On March 9, the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) announced the opening of its Employer-Driven and Francophone Streams for candidate consideration. This move follows the transition to an Expression of Interest (EOI) model for the Employer-Driven Stream in late February. The NTNP is set to conduct its first EOI draw on March 25, inviting up to 65 eligible candidates to apply. While future draw dates are yet to be disclosed, the Government of the Northwest Territories (NWT) plans to hold multiple Expression of Interest draws throughout the year. In 2026, the NWT has been allocated 197 nomination spaces by the federal government.

How to Qualify for an EOI Draw

To be eligible for consideration in the Employer-Driven Stream, candidates must have a job offer from an NWT-based employer. Since this stream is employer-driven, individuals cannot apply independently; their employer must submit the application on their behalf. The application process involves the following steps after receiving a qualifying job offer:

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

Employers need to register and create an online account in the NTNP’s online application portal under the ‘Employer-Driven Stream.’ Candidates must complete an EOI survey, earning points based on factors such as language proficiency, age, work experience, education level, connections to the NWT labor market, employment duration in the NWT, possession of a trades job offer, work permit status, and employment in smaller NWT communities.