Northwest Territories and Nunavut Immigration

Foreign nationals wishing to relocate to Northwest Territories may apply under the Northwest Territories Program for provincial nomination.

An application may be submitted under one of the following categories:

1. Employer-Driven Stream
2. Business Stream
3. Francophone Stream 

At present, Nunavut has no immigrant nominee program.

1) Employer-Driven Stream

This stream is for employers who wish to hire and nominate foreign nationals when no Canadians or Canada PR holders are available to fill that role.

The stream helps employers hire critically needed and skilled workers while assisting workers in achieving Canada PR through three sub-categories that the stream has to offer.

Candidates need a job offer from a NWT employer, which is the first step to embark on this stream.

To apply for this stream, candidates must already have a work permit. Once their application is approved, candidates may be issued a work permit support letter, which allows approved nominees to apply for a new work permit that is closed to a nominating employer.

The following categories fall under this stream:

Entry Level/Semi-Skilled Occupations

This category is useful for filling shortages for entry-level jobs when they cannot find Canadian candidates locally or nationally for a particular position.

This category is for occupations that fall under NOC TEER 4 or 5.

To be eligible, foreign nationals need to have worked full-time in the same position with the employer for six months and be in good standing with the requirements of their temporary foreign permits.

A minimum language requirement must also be met for communication in English or French.

Skilled Worker 

This category helps employers attract qualified people if there exists a shortage of workers for jobs in the NWT that require formal education, specialized training, or both.

This category is for occupations under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.

To be eligible, foreign nationals need to show that they have the experience, training, and education to fulfill what the job requires.

One year of full-time experience in the relevant occupation is requisite.

A minimum language requirement must also be met for communication in English or French.

NWT Express Entry 

This category is relevant for those Skilled Workers who have a profile in the EE System, a federal program with expedited application times for skilled individuals who want to work and live in the NWT.

This category is for occupations under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.

EE assists employers secure skilled employees by fast-tracking applications for Canada PR. Approved candidates will receive 600 points in the EE pool.

To be eligible for NWT EE, a foreign national must meet these criteria:

Northwest Territories Express Entry Stream for Skilled Workers

The Northwest Territories Express Entry Stream for Skilled Workers is aimed at foreign nationals who have a profile in the federal Express Entry pool.

Employers and candidates must meet the same requirements as the Skilled Worker stream, but also meet the following requirements:

• Provide the Express Entry pool acceptance letter issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry Pool.
• Have a profile registered in the EE System
• Provide a valid Job Seeker Validation Code.
• Have a valid job offer from an NWT Employer
• Have one (1) year of full-time experience in the same or similar occupation they are being nominated for within the last 10 years;
• Have the required certification or accreditation of the specific trade, occupation and NOC code Employment requirements;
• Have the required work experience for the specific occupation as advertised and/or per the NOC code Employment requirements;
• Meet the language requirement criteria; and
• Not be a refugee claimant.

3) Francophone Stream

This stream allows qualified foreign nationals who speak both French and English and have a valid job offer from an NWT Employer, to apply to the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP).

It is designed to increase the labor pool for bilingual workers within all NOC skill levels (NOC O, A, B, C and D).

These are minimum language requirements to ensure communication proficiency in both English and French.

This requirement must be met at the time of application and proof of testing is to be provided.

4) Northwest Territories Business Stream

The Northwest Territories Business Stream is aimed at entrepreneurs with business expertise and investment capital, who wish to purchase or start a business in the region, or invest in and operate an existing business based in the NWT.

Northwest Territories Business Stream: Requirements

1. Applicants must commit to investing:
   A minimum of $200,000 equity into starting or buying a business within the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; or
   A minimum of $100,000 equity into starting or buying a business outside of the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
2. Applicants must demonstrate that they own at least 33.3% of the business, unless their personal equity investment is at least $1,000,000, in which case they may own less.
3. They must also provide proof that they have a personal net worth of:
   At least $500,000 if starting or buying a business within the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; or
   At least $250,000 if starting or buying a business outside the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
4. Applicants must demonstrate a level of proficiency of 4 against the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB 4) in English or the equivalent language level against the Niveaux de competence linquistique Canadiens (NCLC) in French. Recognized tests are IELTS, CELPIP, and PTE Core for English and TEF for French.
   Test results must be no older than two (2) years at the time of application.
5. Applicants applying must demonstrate reasonable knowledge of the NWT and its economy
6. They must demonstrate reasonable communication skills appropriate to conduct business in the Northwest Territories and to integrate into the local community;
7. They need to have the necessary experience and education to implement the business plan successfully
8. Applicants need to demonstrate sufficient financial resources to start and operate a business and support themselves and any of their dependents for the duration of the applicant’s Business Performance Agreement;
9. Applicants cannot have an active application with any other provincial or territorial nominee program; not have an active application with any other stream of the Nominee Program in the Northwest Territories; and not be a Refugee Claimant
10. Applicants must be ready and willing to settle full-time in the NWT.

Choose a province to learn more about Provincial Nominee Programs