Northwest Territories

Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) was announced on August 5 2009. This program will enable the territory to fulfill their labour market needs by receiving qualified immigrants to fill critical labour shortages and promote business development in order to strengthen its economy.

The Nominee program is designed to help employers in the Northwest Territories secure the workforce they need for their businesses.

Employer Driven Business Driven Stream
Skilled Worker Stream Entrepreneur stream
Critical Impact Worker Stream Self Employed – Closed
NWT Express Entry for Skilled Workers

Critical Impact Worker Stream

Similar to Skilled Worker, an individual can be nominated by a Northwest Territories employer who is unable to fill a vacancy with a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident. This program is intended to assist NWT employers with critical labour shortages in the Hospitality and Service sector industry to address the critical need of semi-skilled workers in the NWT.

The eligibility criteria to be considered for a Critical Impact Worker are:

  • Must have a Permanent, full-time job offer from a Northwest Territories employer
  • Job offer must be in a Semi-skilled hospitality or service industry position
  • Must have worked in the Northwest Territories on a Temporary Work Permit in that same position for at least one year
  • Employee must have relevant & necessary work experience for the job
  • Employment in intended occupation is consistent with employee’s education, training and experience
  • Provide sufficient financial supports or settlement supports in NWT
  • Employment fills a skills shortage and meets labour market needs of the territory
  • Employment must meet territorial employment standards and offer comparable industry rates of pay
  • Meet the minimum English / French language requirements
  • Genuine intention to live and work in NWT
  • Make a commitment to settle & work permanently in Northwest Territories

Skilled Worker Stream

An individual can be nominated by a Northwest Territories employer who is unable to fill a vacancy with a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident.

The eligibility criteria to be considered for a Skilled Worker are:

  • Applicants must have a guaranteed job offer in their intended occupation
  • Must have a full-time, permanent job offer in a Skilled, Professional or Managerial occupation ( NOC O, A or B)
  • Must have 1 year of Full time experience in the occupation being nominated for.
  • Employment is a guaranteed permanent and fulltime job from an established company
  • Employment in intended occupation is consistent with employee’s education, training and experience
  • Employee must have relevant licensing & accreditation for that occupation if applicable
  • Job must meet employment standards and offer comparable industry rates of pay
  • Employment fills a skills shortage and meets labour market needs of the territory
  • Meet the minimum English / French language requirements
  • Genuine intention to live and work in NWT
  • Make a commitment to settle and work permanently in Northwest Territories

NWT Express Entry for Skilled Workers:

The eligibility criteria to be considered for a Skilled Worker under Express Entry are:

  • Be accepted into IRCC’s Express Entry Pool of candidates
  • Have a profile registered in the Express Entry system
  • Have a Job seeker validation code
  • Meet the above criteria of the Skilled Worker program of NWT Nominee program
  • Have expressed interest in settling permanently in the Northwest Territories.

Business Driven Stream

Entrepreneur Stream

This program is designed to attract business expertise and investment capital, which will enhance NWT’s economy.

Individuals who wish to start or purchase a new or existing Northwest Territories business can immigrate under this category in any of the economic sectors.

The Business stream is intended to attract business expertise to start and invest in start up businesses which will develop the economy of the North West Territories.

The eligibility criteria to be considered for a Prospective applicant are:

  • May involve a new business start-up or the purchase of an existing business or investment as an active management partner in an existing business.
  • Invest a minimum amount in their planned business where the amount varies depending on the location
    • Invest a minimum of $200,000 CDN equity into starting or buying a business within the boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT (or)
    • Invest a minimum of $100,000 CDN equity into starting or buying a business outside of the boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT
  • Have Personal Net worth of:
    • At least $500,000 CDN if starting or buying a business within the boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT
    • At least $250,000 CDN if starting or buying a business outside the boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT
  • Demonstrate that they own at least one third (33.3%) of the business
  • Deposit an additional $ 75,000 in a Trust Account that will be released upon the completion of a Business Performance Agreement based on the applicants business proposal
  • Display knowledge and understanding of Northwest Territories and its economy
  • Make a business trip to the Northwest Territories to gain knowledge about the business environment
  • Business plan is required for the proposed project with incremental benefits that will accrue to Northwest Territories
  • Possess the necessary education and experience to successfully implement the Business plan.
  • You must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to start and operate a business and support yourself and any dependents for the duration of the applicants Business Performance Agreement.

Self Employed Stream

An applicant must demonstrate that they have a profession or occupation that has been listed as a skill shortage in the Northwest Territories in order to qualify under this category. This is designed to attract professionals who can establish business outlets or professional practices for self-employment purposes.

The eligibility criteria to be considered for Self Employed are:

  • In a Profession or occupation that has been listed as a skill shortage in the Northwest Territories
  • Must have relevant & necessary work experience for the self employment
  • Self Employment in intended occupation is consistent with employee’s education, training and experience
  • Self Employment fills a skills shortage and meets labor market needs of the territory
  • Must satisfy and have relevant licensing & accreditation for that occupation
  • Display knowledge and understanding of Northwest Territories and its economy
  • Must submit a detailed Business plan for the business or practice
  • Show that they have sufficient financial resources to start and operate the professional practice and to support themselves and any dependents for a period of six months
  • Genuine intention to live and work in NWT
  • Make a commitment to settle permanently in Northwest Territories

Upon receiving a Nomination Certificate from the Northwest Territories, nominees must submit their application to federal immigration authorities for approval and issuance of Permanent Resident visas, which is processed on a priority basis. Final authority rests solely with CIC to issue permanent residency to qualified applicants.

A New Beginning

Canada wants to attract new immigrants on an annual basis with the emphasis firmly focused on immigrants with economic and professional skills from every part of the world.

In Canada you can start a new life, with never-ending opportunities ahead of you. We will help you plan your transition to the new way of life in Canada carefully, patiently and knowledgably.

If you have questions regarding your eligibility to immigrate to Canada as a Northwest Territories Provincial Nominee in either the skilled or the Business category, we invite you to Contact us by completing the Free Assessment PNP Skilled Form so that we can ascertain if you qualify for any of the provincial programs.

Wesley Immigration Consultants