YELLOWKNIFE – The Government of the Northwest Territories has officially announced that the inaugural draw for the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) under its newly implemented Expression of Interest (EOI) model will take place on March 25, 2026. This transition marks a significant shift in how the territory manages its immigration intake, moving toward a points-based selection process. In preparation for this milestone, the application portal for the Employer-Driven and Francophone streams opened for submissions on March 9 at 12:00 PM, allowing eligible candidates to enter the selection pool.
For the 2026 calendar year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has allocated a total of 197 nomination slots to the Northwest Territories, maintaining the same quota as the previous year. The upcoming draw on March 25 is expected to issue invitations to 65 candidates, targeting those whose profiles best align with the territory’s economic needs. Under the new EOI system, candidates are ranked based on specific criteria, including their prior work experience, language proficiency, existing connections to the territory, and the current demands of the local labour market.
The new EOI model specifically governs the Employer-Driven Stream, which encompasses the Entry Level/Semi-Skilled, Skilled Worker, and NWT Express Entry categories. To participate, an employer must first register an online account, after which the candidate can submit their profile into the pool to be scored. It is important to note that while the Employer-Driven stream has moved to this competitive ranking system, the Francophone and Business streams will continue to operate under the traditional “first-come, first-served” model, providing a different pathway for French-speaking applicants and entrepreneurs.
