Northwest Territories opens key immigration streams, i.e., the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) has officially opened two important immigration pathways. As of 12 p.m. on March 9, the Employer-Driven Stream and the Francophone Stream are now accepting candidates.
This update follows a major change introduced by the program earlier this year. In late February, the NTNP announced that the Employer-Driven Stream would now operate using an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. This new system helps the territory select candidates based on their qualifications and connections to the local labour market.
The first EOI draw under this new system is scheduled for March 25. During this draw, up to 65 eligible candidates will receive invitations to submit a full application.
Although future draw dates have not yet been confirmed, the Government of the Northwest Territories has stated that several EOI draws are expected to take place throughout the year.
Unlike the Employer-Driven Stream, the Francophone Stream will continue to accept applications directly. These applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
For the year 2026, the federal government has allocated 197 nomination spaces to the Northwest Territories through its provincial nominee program.
How Candidates Can Be Selected Through The EOI System?
The new Expression of Interest model only applies to the Employer-Driven Stream. This stream includes three separate immigration pathways:
- Entry Level/Semi-Skilled Occupations
- Skilled Worker
- NWT Express Entry
To qualify under any of these pathways, the first requirement is a valid job offer from an employer located in the Northwest Territories.
Because this program is employer-driven, candidates cannot apply on their own. Instead, the employer must submit the application on behalf of the foreign worker.
Below is the breakdown of the process, once you have received a qualifying job offer (stream-dependent):
Step 1):
Your employer must register and create an online account in the NTNP’s online application portal, and select “Employer-Driven Stream.”
Step 2):
You complete an EOI survey, through which you will be awarded points based on the following factors:
Human Capital (max 375 points): Your language proficiency, age, work experience, and level of education.
Connections to the NWT Labour Market (max 340 points): Level of employment and duration of time employed in the NWT, possession of a trades job offer, holding an employer-specific work permit in the NWT, and employment in a smaller NWT community.
Adaptability (max 130 points): Having immediate family members in the NWT and completing post-secondary education within the territory.
Step 3):
Each profile will be reviewed by the NWT and assigned a score; the employers of the highest-ranking profiles will be invited in an EOI draw to submit a complete application on behalf of nominee candidates.
The NTNP has also stated that applications will be assessed in the order they are received.
If an employer does not receive an invitation to apply (ITA) through an EOI draw, they will not be able to submit a full application. Candidates who successfully complete the process will receive a provincial nomination.
Note: Like the Francophone Stream, the NTNP’s Business Stream, aimed at individuals seeking to establish or acquire a business in the NWT, has not adopted an EOI model and continues to function on a first-come, first-served basis.
What Happens After Receiving A Nomination?
After receiving a nomination from the Northwest Territories, the next step is to apply for Canadian permanent residence (PR).
The process depends on the type of stream through which the candidate was nominated.
Moreover, applicants nominated through base streams of the NTNP must apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. Base streams include the Francophone Stream and the Entry Level/Semi-Skilled Occupations and Skilled Worker pathways under the Employer-Driven Stream.
The process is slightly different for candidates nominated through the NWT Express Entry pathway.
This pathway is connected to the federal Express Entry system. When a candidate receives a nomination through this stream, they automatically gain 600 additional points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
These extra points almost guarantee that the candidate will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in a future Express Entry draw. Once the ITA is issued, the candidate can submit a permanent residence application to IRCC.
Through these immigration streams, the Northwest Territories hopes to attract skilled workers and support the local labour market while helping newcomers build their future in northern Canada.
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