What is the Yukon Community Pilot Program and How to Apply in 5 Steps

Yukon is a small, unpretentious, and natural region. It is renowned for having chilly winters with various sporting events and long summer days. Living in this region of the Great White North includes a stunning outdoor setting, hospitable residents, and low crime rates with excellent quality of life. On the other hand, it experiences cold winters with short days, high housing costs, and a high cost of living. However, you can successfully move to Canada with a valid full-time job in Yukon and a good support system.

Canada has over 100 visa and immigration options. Some, like the Express Entry system and The working holiday visa, are well known, while others, like the Yukon Community Pilot Program, are discussed less.

So What is the Yukon Community Pilot? And How to Apply in 5 Steps:

What is a Yukon Community Pilot Program (YCPP) Work Permit?

Established in 2020, the Yukon Community Pilot Program (YCPP) is a Yukon immigration pilot that grants a two-year permit to work in Yukon. Several factors about this permit make it particularly alluring to potential candidates. 

The Yukon Community Pilot Program (YCPP) falls under Yukon's Provincial Nominee Program (YPNP). Provincial Nomination Programs are implemented to ensure the economic wealth of particular regions in Canada remains strong. By nominating foreigners with particular skills that fit a province's permanent residency needs, provinces can fill labor gaps, create new job posts, and expand towns and industries. While some provincial nomination streams focus on unskilled workers, graduates, entrepreneurs, and investors, others are about how foreigners can contribute to the community in a meaningful way.

Location Restricted, Open Work Permit

An open work permit permits a person to work for any employer in Canada, except those classified as ineligible on the list of employers that have failed to comply with certain conditions. However, location restriction ensures that candidates remain in Yukon after they have been given a work permit and contribute to the region's economy and well-being.

Essentially, the work permit that the YCPP offers allows you to work for any employer as long as you're based in a participating community in Yukon. Additionally, you can work for up to three different employers on this type of visa.

One of the biggest benefits of applying for this program is that you will not require a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) certificate. An LMIA is a common requirement for a work permit in Canada. Your potential employer must apply on your behalf to legitimately hire a foreigner.

LMIA-exempt Work Permit

There must be substantial evidence that there was an attempt to fill the post by Canadian permanent residents and citizens before hiring a foreigner. While the process is not impossible, it can be time-consuming and costly for the employer. So, you have to try when you get an opportunity to apply for a work permit that doesn't require applying for this certificate.

Participating Communities

To be eligible for this pilot program, you need to be living and working or applied to live and work in Yukon in one of these communities:

• Whitehorse
• Watson Lake
• Dawson City
• Haines Junction
• Carmacks
• Carcross

How to Apply For a Yukon Community Pilot in 5 Steps

There are several important steps in applying to join the YCPP.

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

You can apply for a work permit through this program if you meet the following requirements.

Work Permit Requirements

To be eligible for a YCPP work permit, you must have the following:

• A valid job offer
• A letter of support signed by the Yukon Government
• Sufficient money to support yourself and any dependents
• Sufficient money to return to your home country
• A clear criminal record
• A clear medical certificate

Requirements of the Job Offer

There are particular details that the job offer must include for you to be eligible.

• It must be a full-time job offer where you will work 30 hours a week, or up to three job offers that add up to 30 hours a week.
• Your job offer/s must all be based in the same participating community. For example, your two job offers are from employers based in Carmacks. You will not be eligible if one of your jobs is based in Carmacks and the other is in Dawson City.
• You must have consistent, scheduled pay throughout the year, meaning non-seasonal work.
• Your salary must meet the legal minimum wage requirements (or exceed them) set by the provincial and federal governments.
• Your job description, duties, and responsibilities must match your experience in that particular occupation.

For an application to be considered for this stream of the Yukon Nominee Program, both the employer and the foreign employee must be eligible.

The best way to determine eligibility for a visa or immigration program is to take an eligibility test. While the requirements may seem straightforward, you must also consider language, age, and experience requirements. Click on the link below to find out more about eligibility tests.

Step 2: Look for a Job

There are many in-demand jobs in Yukon. You can apply for jobs that are categorized as National Occupations Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) levels 0, 1, and 2, 3, and run through the Skilled Worker Program or the Critical Impact Worker Program, which is designed for mid to low or unskilled workers with work experience in occupations classified NOC TEER levels 4 and 5. After searching for a job in Yukon, your chances of settling a successful nomination increase. Here's how to apply for a job in Canada to get you started:

Step 3: Gather the Required Documents

You need the following paperwork, among other things, before you can work in Yukon

• language test results
• bank statements and financials
• medical certificate
• police clearance
• valid job offers
• letter of support from the provincial government

Step 4: Get a Letter of Support from the Yukon Government

It is notarized and states the following:

• that the companies hiring you need you to start working in the neighborhood right away
• that the employment offers are real
• the specifics of the employment offers, such as the employers' names, occupations, work hours, and location of jobs

Step 5: Apply for an Open Work Permit

With all the gathered documents and a job in Yukon, you can apply for the YCPP through an online application. You will have to fill out several forms, so ensure you have all the necessary documents to complete the forms. Because processing times are cut down thanks to the LMIA exemption, and the Yukon government wants you to start working as fast as possible. As a result, the Yukon Community Pilot processing time is as short as possible, meaning you could get your nomination in as little as six months. To learn more about the Yukon Community Pilot Program processing time, here's a breakdown of the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processing times.

FAQs

What are the Yukon Community Pilot Program Fees?

While there are no specific Yukon Community Pilot Program fees, you will have to pay the required processing fees for an open work permit to enter Canada, and to bring any dependents if you have. Here's a full breakdown of the IRCC processing fees to help determine what you need to start your journey to Yukon.

What is the Yukon Community Pilot Program IELTS Requirement?

While there is no Yukon Community Pilot Program IELTS requirement, getting a job in Yukon will likely have one. This tends to be your job type and your specific TEER level. Regardless, we highly recommend that you do everything you can to maximize your IELTS score, as there is no such thing as a score too high. One of the best ways to do this is via an IELTS course which can help you prepare through practice exercises, tests, and supplemental materials.

Put the Great in Great White North

This initiative is meant to give employers in Yukon communities the flexibility to deal with the seasonal nature of work in the region. The program focuses on the economic development and retention of towns outside Whitehorse, Yukon's largest populated area. This program aims to develop a thriving labor market outside Whitehorse with workers who can prove they plan to remain there permanently.

Yukon is a fantastic option for families and individuals that enjoy quiet country life. It offers excellent opportunities for many skilled workers, from cooks to electricians and accountants. To check your eligibility for the Yukon Community Pilot Program, contact us today and contact a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) that can guide you to Canada.