NORTHWEST TERRITORIES NOMINEE PROGRAM
The Northwest Territories’ Nominee Program is an immigration program operated on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories with Citizenship and Immigration Canada to fast-track the processing of an application for permanent residency.
The Employer Driven Streams of the Nominee Program support Employers to recruit and retain Foreign Nationals who possess the skills and experience required by the Employer and who meet program eligibility criteria, when there are no qualified Canadians or permanent residents available.
There are three categories under Employers Driven Stream:
- Critical Impact Workers
- Skilled Workers
- Express Entry System for Skilled Workers

1. NWTNP - Critical Impact Worker Stream
Critical Impact Worker Stream is intended to assist Employers with critical Labour shortages that cannot be filled by local, permanent residents, or Canadian citizens. Furthermore, this category is designed to increase the Labour pool for entry level jobs described within the National Occupational Classification skill levels C and D. In order to be eligible to apply under this category, foreign nationals must meet the specific requirements.
2. NWTNP - Skilled Worker Stream
NWT Skilled Worker Stream is designed to attract qualified individuals that will assist with shortages of skilled workers in the Northwest Territories. This stream is for skilled occupations for which formal education and/or specialized training is required. These occupations are within the National Occupational Classification, Skill Levels 0, A, and B. In order to be eligible to apply under this category, foreign nationals must meet the specific requirements.
EMPLOYER CRITERIA
- Has been registered and operational for a minimum of six (6) months
- Be in good standing position with the Northwest Territories’
- Employment must be for a permanent full-time position
- Minimum local and national recruitment efforts must have been placed within one (1) year prior to the submission of an application form
- Provide a comparable industry rate of pay
- Pay for the air travel costs for the Foreign National
FOREIGN NATIONALS' GENERAL CRITERIA
The following eligibility criteria apply to all Employer Driven streams unless stated otherwise:
- Have legal status to work and must have a valid work permit; and
- Intend to settle permanently in the Northwest Territories
- Have the required certification or accreditation for the occupation
- Have approved Canadian Language Testing results
- Have sufficient funds to establish and maintain themselves in Northwest Territories
3. NWTNP - EXPRESS ENTRY STREAM
The Northwest Territories Express Entry stream is for skilled occupations for which formal education and/or specialized training is required. These occupations are within the National Occupational Classification, Skill Levels 0, A, and B. Moreover, the Northwest Territories’ Express Entry stream is only for Foreign Nationals who have been accepted into the Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Express Entry Pool.
When applying for the Northwest Territories Express Entry System for Skilled Workers a candidate must:
- Provide the Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Validation Code
- Meet the eligibility criteria for the Northwest Territories’ Nominee Program’s Skilled Worker Stream, and
- have expressed interest in immigrating to the Northwest Territories
Once the eligibility criteria have been met, the Employer can submit an application form to the Northwest Territories’ Express Entry System.