Northwest Territories Nomineee Program

The Northwest Territories (NWT) makes up a large part of Canada’s North. There is a lot of space to live, explore and play, with 33 different communities and a population of 44,718 people. The capital city, Yellowknife, boasts approximately 19,000 people.

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

Northwest Territories PNP has 4 categories

Employer - Driven Stream

The Employer-Driven Stream is for employers who want to hire and nominate foreign nationals when there are no Canadians or Canadian Permanent Residents available. This stream helps employers hire critically needed and skilled workers, and helps workers achieve Canadian Permanent Residency through three program categories.

For this stream to work, you first need a job offer from an NWT employer. We do not accept expressions of interest from people without a job offer, and we do not issue any invitations to apply.

To apply for the Employer Stream, in most circumstances you must already have a Canadian work permit. Work permits are issued by the federal government.To apply for a work permit, contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

If you are currently in Canada, you must have legal status to work and must have a valid work permit for the duration of the application process.

Once your application is approved, we may issue a work permit support letter, A work permit support letter allows approved nominees to apply for a new work permit that is closed to the nominating employer.

If you are outside Canada, you are typically not eligible for nomination. In exceptional circumstances and depending on the employer’s business case and operational circumstances, we may consider assessing your file for highly skilled occupations. Employers must consult with us regarding exceptional circumstances before submitting an application.

Entry Level/Semi-Skilled Occupations

The Entry Level/Semi-Skilled Occupations helps employers fill shortages for entry-level jobs when they cannot find a Canadian candidate locally or nationally for a position.

To be eligible, foreign nationals must have worked fulltime in the same position with the employer for six months and be in good standing with the requirements of their temporary foreign work permit.

There is a minimum language requirement that ensures the foreign national is able to communicate in English or French. This requirement must be met at the time the application is made, and proof of testing must be provided.

Skilled Worker

The Skilled Worker category helps employers attract qualified individuals if there are shortages of workers for jobs in the NWT that require formal education, specialized training, or both.

To be eligible, foreign nationals must be able to demonstrate they have the training, experience and education to fulfill the needs of the job description. The skilled worker must have one year of full-time experience in the relevant occupation.

There is a minimum language requirement to ensure the foreign national is able to communicate in English or French. This requirement must be met at the time the application is made and proof of testing must be provided.

Eligibility

• Possess the accreditation/certification for the job or trade

• Meet the licensing/registration pre-requisites of the job

• Has worked in thus job and possesses experience

• Proof of funds to settle down in the NWT

• Proficient in English/ French

• Is not a refugee claimant

Express Entry Skilled Worker

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

Express Entry helps employers to secure skilled employees by fast-tracking applications for permanent residency. When approved by the us, the candidate will receive 600 points within the Express Entry pool.

Eligiblity

• be accepted into Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry Pool;

• have a profile registered in the Express Entry system;

• have a Job Seeker Validation Code; and

• meet the criteria of the Skilled Worker stream.

Critical Impact Worker Program

To qualify for this stream there has to be a full time job in either NOC C or D and the wage has to be equivalent to the current wage structure

Eligibility

Have a temporary work permit and have worked in the same position for six months

Provide proof of sufficient financial or settlement supports in the NWT

Have the required work experience for the specific occupation

Be able to conduct basic communications in either English or French

Not be a refugee claimant

Business Stream

The Business Stream is for people who want to start a business in the NWT, purchase an existing business based here, or invest in and operate an existing business based here.

In the NWT you can expect no wait-list for your application, faster processing times, and real people in the NWT helping you through the process from start to finish.

Do you Qualify?

To apply via the Business Stream, there are some criteria you must meet.

• Applicants must be able to commit to one of the following investments:

  • a minimum of $300,000 CDN equity to start or buy a business within Yellowknife; or

  • a minimum of $150,000 CDN equity to start or buy a business outside Yellowknife.

• You must also provide proof that you have a personal net worth of:

  • at least $500,000 CDN to start or buy a business within Yellowknife; or

  • at least $250,000 CDN to start or buy a business outside Yellowknife.

• Once you are formally accepted into the program, you must also provide a good faith deposit of $75,000 CDN to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

• You must demonstrate you own at least 33.3% of the business, unless your personal equity investment is at least $1,000,000 CDN, in which case you may own less.

• You need to achieve a proficiency of level 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.

• You need to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the NWT and its economy and which businesses will bring significant economic benefit to the territory.

• You must be able to make at least one in-person business trip to the NWT to gain knowledge about the territory’s business environment.

• You need to have the necessary experience and education to successfully implement your proposed business plan.

• And of course, you must be ready and willing to settle full-time right here in the NWT!

How to Apply

If you are interested and think you meet the criteria, download the full application guidelines or contact a member of our team to discuss your application.

Here’s what to expect if you decide to apply:

• First, there is a self-assessment where you determine if you meet the minimum eligibility criteria, as listed above.

• That’s followed by a trip to the NWT for an exploratory visit and face-to-face interview.

• After your visit, we conduct a pre-screening of your business concept and evaluate your interview results. If you are successful, we will formally invite you to apply and submit your application and business plan.

• Your application is then reviewed. If it is approved, we come up with a Business Performance Agreement. This is a two-year legal agreement between the applicant and the Government of the Northwest Territories, outlining the obligations you must fulfill in order to receive a nomination certificate.

After that, it’s over to you to develop and run your business! If successful, you are nominated for Canadian Permanent Residency.