Northwest Territories Nominee Program nomination allocation restored to 2024 levels

Over a hundred additional candidates can expect to receive invitations to apply for nomination through the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) this year.

The Northwest Territories has had its 2025 nomination allocation for its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) increased to 300 spaces, up from 197.

NWT Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) Caitlin Cleveland is currently working to open the next application intake period for the NTNP.

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams

The Northwest Territories’ return to pre-2025 nomination allocation levels was announced in a media statement on October 17, 2025.

Further details, including information on the next NTNP intake period and how these additional nominations will be distributed, will be released once program details have been finalized.

“The restoration of our full allocation means that employers will once again have access to the skilled workers they need to keep their business running and expand,” said ECE Minister Cleveland.

The NTNP’s ongoing advocacy for increased nominations

In 2025, the federal government cut nomination allocations for Canada’s PNPs by 50% as part of it plan to reduce immigration levels so as to ease pressures on Canada's housing and social services.

Throughout 2025, PNPs have responded by lobbying the government for additional nominations.

On September 2, the federal government granted the Northwest Territories an additional 47 nominations for their NTNP, bringing their total nominations for 2025 to 197, up from 150.

According to the territory, these 47 nominations were to go to eligible NTNP applicants from the 2025 intake period who were not selected.

The Northwest Territories has continued to advocate for higher numbers, citing a need to fill “critical labour shortages in key sectors.”

As of this most recent announcement, the territory now has its full nomination allocation restored to 2024 numbers.

The NTNP is the only PNP to see its nomination allocation restored to previous levels, as of the time of writing.

About the NTNP

The NTNP has three provincial immigration streams:

• The Employer-Driven Stream;
  • Entry-Level / Semi-Skilled Occupation Category.
  • Skilled Worker Category.
  • NWT Express Entry category.
• The Francophone Stream; and
• The Business Stream.

To be considered under the Employer-Driven stream and Francophone Stream, foreign nationals must possess a qualifying job offer from an in-territory employer.

The Employer-Driven stream requires that an employer submit an application on behalf of the foreign national seeking a nomination.

Under the Francophone Stream and Business Stream, foreign nationals can submit an application on their own behalf.

Each stream has unique requirements that must be met in order to be considered; in some cases, employers must also meet certain stream requirements.

In 2025, the province has held two application intake periods as of the time of writing:

• February 27 to March 6, 2025; and
• July 2 to July 9, 2025.

The upcoming application intake period(s) referenced by ECE Minister Cleveland will soon be released.

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams