Foreign nationals interested in immigrating to Canada through the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) must submit their applications between 9 a.m. MT on February 27 and 5 p.m. MT on March 6 for the 2025 intake.
The NTNP will process 90 new applications and 60 applications submitted in 2024, for a total of 150 nominations in 2025.
If the NTNP receives more applications than it can process, it will conduct a random selection process and notify applicants by email. The selected applications will be processed in the order of their work permit expiry dates.
Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP programs
The NWT government has also adjusted its allocation strategy to better address the needs of individuals with expiring work permits, recognize those with significant time spent with NWT employers, and meet the diverse needs of NWT employers.
This article covers:
- The new allocations and eligibility requirements for each NTNP stream.
- Additional context on provincial immigration for 2025.
- How to assess eligibility for enhanced Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) options.
Stream-by-Stream Allocations Under the NTNP
Employer-Driven Stream
The Employer-Driven stream allows NWT employers to hire and nominate foreign workers for Canadian permanent residence (PR). Applicants cannot apply directly; instead, an NWT employer must apply on behalf of the candidate.
This stream includes three categories:
- Entry Level / Semi-Skilled Occupations
- Skilled Worker
- NWT Express Entry
Below is the 2025 allocation for each category, along with highlighted eligibility factors:
| Category | Allocation | Eligibility Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level / Semi-Skilled Occupations | 35 | Applicants must have: – An expiring work permit in 2025 – At least 12 months of full-time work in NWT before applying. |
| Skilled Worker | 35 | Applicants must have: – A full-time, permanent job offer from an NWT employer – 12 months of work experience in the nominated occupation – An expiring work permit in 2025. OR – At least 18 months of full-time work in NWT before applying. |
| NWT Express Entry | As per eligibility | The work experience must: – Be gained immediately before applying – Be with the nominating employer and in the same occupation. |
Additionally, the NTNP will reserve five applications from the Entry Level / Semi-Skilled Occupations category and five from the Skilled Worker and NWT Express Entry categories for employers located outside of Yellowknife, applying the same eligibility criteria.
Note: This table does not list all eligibility details. For further information on immigrating through the Employer-Driven stream, refer to the NTNP’s program guidelines and application checklists.
Employer-Driven and Francophone Stream
The NTNP will allocate 10 additional applications for Francophone candidates under the Employer-Driven and Francophone streams. These applications are reserved specifically for bilingual individuals.
The NTNP will limit the number of applications employers in the NWT can submit based on their employee count:
| Number of Employees | Application Allocation |
|---|---|
| 1 to 10 employees | 1 application |
| 11 to 49 employees | 2 applications |
| 50+ employees | 4 applications |
The Francophone stream allows NWT employers to hire foreign nationals who are bilingual and have a qualifying job offer. Eligible candidates may work in any National Occupation Classification (NOC) Training Education Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) level.
To learn more about immigrating through the Francophone stream, visit the NTNP’s dedicated webpage.
Why Were These Changes Made to the NWT’s Application Intake?
These changes come after a 50% reduction in the NWT’s immigrant nomination allocation for 2025, part of a wider trend across Canada’s provinces and territories. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced last year that it would reduce PNP landings targets for 2025 due to domestic housing and affordability challenges. As a result, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) cut cumulative admissions under Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) from 110,000 in 2024 to just 55,000 in 2025.
This reduction has impacted the application intake processes for many provinces and territories, including New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Yukon.
The decrease in PNP allocations comes amid rising demand for Canadian immigration streams. In 2024, the NTNP met its annual immigrant allocation by July, marking a significant achievement for the program.
