Northwest Territories Receives 103 Additional Nomination Spaces for 2026

Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) is getting 103 extra nomination spaces from the federal government for 2026, bringing the territory’s annual nominations to 300, up from 197.

The new spaces will enable the Northwest Territories to hold another selection draw for Expressions of Interest (EOI) under its Employer-Driven Stream. The next draw is on August 26, 2026, giving eligible workers another chance to receive an invitation to apply for a territorial nomination and, ultimately, Canadian permanent residence.

Northwest Territories 2026 Nomination Allocation

Category	Details
Province/Territory	Northwest Territories
Program	Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
2026 Initial Allocation	197
Additional Spaces	103
New 2026 Allocation	300
Additional EOI Draw	August 26, 2026
Employer Deadline for Draw	August 24, 2026
Final Scheduled Draw	September 25, 2026
Program Authority	Government of the Northwest Territories

The increase brings the NWT’s 2026 allotment to 300 nominations, the same number of nominations the territory ultimately received in 2025 following federal increases.

An Additional EOI Draw to be held on August 26

The NTNP will conduct an additional EOI draw under the Employer-Driven Stream on 26 August 2026, following the increase in nomination places. Employers sponsoring candidates for consideration in this draw must submit their application before August 24, 2026.

The additional draw offers a further chance for eligible foreign workers with qualified NWT jobs and employment offers to move forward in the provincial nomination process.

Upcoming 2026 NTNP Draws

The Northwest Territories had originally planned for three rounds of EOI selection for 2026. With the additional allocation of nominations the territory will now host four draws per year.

The first two draws have already taken place:

Draw Date	Invitations	NWT Express Entry	Skilled Workers	Entry-Level/Semi-Skilled
March 25, 2026	65	32	20	13
June 25, 2026	79	40	20	19

Scores for the March draw ranged from 417 to 597, while June draw scores ranged from 336 to 590. The next scheduled selection after the August draw will take place on 25 September 2026, with profiles to be submitted to the EOI pool by 22 September.

How NWT Expression of Interest System Works

The Northwest Territories introduced an Expression of Interest system for the Employer-Driven Stream in February 2026 because of the high demand for the program.

Under the system candidates lodge an EOI profile and are scored on a number of criteria. The scoring system takes into account:

Skills & experience – up to 375 points.
Connection to the Northwest Territories – up to 340 points.
Ability to settle in the Northwest Territories – up to 130 points.

These may include age, education, language ability, work experience, current employment, a trade related job offer, previous employment in the NWT, family ties and previous post-secondary education in the territory. Candidates are ranked based on their EOI scores and employers supporting the highest ranked candidates may be invited to lodge full nomination applications.

Who is Eligible under the Employer-Driven Stream?

The Employer-Driven Stream is for foreign nationals who are employed by an eligible NWT employer and who meet the criteria of the applicable pathway.

The process usually starts with a qualifying job offer from a NWT employer.

Next, the employer sets up an account in the NTNP online application portal and enrolls the candidate. Candidate completes and submits EOI profile through employer’s registration.

Candidates may be considered under pathways such as:

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

Different pathways have different eligibility requirements.

Candidate Profiles Are Valid For 12 Months

An EOI profile sent to the NTNP is valid for 12 months.

If a profile is close to expiry and has not been selected, the candidate will be informed of the withdrawal date and can lodge a new EOI profile.

Candidates should therefore ensure that their profiles are valid and that their information is up to date. Changes to critical information may necessitate withdrawal of the current profile and submission of a new profile in accordance with NTNP procedures.

Previous 2026 NWT Selection Results

The first NWT EOI draw of 2026 was held on March 25 and issued 65 invitations.

The breakdown was:

32 NWT Express Entry candidates.
20 Skilled Worker candidates.

13 Entry Level/Semi-Skilled candidates.

A total of 37 invitations went to candidates in Yellowknife, while 28 went to candidates outside Yellowknife. Scores ranged from 417 to 597.

The second draw took place on June 25 and issued 79 invitations:

40 NWT Express Entry candidates.

20 Skilled Worker candidates.

19 Entry Level/Semi-Skilled candidates.

Of those, 52 were selected from Yellowknife and 27 from outside Yellowknife. Scores were between 336 and 590. The results show that the number of invites and the score range can vary greatly from one draw to another.

Francophone and Business Streams Still Diverge

This additional allocation will mainly impact the EOI selection schedule for the Employer-Driven Stream. The NTNP’s Francophone Stream and Business Stream will continue to be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. The NTNP has three broad program areas:

Employer-Driven Stream
Francophone Stream
Business Stream

The Employer-Driven Stream uses the EOI ranking system, while the Francophone and Business streams operate under their respective intake procedures.

Why the Additional Spaces Matter

The extra 103 nomination seats are significant considering that the original allocation for the Northwest Territories was only 197 in 2026. The increase restores the territory to 300 nominations, a level the NWT had attained by the end of 2025 after two increases in federal allocations.

The Government of the Northwest Territories remains committed to advocating for nomination distributions that better mirror the territory’s labor-market standards and unique economic and population needs. The added spaces will give the territory additional capacity to nominate foreign workers that can help fill local labor shortages and support businesses and communities.

Employers & Foreign Nationals Information Sessions

The Government of the Northwest Territories is also hosting virtual information seminars for employers and foreign nationals who are keen to learn more about the NTNP application process. The scheduled sessions are:

Date	Time
August 18, 2026	2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
August 20, 2026	10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

A French interpretation will be available. Interested participants can contact the Northwest Territories Nominee Program for the online meeting information.

What Happens After a Provincial Nomination?

An NTNP nomination does not constitute a grant of Canadian permanent residence. If successful, the candidate is issued a territorial nomination certificate and may apply to the federal government for permanent residence.

The federal government, through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has the responsibility to assess the permanent residence application and determine if the applicant meets federal admissibility requirements. For candidates nominated under an Express Entry-linked stream, the nomination can also give a significant CRS advantage within Express Entry.

What This Means For Would-Be Immigrants

The additional nomination spaces are a new chance for foreign workers who have a valid link to the Northwest Territories through employment. Employers who want their candidates considered for the August 26 draw must move quickly and complete the necessary application steps by August 24.

Candidates should also be aware that a NWT job offer does not necessarily translate into an invitation. Profiles are ranked, and selections are based on the number of accessible spaces, scores, and requirements put in place by the NTNP

What Applicants Should Do Now

Prospective NWT applicants should

Identify which NTNP pathway they may be eligible for.
If required, obtain a qualifying job offer from an eligible NWT employer.
Make sure that the candidate and employer comply with program standards.
Perform the EOI process properly.
Check their EOI score and what they got points for.
Maintain accurate employment, education, and language information.
Please note future selection dates and deadlines.
Maintain their profile validity.
Gather required supporting documentation ahead of time.
Check the latest NTNP requirements prior to submitting an application.

Candidates targeting the August 26 draw should ensure their supporting employer completes the required application by August 24, 2026.

Key Takeaways

The most important points about the Northwest Territories’ latest immigration update are:

The NWT received 103 additional nomination spaces for 2026.
Its total 2026 allocation has increased from 197 to 300 nominations.
The additional allocation has resulted in a new August 26, 2026 EOI draw.
Employers must submit the required application by August 24, 2026 for candidates to be considered in that draw.
The NTNP will conduct four EOI draws in 2026 following the additional allocation.
The first two draws were held on March 25 and June 25.
The final scheduled draw is September 25, 2026.
The Employer-Driven Stream includes NWT Express Entry, Skilled Worker and Entry Level/Semi-Skilled pathways.
EOI profiles are valid for 12 months.
EOI scores are based on skills and experience, ties to the NWT and ability to establish in the territory.
The Francophone and Business streams continue to operate on a first-come, first-served basis.
A territorial nomination is followed by an application for permanent residence to the federal government.

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Disclaimer
This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Immigration programs, processing times, eligibility requirements, and application procedures may change without notice. Readers should consult official Government of Canada resources or seek professional immigration advice before making any immigration decisions.