Northwest Territories immigration: provincial nominee streams
The program reopened 2026-03-09. The Employer-Driven Stream now uses an employer-submitted EOI scored on points, with scheduled draws (2026-03-25, 2026-06-25, 2026-09-25). Francophone and Business streams remain first-come, first-served.
How the province selects
Employer-Driven Stream: employers submit an EOI for a candidate, who is scored on human capital, NWT labour-market connection and adaptability factors; highest-ranked are invited in scheduled draws.
Key facts
- Up to 65 applicants are invited in each EOI draw.
- The first draw selected 65 profiles from 295 submissions (32 Express Entry, 20 Skilled Worker, 13 Entry Level/Semi-Skilled); scores of selected profiles ran from 417 to 597.
- EOIs are not capped and have no deadline; a profile does not guarantee a nomination or the chance to apply.
- Points come from language, age, work experience and education, time and level of NWT employment, a trades job offer, a closed NWT work permit, small-community work, family in NWT and NWT post-secondary study.
- The initial 2026 allocation was 197 nominations before the increase to 300.
News release of 2026-08-07: allocation raised from 197 to 300 after territorial advocacy.
Streams
NWT Nominee Program - Business Stream
For entrepreneurs who will invest in and run a business in the NWT. Net worth and investment thresholds are lower outside Yellowknife. Applicants first operate under a Business…
NWT Nominee Program - Employer-Driven Stream, Entry Level/Semi-Skilled Occupations category
For NWT employers nominating TEER 4 or 5 workers who have already worked full-time in the same job for them for 12 months. It has the lowest language bar (CLB 4) but requires…
NWT Nominee Program - Employer-Driven Stream
The Employer-Driven Stream is the NWT's main route: an NWT employer nominates a foreign worker with a permanent full-time job offer. It has three categories (Entry…
NWT Nominee Program - Employer-Driven Stream, Skilled Worker category
For NWT employers nominating a worker in a TEER 0-3 occupation with a permanent full-time job offer. The worker needs one year of relevant experience and CLB 5 or 6 depending on…
Recent invitation rounds
| Date | Stream | Minimum score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25, 2026 | Employer-Driven Stream (Express Entry, Skilled Worker, Entry Level/Semi-Skilled categories) (EOI points) | 417 | 65 |
Official sources
- gov.nt.caDraw dates released (2026-04-16)Checked 2026-10-01
- gov.nt.caProgram opens with updated selection process (2026-02-18)Checked 2026-10-01
- gov.nt.caAllocation increased to 300 (2026-08-07)Checked 2026-10-01
- immigratenwt.caExpression of interest (NTNP site)Checked 2026-10-01
- ece.gov.nt.caImmigration and Nominee Program (ECE)Checked 2026-10-01
- immigratenwt.caNTNP newsChecked 2026-10-01
- gov.nt.caSeptember 2026 draw notice