Northwest Territories Nominee Program Gains 103 Additional 2026 Nominations
Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) increases 2026 allocation to 300 — extra Employer‑Driven EOI draw and new deadlines explained
Immediate update and why it matters
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) announced on August 7 that the NTNP received 103 additional nomination spaces from the federal government for 2026, raising the territory’s allocation from 197 to 300 nominations. This creates an extra Employer‑Driven Expression of Interest (EOI) draw on August 26, 2026. Employers must submit applications registering their job‑offered candidates by August 24, 2026 to be considered.
How the allocation change affects 2026 draws
The increase restores the territory’s 300‑slot total reached at the end of 2025 and adjusts the 2026 schedule to four EOI draws. Two draws have already taken place (March 25 and June 25). The additional draw is August 26, and the final draw is scheduled for September 25, 2026 (EOI profiles must be in the pool by September 22 to be eligible).
GNWT information sessions
Two Zoom sessions are available for foreign nationals and employers:
– August 18, 2026 — 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (registration deadline: August 17 at 5:00 p.m.)
– August 20, 2026 — 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (registration deadline: August 19 at 12:00 p.m.)
Request the Zoom link by emailing immigration@gov.nt.ca. French interpretation will be provided.
What the NTNP has done so far in 2026
The GNWT published results for the first two draws:
– March 25, 2026 — 65 invitations issued
• NWT Express Entry: 32; Skilled Workers: 20; Entry Level/Semi‑Skilled: 13
• Yellowknife: 37; Outside Yellowknife: 28
• Score range: 417–597
– June 25, 2026 — 79 invitations issued
• NWT Express Entry: 40; Skilled Workers: 20; Entry Level/Semi‑Skilled: 19
• Yellowknife: 52; Outside Yellowknife: 27
• Score range: 336–590
In both draws, NWT Express Entry profiles under the Employer‑Driven Stream received the largest share of invitations.
How the Employer‑Driven EOI system works
Since late February 2026 the Employer‑Driven Stream uses an EOI intake. Candidates submit an EOI profile and receive a score. Invitations to submit full nomination applications are issued periodically to top‑ranked profiles.
Key points:
– EOIs are valid for 12 months; candidates receive notice before withdrawal and may resubmit.
– Scoring is on three factors:
• Skills and experience — up to 375 points (age, education, language, work experience)
• Ties to the NWT — up to 340 points (current employment/status, trades job offer, prior NWT employment)
• Ability to establish in the NWT — up to 130 points (family ties or prior post‑secondary study in the territory)
– Employers must register and create a candidate account in the NTNP portal, select “Employer‑Driven Stream,” and the candidate completes and submits the EOI using the employer’s login.
– NTNP invites employers of top‑ranked candidates to submit full nomination applications; successful nominations lead to a provincial nomination certificate and then a federal permanent residence application.
Who is most affected
– Express Entry candidates tied to NWT job offers (they received the majority of invitations in March and June).
– Skilled workers and entry‑level/semi‑skilled workers with NWT job offers.
– Employers in Yellowknife and elsewhere who register candidates for the August draw.
– Foreign nationals with ties to the NWT (family, previous study, or employment), since tie‑points carry significant weight.
Immediate actions and timeline
– Employers: register and create candidate accounts in the NTNP portal and submit by August 24 to be eligible for the August 26 draw.
– Candidates: confirm EOI profiles are complete, accurate and active; submitting the EOI requires the employer’s login credentials.
– Attend a GNWT Zoom session (email immigration@gov.nt.ca before the session registration deadlines).
– Monitor EOI expiry (12 months) and plan to resubmit if needed for the September draw (EOIs must be in the pool by September 22 to be considered on September 25).
Other NTNP streams
The Francophone Stream and Business Stream remain open on a first‑come, first‑served basis and are not part of the EOI draws.
What to watch next
Monitor NTNP announcements for any procedural updates. Review your EOI information carefully — scoring depends on submitted details — and coordinate with your employer to ensure timely registration and submission.
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