon is prioritising in 2026 

For 2026, Yukon has confirmed that priority will be given to: 

• Regulated health care professionals 

• Employers located in rural Yukon 

• Foreign nationals who: 

• have lived and worked in Yukon for at least one year 

• are graduates of Yukon University 

• are Francophone or French–speaking 

• received a Temporary Measure Letter of Support in 2024 or 2025 

Applicants who received a Temporary Measure Letter of Support in 2024 or 2025 do not need to submit an expression of interest. These individuals will be contacted directly with instructions on how to complete their application. 

What this means for newcomers in Yukon 

Like many provinces in Canada, Yukon is prioritising people who have already put down roots in the territory. Living and working locally, studying in Yukon, supporting rural communities, or filling critical health care roles all significantly improve nomination prospects for the year ahead. 

As Minister of Economic Development Jen Gehmair noted in the news release: the territory remains committed to running a nominee program that addresses staffing shortages while ensuring the process is fair, transparent, and supportive of businesses and communities – especially those who have already chosen Yukon as home. 

If you’d like to stay in the loop about any changes to Canada’s PNPs or immigration more broadly, join our community. We regularly share key information covering updates, plus a host of tips to help you settle successfully in Canada.