Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP): Streams and Eligibility

The NTNP is small, employer-driven and deliberately targeted at genuine local shortages — allocations are limited and streams can close when filled.

What the NTNP is

The Northwest Territories nominee programme lets the province select candidates who match its own labour-market needs and nominate them for Canadian permanent residence. A nomination does not itself grant status — you still apply to the federal government — but it is decisive, because an enhanced nomination adds 600 CRS points to an Express Entry profile, which in practice guarantees an invitation.

The main streams

• Express Entry Employer-Driven — Enhanced stream for federal-pool candidates with an NWT job offer.
• Employer-Driven — Skilled Worker — Base stream requiring a territorial employer offer.
• Critical Impact Worker — For entry-level and semi-skilled roles, with a longer employment requirement.
• Business stream — For those establishing a business in the territory, with investment and net-worth requirements.

Enhanced or base?

As with every Canadian province, Northwest Territories's streams split in two. Enhanced streams require an active Express Entry profile and add the 600-point block. Base streams bypass Express Entry entirely — you apply to the province, then separately to Ottawa. Base streams are slower, but they do not care about your CRS score, which makes them the realistic option for candidates whose age or language scores would never clear a federal draw.

Who it suits

Workers with a confirmed NWT employer, particularly in trades, healthcare and resource sectors.

Before you apply

Provincial streams open, close, and change criteria at short notice, and several operate limited intake windows. Confirm the current position with Northwest Territories's own immigration authority before preparing an application — a nomination programme that was open last quarter may not be open now.

See how Northwest Territories fits the wider picture in our guide to every Canadian immigration pathway, or read the full Canada programme dossier.