Yukon Business Nominee Program: Build Your Business in Canada’s North
You’ve built something. Now you want to build it in Canada.
The Yukon Business Nominee Program (YBNP) is a direct path to Canadian permanent residency for foreign entrepreneurs who are ready to invest, relocate, and run a real business in one of Canada’s most opportunity-rich territories.
We’ve guided business immigrants through Canada’s entrepreneur programs since 1991. We know what Yukon is looking for, and we know how to put your application in the best possible position.
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What is the Yukon Business Nominee Program?
The Yukon Business Nominee Program (YBNP) is a provincial nominee program run by the Government of Yukon. It lets foreign business owners and entrepreneurs immigrate to Canada by starting or buying a business in Yukon.
Unlike programs that just look at your net worth, the YBNP scores you on a point grid. Education, business experience, language, planned investment amount, age, prior visits to Yukon, and where you plan to open your business all factor in. You need a minimum of 65 points to qualify for the candidate pool.
If you are accepted, you receive a 2-year federal work permit to establish your business in Yukon. After meeting the performance requirements during that period, the Yukon government supports your application for Canadian permanent residency.
The Yukon Business Nominee Program (YBNP) is a Canadian provincial nominee program for foreign entrepreneurs. Applicants must score at least 65 points on the program’s assessment grid, hold a minimum net worth of CAD $500,000, have at least CAD $300,000 in liquid assets, and commit to investing a minimum of CAD $300,000 in capital in a Yukon business within the first two years. The program leads to a 2-year work permit and, ultimately, Canadian permanent residency.
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Who qualifies for the Yukon Business Nominee Program?
Personal requirements
To be eligible, you must:
- Score at least 65 points on the YBNP assessment grid
- Hold at least a high school diploma (if your business requires higher credentials, you must provide proof)
- Have at least 3 years of entrepreneurial or business management experience
- Have at least 5 years of work experience relevant to your proposed business
- Have a personal net worth of at least CAD $500,000, verified by a Yukon accounting firm as legally obtained
- Have at least CAD $300,000 in liquid assets (cash, bonds, and cash derivatives), also verified by a Yukon accounting firm
- Show a plan to invest at least CAD $300,000 in capital in your Yukon business within the first two years
- Hold a position in your business classified as NOC TEER 0 or 1 (senior management or professional)
- Intend to permanently live in Yukon
- Have a minimum of IELTS Level 6 (English) or TEF Canada Level 4 (French)
- Not be a refugee or have an active refugee status application in Canada
- Have never been denied Canadian immigration
- Have no active applications in any other provincial or territorial nominee program
- Not yet have purchased or started a business in Yukon at the time of applying
Capital investments include property and equipment. They do not include a personal residence, vehicles used only partly for the business, or operational and maintenance expenses.
Business requirements
Your proposed business must:
- Be a new business or the purchase of an existing Yukon business
- Be managed directly by you (not a passive investment)
- Operate in one of the program’s eligible sectors: information technology, manufacturing, value-added processing, forestry, tourism (product, attraction, service, or facility), energy, mining or mineral development, agriculture, cultural industry, or film and video production
Businesses in the following sectors are not eligible: retail, wholesale, distribution, restaurants, financial services, most consulting or personal services, most professional services, real estate, holding companies, and gas stations.
Not sure if you qualify?
Many clients come to us unsure whether their business idea fits the YBNP requirements. That is exactly the kind of question we answer in a consultation.
Book an eligibility review with our team
How the YBNP point grid works
The Yukon Business Nominee Program uses a points-based grid. You need at least 65 points to enter the candidate pool. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee acceptance — the Yukon government selects from the pool based on the quality of applications overall.
Here is a summary of how points are awarded:
| Category | Range | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Planned capital investment | $300K–$400K | 6 |
| $400,001–$750K | 8 | |
| $750K+ | 12 | |
| Personal net worth | $500K–$750K | 6 |
| $750K+ | 8 | |
| Liquid assets | $300K–$450K | 6 |
| $450K+ | 8 | |
| Age | 21–49 | 10 |
| 50–51 | 8 | |
| 52–53 | 6 | |
| 54–55 | 4 | |
| Prior visits to Yukon | 3–6 days | 4 |
| 7–10 days | 6 | |
| 11+ days | 8 | |
| Language (CLB) | CLB 4–6 in each category | 8 |
| CLB 7+ in each category | 12 | |
| Business management experience | 3–5 years | 8 |
| 6+ years | 10 | |
| Relevant work experience | 5–7 years | 8 |
| 8+ years | 10 | |
| Education | High school diploma | 10 |
| 1-year post-secondary | 12 | |
| 2-year post-secondary | 16 | |
| Bachelor’s degree | 18 | |
| Master’s or PhD | 20 | |
| Business location | Communities outside Whitehorse | 5 |
Yukon Business Nominee Program Self Assessment Tool
Use the self-assessment tool below to calculate your estimated score.
Yukon Business Nominee Program — Self-Assessment
Answer 12 questions to estimate your YBNP score and see if you may qualify. Takes about 3 minutes.
How the YBNP works: your step-by-step path
Step 1 — Assess your eligibility and score
Before anything else, confirm you meet the personal and business requirements and score at least 65 points on the assessment grid. Our team reviews your full profile at this stage to identify gaps and opportunities. This is where we save clients the most time.
Step 2 — Prepare and submit your application
Complete the YBNP application and submit it to the Government of Yukon, either in person at 303 Alexander Street, 1st floor in Whitehorse, or by mail. We help you compile and review every document before submission.
Step 3 — Wait for the initial decision (12–14 weeks)
The Government of Yukon will contact you within 12 to 14 weeks with the outcome of your application. Processing times can increase depending on application volumes.
Step 4 — Enter the candidate pool (up to 6 months)
Applications that meet the requirements and score 65+ points enter a candidate pool for up to 6 months. The Yukon government selects from this pool — meeting the minimum does not guarantee an invitation.
Step 5 — Submit detailed documents and your business plan
Selected candidates are invited to submit verification documents and a full business plan. A well-prepared business plan is one of the biggest differentiators at this stage. We work with you to develop one that answers the government’s questions before they ask them.
Step 6 — Exploratory trip and in-person interview in Yukon
If you pass the document review, you are invited for an exploratory trip and a face-to-face interview in Yukon. We prepare you for this interview specifically.
Step 7 — Receive a 2-year federal work permit
If the Yukon government approves your application after the interview, they support your 2-year federal work permit application. This is the period where you establish yourself, your family, and your business in Yukon.
Step 8 — Apply for Canadian permanent residency
At the end of the 2-year work permit period, the Yukon government supports your permanent residency application to the federal government, provided you have met the program’s performance requirements.
Why business immigrants trust Amir Ismail & Associates For Yukon Business Nominee Program
Business immigration is not a form-filling exercise. Yukon is looking for entrepreneurs who will genuinely contribute to their economy. The difference between a successful YBNP application and a rejection often comes down to how well a business concept is presented, not just whether the numbers are there.
Here is what we bring to the table:
- 35+ years in Canadian immigration. We have processed business immigration files through every major program change since 1991. We know how assessment grids work in practice, not just on paper.
- Licensed RCIC — accountable to the CICC. Amir Ismail holds RCIC registration number R412319. We are regulated, insured, and bound by a professional code of conduct. Many online services are not.
- Two licensed consultants on your file. Our team includes Rijah Ismail, also a licensed immigration consultant. You get a second expert reviewing your application.
- Offices in Toronto, Dubai, and Karachi. We work with business immigrants from across the Middle East, South Asia, and beyond. We understand your journey from both ends.
- 2026 Canadian Choice Award winner. Recognized by clients for the quality of our service.
- We build business plans that work. The business plan stage is where many YBNP applications fail. We have helped clients develop compelling, credible concepts that satisfy Yukon’s economic priorities.
Frequently asked questions about the Yukon Business Nominee Program
What is the Yukon Business Nominee Program?
The Yukon Business Nominee Program (YBNP) is a provincial nominee program that lets foreign entrepreneurs start or purchase a business in Yukon and eventually gain Canadian permanent residency. Applicants score points based on investment level, net worth, education, business experience, language, age, and prior visits to Yukon. A minimum of 65 points and a minimum capital investment of CAD $300,000 are required.
How much money do I need to apply for Yukon Business Nominee Program?
You need a net worth of at least CAD $500,000, liquid assets of at least CAD $300,000, and a plan to invest a minimum of CAD $300,000 in capital in your Yukon business in the first two years. All funds must be verified by a Yukon accounting firm as legally obtained.
What types of businesses qualify for Yukon Business Nominee Program?
Eligible sectors include information technology, manufacturing, value-added processing, forestry, tourism, energy, mining, agriculture, cultural industry, and film and video production. Restaurants, retail operations, real estate businesses, holding companies, most professional services, and gas stations do not qualify.
How long does the whole process take for Yukon entrepreneur immigration?
The initial application decision comes within 12 to 14 weeks. Qualifying applications then enter a candidate pool for up to 6 months. After selection, there is a document review, then an exploratory trip and interview. A 2-year work permit follows a successful interview. Permanent residency comes after the work permit period if you have met the performance conditions. The full timeline from application to PR typically takes several years.
Do I need to live in Yukon full-time?
Yes. The program requires you to intend to permanently live in Yukon and to live there with any dependants while managing and investing in your business. Yukon is serious about this requirement.
What language score do I need?
At the application stage, you need a minimum IELTS Level 6 (English) or TEF Canada Level 4 (French). For the nomination, you need at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4. Providing your language results with your application earns points on the assessment grid.
Can I buy an existing Yukon business?
Yes. You can either start a new business or buy an existing one in Yukon. The important thing is that you must not have already purchased or started the business in Yukon before your application is accepted into the program.
How do I get started with Amir Ismail & Associates?
Book a Strategy Consultation at the link below. We review your background, explain whether the YBNP is right for you, and give you a clear next step. There is no obligation. Amir Ismail (RCIC #R412319) has worked with business immigrants for over 35 years — he will tell you straight what your chances look like.
Ready to explore the Yukon Business Nominee Program?
The truth is, the YBNP is one of the less competitive entrepreneur PNP streams in Canada. Yukon is actively looking for business owners who will commit to the territory. If your background fits and your numbers meet the threshold, this program deserves a serious look.
The best starting point is a conversation. We will tell you honestly where you stand and what we can do to improve your position.
Licensed. Confidential. No obligation.
Offices: Toronto | Dubai | Karachi
Compare other Canadian entrepreneur PNP programs
Not sure if Yukon is the right fit? Compare it against every entrepreneur PNP in Canada before you decide.
- .Canadian PNP Entrepreneur Programs: Full Overview — start here for a side-by-side comparison of all entrepreneur PNP streams by investment threshold, language requirement, and processing timeline
- BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration — higher investment thresholds, large urban market with established supply chains
- Alberta Entrepreneur Immigration — no provincial sales tax, diversified economy across Edmonton and Calgary
- Manitoba Business Investor Stream — lower investment thresholds, one of the more accessible entrepreneur programs in Canada
- New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream — Atlantic Canada pathway with a lower cost of living
- Nova Scotia Entrepreneur Stream and Newfoundland and Labrador Entrepreneur Immigration — Atlantic options with lower market competition
- PEI Entrepreneur Work Permit Stream — temporary work permit issued first, nomination follows after demonstrating business performance
- Each program has different rules on investment minimums, language requirements, business eligibility, and residency obligations. Book a Strategy Assessment to identify which program fits your profile.
Page last reviewed: April 2026. Program requirements are set by the Government of Yukon and subject to change. Always verify current requirements at yukon.ca before applying.
Amir Ismail, RCIC #R412319 | Amir Ismail & Associates | amirismail.com