Northwest Territories PNP Eligibility

Northwest Territories Provincial Nominee Program

The Northwest Territories Provincial Nomination Program (NTPNP) is a way to immigrate to Canada and become a Canadian Permanent Resident.

The Northwest Territories Provincial Nominee Program (NTNP) is a well-organized group of immigration pathway programs that provides an opportunity for all foreign nationals to apply for and become a Canadian Permanent Resident.

The NTNP focuses on the workers belonging to the skilled, semi-skilled, as well as low-skilled jobs via employer-driven streams. The employer-driven stream is a counterpart of the business-driven stream.

The NTNP runs various immigration streams that are categorized as under:

Northwest Territories Employer Driven
Northwest Territories Business Driven

Northwest Territories Employer Driven Stream

Employer driven stream – Should have a job offer from an employer in NWT.

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, the applicant first needs a job offer from an NWT employer. No expressions of interest from people without a job offer are accepted, and therefore no invitations to apply are issued.

Work permits are not issued usually for this stream separately, if an applicant has a Canadian work permit during the application process is considered. An outside Canada applicant is typically not eligible for nomination. In exceptional circumstances and depending on the employer’s business case and operational circumstances the file can be assessed for highly skilled occupations. Employers must consult with NWT regarding exceptional circumstances before submitting an application.

There are three programs under this stream:

Skilled Worker
Entry-level/Semi-skilled occupations
NWT Express Entry

1. Skilled Worker

The Skilled Worker category assists employers to 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, applicants 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.

2. 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, the applicant must 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 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.

3. NWT Express Entry

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

Express Entry helps employers to secure skilled employees by speedy applications for permanent residency. When approved the applicant will receive 600 points within the Express Entry pool.

To be eligible for NWT Express Entry, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

Must be accepted into Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry Pool;
Should have a profile registered in the Express Entry system;
Must have a Job Seeker Validation Code; and
Should meet the criteria of the Skilled Worker stream.

For further information about all the above-mentioned streams mandatory eligibility criteria please refer to the program guidelines on the official website of the province.

Northwest Territories Business Driven Stream

Business Stream – A person should be ready to invest, purchase and open a business in NWT.

To know the eligibility to apply:

Applicant applying should invest

A minimum of $300,000 CDN equity* into starting or buying a business within the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; or
A minimum of $150,000 CDN equity* into starting or buying a business outside of the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

Must demonstrate ownership of at least 33.3% of the business, unless personal equity investment is at least $1,000,000 CDN, in which case the person may own less.
Must also provide proof for personal net worth of:

a. At least $500,000 CDN if starting or buying a business within the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories; or
b. At least $250,000 CDN if starting or buying a business outside the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.

The level of proficiency must be at least CLB 4 in English or equivalent level against the Niveaux de competence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC) in French

Please note that the Nominee Program will only accept test results from the IELTS or CELPIP if submitting results in English, and the TEF if submitting results in French. Test results must be no older than two (2) years at the time of application.

Demonstration of reasonable knowledge and understanding of Northwest Territories and its economy. Communication skills to communicate for operating business.
Education and experience to run a business and implement a business plan.
Must have sufficient financial resources to start and operate a business and should be capable to support themselves along with dependents.
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.

To apply for the business stream the person must download the application guideline and contact a team member of the NWT team to discuss the application.

Application processing steps:

First, there is a self-assessment where it is determined about minimum eligibility criteria.
An exploratory visit takes place along with a one-on-one interview that is held during the visit.
After the visit, a pre-screening of the business concept and evaluation of interview results is conducted. A formal invitation to apply is sent to submit the application and business plan if the initial step goes through.
The application is then reviewed. If it is approved, a Business Performance Agreement is done. This is a two-year legal agreement between the applicant and the Government of the Northwest Territories; to fulfill all conditions in order to receive a nomination certificate.

After that, developing the business and running it successfully leads to a nomination for Canadian Permanent Residency.

The application and assessment process for the NTNP is as follows:

Self-assessment and initial investigations.
Further investigations and face-to-face interview(s); (Initial Registration and Pre-Interview Submissions on an online NTNP account)
Upon invitation to apply:
Formal application; (Formal Application Submission on an online NTNP account)
Application review, If approved:
Approval and the Business Performance Agreement.
Developing the business (Arrival Report and Business Performance Agreement Interim Report Submissions on an online NTNP account); and
Nomination (Final Report Submission on an online NTNP account).

Atlantic Pilot Project (Atlantic Immigration Pilot - AIP)

Northwest Territories province has participated in the Atlantic Pilot Project (Atlantic Immigration Pilot – AIP). The Atlantic Pilot Project is designed to focus on the economic growth of Canada. The Atlantic Pilot Project is a result of the federal government partnering with Atlantic provinces in Canada. The Atlantic Pilot Project offers immigration to all the newcomers or beginners who already have a valid job offer from an eligible employer in the Canadian Atlantic region.

ICCRC & RCIC Authorized Practitioner

+1-416-745-2466

Northwest Territories