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Northwest Territories Nominee Program reopens for 2025 intake

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) will officially reopen its application intake for 2025 on February 27, 2025. This marks an important opportunity for foreign nationals who wish to immigrate to Canada through this provincial program. The application window will be open from 9 AM Mountain Time on February 27 until 5 PM Mountain Time on March 6.

The NTNP aims to process a total of 150 applications for 2025. This includes 90 new applications submitted during the 2025 intake period and 60 applications carried over from 2024. Due to high demand, if more applications are received than the program can accommodate, selections will be made through a random draw, and successful applicants will be notified by email.

The selection process will also prioritize individuals with expiring work permits to ensure those already contributing to the Northwest Territories (NWT) economy can maintain their legal status and continue working.

This year, the NTNP has also introduced new allocation rules to better balance employer needs and address labor market challenges in the territory. These adjustments aim to support businesses, recognize workers who have committed significant time to NWT employment, and ensure that the program remains responsive to economic demands.

What is the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)

The NTNP is a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) designed to help skilled workers, semi-skilled workers, and entrepreneurs gain permanent residency in Canada while addressing local labor shortages. Similar to other PNPs across Canada, the NTNP operates as a partnership between the Northwest Territories government and the federal immigration department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

This program is particularly valuable for foreign workers who already have job offers in the territory, as it provides a pathway to permanent residency. The NTNP also supports employers by allowing them to hire and nominate foreign workers to fill critical job vacancies when local talent is unavailable.

For 2025, the NTNP has allocated slots across different immigration streams, with key eligibility changes that impact prospective applicants.

1. Employer-Driven Stream

The Employer-Driven Stream is one of the primary immigration pathways under the NTNP. This stream allows employers in the Northwest Territories to hire and nominate foreign workers for permanent residence. Unlike some other immigration programs, applicants cannot apply to this stream independently—their employer must submit the application on their behalf.

This stream consists of three categories:

• Entry Level / Semi-Skilled Occupations
• Skilled Worker
• NWT Express Entry

Each category has a specific allocation for 2025, along with highlighted eligibility criteria:

Entry-level / Semi-Skilled Occupations -

• Must have an expiring work permit in 2025
• Must have been working full-time in the NWT for at least 12 months before applying

Skilled Worker -

• Must have a full-time and permanent job offer with an NWT employer
• Must have 12 months of work experience in the nominating occupation and an expiring work permit in 2025 OR
• Must have been working full-time in the NWT for at least 18 months before applying

Additionally, five applications under the Entry Level / Semi-Skilled Occupations category and five more under the Skilled Worker and NWT Express Entry categories will be reserved for NWT employers in communities outside Yellowknife. These applications must meet the same eligibility criteria outlined above.

Francophone stream and employer-driven francophone allocations

To support French-speaking immigration, the NTNP has set aside 10 additional applications under the Employer-Driven and Francophone streams. These applications will be reserved exclusively for Francophone candidates.

The Francophone Stream is designed for bilingual foreign nationals who have a qualifying job offer from an employer in the Northwest Territories. Candidates can be employed in any occupation classified under the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system, regardless of its skill level, as long as they meet the program’s eligibility requirements.

This measure helps ensure equal opportunity for businesses of all sizes while supporting a balanced approach to economic immigration.

Why has the NTNP made these changes?

The adjustments to the NTNP’s application intake process are largely driven by a 50% reduction in the program’s nomination allocation for 2025. This reduction is part of a broader trend affecting all Canadian provinces and territories this year.

In response to concerns about housing availability, affordability, and infrastructure capacity, IRCC announced in late 2024 that it would cut Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) admissions targets in half for 2025. As a result, the national PNP admissions allocation dropped from 110,000 in 2024 to just 55,000 in 2025.

This change has had a significant impact on immigration pathways across Canada, with several provinces and territories—including New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Yukon—making adjustments to their application intake processes.

The reduced PNP quotas have also led to higher demand for limited spots in immigration programs, creating a more competitive landscape for applicants. In 2024, the NTNP reached its maximum immigrant nomination allocation by July, marking the first time in history that the program had been fully subscribed so early in the year.

What does this mean for applicants?

For individuals hoping to immigrate to Canada through the NTNP in 2025, the competition for spots will be more intense than in previous years. Here are a few key takeaways:

• Apply as soon as the intake period opens on February 27, as the NTNP may receive more applications than it can process.
• Ensure your work permit is still valid when applying, as priority will be given to those with expiring work permits.
• Consider applying under the Francophone stream if you are bilingual, as there are reserved spots specifically for French-speaking applicants.
• Stay informed about employer limitations, as businesses will only be able to submit a restricted number of applications based on their workforce size.

Despite the reduced allocations, the NTNP remains a valuable pathway for foreign workers seeking permanent residence in Canada. By aligning its intake process with regional labor needs and economic priorities, the program continues to support both employers and skilled workers looking to build a future in the Northwest Territories.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, at +1 778 239 7861 or +1 647 453 7660 with RCIC # R413239, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need.