Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)

Located amid the other two Canadian territories, Northwest Territories (NWT) is the second-largest and most populous territory of Canada. The extensive landscape of these territories is enclosed with forests, mountains, Arctic tundra, and islands in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. The economy of NWT leverages its natural resources including, natural gas, gold, and petroleum.

With a population of almost 45,000 residents on acres of land, the NWT faces a constant need for workers in various economic activities, such as mining, construction, tourism, transport, energy and resources, and others. 

The regional capital of the NWT, Yellowknife, contributes to the core of administrative, economic, and cultural activities. Despite its isolated location, the capital city boasts various infrastructural facilities such as medical services, schools, cultural amenities, an airport, telecommunications coverage, and the only public transit system among all three territories.

Through the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP), the territory invites newcomers to apply for permanent residency in Canada. The NTNP targets potential immigrants with the relevant skills and experience required in the territory. Successful applicants obtain a Northwest Territories Provincial Nomination Certificate, and hereafter nominated foreign nationals can apply for permanent resident status with the Canadian government.

The Northwest Territories Provincial Nominee Program (NTNP) has two programs to invite applications for permanent residence in the province. Make home Canada has listed available streams under these programs so that you can determine if NTNP is the right option for you.     

• Northwest Territories Employer Driven Program
  • Express Entry Skilled Worker Stream
  • Skilled Worker Stream
  • Critical Impact Worker
• Northwest Territories Business Immigration Program
  • Business Stream

 

Employer Driven Program

Express Entry Skilled Worker Stream

This stream is aligned with the federal Express Entry immigration system. The purpose is to meet the labor-market needs of the territories. Successful applicants can obtain Canadian permanent residency. 

To qualify for this stream, candidates must:

• Be eligible for one of the three federal economic immigration programs, these are:
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Canadian Experience Class
• Fulfill the eligibility requirements of the Skilled Worker stream of the NTNP Employer Driven Program;
• Provide the acceptance letter issued by the IRCC;
• Provide the Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Validation Code issued by IRCC;
• Show intent to settle permanently in the NWT;
• Work in an occupation falling under the NOC skill level 0, A, or B;
• Have legal status to work in Canada or have a valid work permit if currently residing in Canada;
• Have relevant experience for at least one year and have the required certification based on the job;
• Have relevant educational credentials and other training, certification, and licensing required for the job position, as asked by the government of NWT;
• Applicants with educational credentials outside of Canada, the applicant has to obtain an Educational Credential Report (ECA) report, issued by the IRCC.
• Apply to the vacancy advertised by the NWT employer and demonstrate the procedure of job application with the NWT’s employer (if applying through an advertisement with the NWT’s employer);
• Show sufficient financial resources;

• Submit the certified copies of the following documents:
  • Valid work permit;
  • Birth certificate;
  • Passport;
  • Marriage certificate or declaration of common-law union; and
  • Birth certificate(s) and passport(s) for dependants.
• Show a valid full-time job offer from an NWT employer;
• Meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) in either English or French:
  • Meet an equivalent or above of CLB 6 for NOC 0 or A
  • Meet an equivalent or above of CLB 5 for NOC B
  • Have to submit the test results (not older than two years) with the application from one of the following approved language tests to prove your language proficiency:
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
    • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
    • Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF)

Skilled Worker Stream

The NTNP Skilled Worker Stream enables the government of NWT to target those candidates who have received an employment offer from an employer in NWT. The purpose is to fill job positions by recruiting skilled foreign nationals, for which no qualified Canadians or residents are available. Applicants under this stream include candidates who got a job offer from NWT employer in NOC codes 0, A, and B occupations. Under this stream, employers sponsor their eligible employees for Canadian permanent resident status.

To qualify for this stream, candidates must:

• Be willing to settle permanently in the territories;
• Have legal status to work in Canada or have a valid work permit if currently residing in Canada;
• Show a valid full-time job offer from an NWT’s employer;
• Have relevant experience for at least one year and have the required certification based on the job;
• Have relevant educational credentials and other training, certification, and licensing required for the job position, as asked by the government of NWT;
  • Applicants with educational credentials outside of Canada, the applicant has to obtain an Educational Credential Report (ECA) report, issued by the IRCC.
• Apply to the vacancy advertised by the NWT employer and demonstrate the procedure of job application with the NWT’s employer (if applying through an advertisement with the NWT’s employer);
• Submit the certified copies of the following documents:
  • Valid work permit;
  • Birth certificate;
  • Passport;
  • Marriage certificate or declaration of common-law union; and 
  • Birth certificate(s) and passport(s) for dependants.
• Meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) in either English or French:
  • Meet an equivalent or above of CLB 6 for NOC 0 or A
  • Meet an equivalent or above of CLB 5 for NOC B
  • Have to submit the test results (not older than two years) with the application from one of the following approved language tests to prove your language proficiency:
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
    • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
    • Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF)

Critical Impact Worker Stream

The NTNP Critical Impact Worker stream allows the territory to nominate individuals who have received a valid offer of employment from an NWT employer in a semi-skilled or unskilled position. These occupations must be falling under NOC skill level C or D. 

To qualify for this stream, candidates must:

• Have legal status to work in Canada or have a valid work permit if currently residing in Canada;
• Meet compliance with their temporary foreign worker permit;
• Be willing to settle permanently in the NWT;
• Have relevant educational credentials and other training, certification, and licensing required for the job position, as asked by the government of NWT;
  • Applicants with educational credentials outside of Canada, the applicant has to obtain an Educational Credential Report (ECA) report, issued by the IRCC.
• Have been working for at least 6 months with the nominating employer in NOC code C or D occupations;
• Meet NWT certification and licensing requirements, if needed for the job;
• Submit the certified copies of the following documents:
  • Birth certificate;
  • Passport;
  • Marriage certificate or declaration of common-law union; and 
  • Birth certificate(s) and passport(s) for dependants.
• Meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) in either English or French:
  • Meet an equivalent or above of CLB 4
  • Have to submit the test results (not older than two years) with the application from one of the following approved language tests to prove your language proficiency:
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
    • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
    • Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF)
• Show sufficient financial resources, at least $10,000 for the principal applicant, and an extra $2,000 for each accompanying dependant.

Northwest Territories Business Immigration Program

Business Stream

Under this stream, NTNP targets individuals who are willing to establish a new business or purchase an existing business in the Northwest territories. Applicants are nominated based on their ability to contribute to the economy of the NWT as well as the ability to create jobs for foreign nationals and Canadians living in the territory.

To qualify for this stream, candidates must:

• Be willing to invest:
  • At least CAD 300,000 to either establish or acquire a business within the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, the capital city of the NWT; or
  • At least CAD 150,000 to either establish or acquire a business outside the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT.
• Demonstrate a personal net worth of:
  • At least CAD 500,000 to either establish or acquire a business within the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, the capital city of the NWT; or
  • At least CAD 250,000 to either establish or acquire a business outside the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT.
• Prove that they own a minimum of one-third (33.3%) of the business:
  • If the candidate invests equal to or above CAD 1,000,000, then he or she may own less than one-third of the business.
• Make a good faith deposit of CAD 75,000 in a trust, which will be released upon the successful execution of the terms as mentioned in the Business Performance Agreement;
• Prove that he has reasonable knowledge about the territory and its economy;
• Meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 in either English or French:
  • Have to submit the test results (not older than two years) with the application from one of the following approved language tests to prove your language proficiency:
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
    • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
    • Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF)
• Demonstrate the required educational credentials and relevant experience to execute the business plan;
• Show financial sufficiency to support himself and accompanying dependants while the establishment of the Business Performance Agreement;
• Ensure to not have an active application with any other NTNP stream;
• Show enough communication skills to integrate into the local community of the NWT; and
• Demonstrate the necessary experience to implement the executed business plan.

The nomination process in this stream includes various steps. These are:

• Self-Assessment: The process begins with the self-assessment, a potential candidate has to check the eligibility criteria in this stream, and if he or she meets the criteria, then the candidate is required to prepare a business plan based on the territory’s economy.

If an applicant plans to purchase an existing business, then that business must have been in operation for at least three years by the same owner. After the acquisition, the number of jobs and wages cannot be reduced by the new owner.

• Explanatory visit and face-to-face interview: Potential applicants have to make at least one explanatory visit to the territory for a minimum of four business days before submitting the application. The purpose is to gain a better understanding of the business environment of the area.

The next part is to attend a face-to-face interview to demonstrate communication skills and knowledge about the business plan.

• Expression of Interest: If the interview was successful, the candidate has to submit these within the next sixty days:

• A written summary of the working business concept with a viable investment outline, and

• A summary of their observations during the business trip to NWT.

If the department finds the above relevant and observes that the applicant has a sincere intent to settle in the NWT, then he or she will receive an Invitation to Apply.

• Formal Application: After being invited to apply, the candidate has to submit the complete application within the next nine months. Also, the candidate has to pay application fees and other charges within this duration, with the following documents:

• Third-Party Financial Verification Report

• Detailed business plan

• An updated copy of NTNP 05: Authorize or Cancel a Representative

NOTE: The NTNP discourages the applicants to make any investments in the area before signing a Business Performance Agreement and getting a work permit.

• Application Review: Here, NP staff will review the application based on certain eligibility parameters. Then, the candidate will receive a recommendation for entry into the NTNP, if eligible.
• Approval and Business Performance Agreement: The applicant will receive a written acceptance from the NTNP staff. Then, the Business Performance Agreement will be signed by the applicant, outlining the terms to be executed by the applicant in his business plan. Then, the candidate has to make a good faith deposit of CAD 75,000 in a trust, which will be released upon the successful execution of the terms mentioned in the Business Performance Agreement. The applicant will receive a letter of support for a two-year temporary work permit and he can submit the same with his application to the IRCC.
• Establishing the business: The applicant has to submit an Interim Report to the NTNP every six months, with proof of eligible investment. The applicant has two years to establish the business as promised in the Business Performance Agreement while demonstrating his or her active participation in the NWT business activities.
• Nomination: The candidate will receive a nomination certificate from the territories’ government if he fulfills all the terms of BPA. If nominated, he has to apply for permanent residence at IRCC within the next 6 months.

Still, thinking about how to proceed with the application process for NTNP? Stop worrying, MakeHomeCanada is here to address all your queries. Contact our expert immigration consultants to know the complete Canadian immigration process. We will guide you through different pathways including the Express Entry system and PNPs, to determine the best option for you to obtain Canadian residency. Let us join you on this immigration journey to Canada.