Northwest Territories holds first-ever immigration draw, announces schedule for rest of 2026
After having shifted to an Expression of Interest system in early 2026, the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) has released the results of its first immigration draw, held on March 25.
The selection round saw a total of 65 candidates invited through the Employer-Driven Stream.
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The NTNP has also released its full draw schedule for candidate selection under the Employer-Driven Stream in 2026, detailing plans to hold two more draws over the course of 2026.
The Government of the Northwest Territories shared this information via a news release published on April 16.
Results of the NTNP’s March 25 draw
Of the 295 profiles in the candidate pool at the time of selection, the Northwest Territories invited the 65 highest-ranking candidates on March 25.
The table below shows how invitations were apportioned across each pathway within the Employer-Driven Stream.
| Pathway | Invitations issued |
|---|---|
| NWT Express Entry | 32 |
| Skilled Worker | 20 |
| Entry Level/Semi-Skilled | 13 |
The EOI scores in the NTNP's first-ever draw ranged from 417–597.
The majority of invitations—about 49%—were issued through the NWT Express Entry pathway.
When will the next Employer-Driven Stream draws take place?
There will be two more draws under this stream, each of which will see up to 65 candidates invited to submit a complete nomination application.
The next two draws will occur on
- June 25, 2026; and
- September 25, 2026.
To be considered for either of these draws, a candidate’s Expression of Interest (EOI) profile must be submitted by a particular date.
For the June 25 draw, EOIs must be submitted by June 22; for the September 25 draw, the deadline is September 22.
The NTNP notes that cutoff scores will vary for each draw depending on the makeup of the candidate pool at the time of selection.
How to be considered under the NTNP’s Employer-Driven Stream
The NTNP moved to an EOI intake system for its Employer-Driven Stream in late February of this year due to high demand—having previously operated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Those wishing to be considered through the territory’s Employer-Driven Stream now have to submit an EOI, which is scored based on the following factors:
- Skills and experience (max 375 points): age, language ability, work experience, and education.
- Connections to the NWT (max 340 points): your current job or employment status, a job offer in the trades, or past work experience in the NWT.
- Likelihood of settling in the NWT (max 130 points): family members residing in the NWT, or having previously studied there (post-secondary).
A full breakdown of how points are distributed can be found here.
Because this stream is employer-driven, the consideration process will necessitate action from both the candidate and the candidate's employer—beginning with the latter.
Here are the steps required to be considered in the upcoming draws:
- Obtain a job offer.
- Ensure you and your employer both meet the stream requirements.
- Your employer registers and creates an account for you in the NTNP’s online application portal, selecting “Employer-Driven Stream.”
- Using the employer’s login information, you fill out an EOI profile.
Your profile will be assessed and scored by the Government of the Northwest Territories, based on the factors detailed above.
Those who are drawn can then have their employer submit an application for nomination on their behalf.
Profiles that are not selected will remain in the pool until they expire (12 months from the date of submission).
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