Northwest Territories receives additional nomination spaces
The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) has received 103 additional nomination spaces from the federal government for 2026.
This raises the territory's allocation for the year from 197 to 300 nominations, matching the total it reached by the end of 2025 following two increases.
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As a result of this increase, the NTNP will be holding an additional Expression of Interest (EOI) draw on August 26, 2026, under the Employer-Driven Stream.
Job offer holders must have their employers submit an application by August 24, 2026, to be considered for this draw.
The Government of the Northwest Territories shared this information via a news release on their NTNP news page on August 7.
Two online information sessions, which will take place via Zoom, are available for foreign nationals and employers seeking more information about the application process:
- August 18, 2026: 2:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m.
- Registration deadline: August 17 at 5:00 p.m.
- August 20, 2026: 10:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m.
- Registration deadline: August 19 at 12:00 p.m.
Those interested in attending can email immigration@gov.nt.ca for the Zoom link. French interpretation will be made available.
Under the updated selection schedule, the NTNP will now conduct a total of four draws in 2026. The territory has already completed its first two rounds, on March 25 and June 25.
The results of the territory’s first two draws of 2026 are outlined below:
| Date of draw | Invitations issued | Breakdown of selections by pathway | Location of selections | Range of candidate scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 25 | 65 | NWT Express Entry: 32 Skilled Workers: 20 Entry Level/Semi-Skilled Occupations: 13 | Yellowknife: 37 Outside Yellowknife: 28 | 417–597 |
| June 25 | 79 | NWT Express Entry: 40 Skilled Workers: 20 Entry Level/Semi-Skilled Occupations: 19 | Yellowknife: 52 Outside Yellowknife: 27 | 336–590 |
Candidates being considered under the NWT Express Entry pathway of the Employer-Driven Stream received the highest number of invitations in both draws.
The final draw of the year is scheduled to take place on September 25, 2026, and will consider profiles submitted to the EOI pool by September 22.
The NTNP’s Francophone Stream and Business Stream will continue to operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
“A return to 300 allocations reflects ongoing advocacy by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) to ensure the territory’s immigration priorities and unique labour market needs are reflected in its allocation numbers,” according to the GNWT’s August 7 news release.
How to be considered under the NTNP's Employer-Driven Stream
The NTNP shifted its Employer-Driven Stream to an Expression of Interest (EOI) intake system in late February 2026 in response to high demand.
Under the new process, candidates submit an EOI and receive a score based on the following factors:
- Skills and experience (max 375 points): age, education, language proficiency, and work experience.
- Ties to the NWT (max 340 points): current employment or employment status, a trades-related job offer, or previous employment in the territory.
- Ability to establish in the NWT (max 130 points): family ties to the NWT or previous post-secondary study in the territory.
A detailed breakdown of the points system is available on the territory's official website.
EOI profiles are valid for 12 months from submission. When a profile nears expiry, the candidate receives notice of its withdrawal date and may submit a new one.
Consideration under the Employer-Driven Stream requires action from both the candidate and their employer. The process works as follows:
- The candidate obtains a job offer from the supporting employer.
- Both the candidate and employer ensure they meet the requirements of the Employer-Driven Stream.
- The Employer registers and creates an account for the candidate in the NTNP’s online application portal, selecting “Employer-Driven Stream."
- Using the Employer’s login credentials, the candidate fills out and submits the EOI profile, and receives a candidate score.
The NTNP reviews EOI submissions and invites employers of NTNP candidates with the highest-ranking scores to submit a complete nomination application to the program through periodic draws.
Successful applicants receive a nomination certificate and can then apply to the federal government for permanent residence. If approved, the PR applicant receives a confirmation of permanent residence (COPR).
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