The final 2026 Expression of Interest draw for the Northwest Territories Nominee Program’s Employer Driven Stream is scheduled for September 25, 2026. To be considered, applicants must submit their expression of interest profile by September 22, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MT. Approximately 100 profiles will be drawn.

The new Expression of Interest system was launched earlier this year, with the first three draws occurring on March 25, June 25, and August 26, 2026. For these draws, the 248 top-ranking profiles were selected, including:

• 119 for the NWT Express Entry category,
• 61 for the Skilled Worker category, and
• 68 for the Entry Level/Semi-Skilled category.

Profiles not selected remain in the pool for up to 12 months from the date the profile was first submitted and will be considered in future selection draws. When someone’s profile is near the 12-month expiry mark, they will receive a notification that their application will be withdrawn by a set date. They may then submit a new application.

If you need to make any changes to your profile, please email the Northwest Territories Nominee Program at immigration@gov.nt.ca to withdraw your current profile and then submit a new one.

This new Expression of Interest application process strengthens fairness and transparency within the Employer-Driven Stream. It allows the Government of the Northwest Territories to manage the number of applications and demand for the program, while choosing people who best match local job needs and who are likely to stay and build a life in NWT communities.  Interest in the program continues to exceed available nomination spaces, meaning there are more applicants than available spots in the program.

Applications to the Expression of Interest intake system are scored on the following key factors:

• Your skills and experience, including your language ability, age, work experience and education;
• Your connections to the Northwest Territories, such as your current job or employment status, a job offer in the trades, or past work experience in the NWT; and
• How likely you are to settle in the Northwest Territories (for example, if you studied here or if you have family living here).

The program requirements (mandatory eligibility criteria) of the Employer-Driven Stream have not changed. Both employers and applicants must meet all requirements before submitting an Expression of Interest profile.

Find the NWT Nominee Program Employer-Driven Stream guidelines here.

Find information on the way profiles are scored through the Employer-Driven Stream points grid here.

Profiles will be ranked by score. Employers of the highest-ranking candidates will be invited through scheduled draws to submit an application.

• The 2027 selection rounds will be confirmed at a later date.
• To be considered for this selection round, profiles must be submitted by September 22, 2026. Approximately 100 profiles will be drawn.
• 65 applicants were invited after the March 25 draw, 79 after the June 25 one, and 104 after the August 26 draw.
• Only invited employers can submit a full application.
• Applications will be assessed in the order they are received.

This system keeps the program open all year while managing the number of applications effectively.

Who Can Apply?
To immigrate through the Northwest Territories Nominee Program, you must:

• Have a valid, full-time, permanent job offer from an NWT employer; or
• Plan to open, buy, or invest in a business in the NWT.

Quick facts:

• The Northwest Territories’ Nominee Program is an economic immigration program designed to strengthen the Northwest Territories’ economy.
• Immigration is a shared responsibility between the federal and territorial governments. The Government of Canada determines who is admitted to Canada, issues immigration visas, and determines immigration classes and annual levels, including the nomination allocation for the NWT Nomination Program. The GNWT has the responsibility to recruit, assess and nominate territorial nominees and fill the allocation determined by the federal government.
• On the GNWT website, there is a breakdown of how many profiles were drawn, how many were invited, the categories of selected profiles, the location in NWT of selected profiles, and the range of Expression of Interest scores for each of the three 2026 draws.
• The Northwest Territories Nominee Program includes Employer-Driven, Francophone, and Business streams
  • Francophone and Business streams accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis because there are fewer applicants.
• For 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) allocated a total of 300 Nominee Program nominations to the NWT.

For more information:

• General information about Nominee Program
• All program guidelines, document checklists, forms, and resources
• Employer-Driven Stream Points Grid
• Expression of Interest webpage

For media requests, please contact:

Agata Gutkowska
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Department of Education, Culture and Employment
Government of the Northwest Territories
Email: ecepublicaffairs@gov.nt.ca