Northwest Territories immigration programs

Overview

Northwest Territories immigration programs

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program requires a permanent full-time NWT job offer or a qualifying plan to establish or buy a business. The 2026 allocation is 197 nominations, and the Employer-Driven Stream now uses an expression-of-interest system.

Employer-Driven profiles compete in draws

The employer opens the process and the foreign worker completes the EOI information. Express Entry, Skilled Worker and Entry Level or Semi-Skilled profiles are ranked, with selected employers invited to submit full applications.

An EOI can remain in the pool for up to 12 months but is not a nomination application.

Use the 2026 draw schedule

The first EOI draw occurred March 25, with additional rounds scheduled for June 25 and September 25, 2026. The territory has announced profile cut-off dates and limits of up to 65 invitations per round.

Scores vary with the pool and do not create a guaranteed threshold.

Francophone and business routes differ

The Francophone stream and Business Stream operate separately from the oversubscribed Employer-Driven EOI process. Each has its own language, job or investment, ownership and management requirements.

Passive investment is not the purpose of entrepreneur selection.

IRCC makes the final decision

Territorial nomination supports a federal permanent-residence application; Express Entry nominees can receive 600 CRS points after acceptance. Medical, criminal, security and document checks remain federal.

Nominees must genuinely intend to live in the NWT.