NWT Nominee Program (NTNP)
Streams, English levels and how to apply
The NTNP has 3 streams: Employer-Driven, Francophone and Business. The worker categories need CLB 4 to CLB 7 in English or French, and the NWT Express Entry category adds 600 CRS points. See which stream fits you.
- Official sources
- Checked October 18, 2026
Planning to apply to the Northwest Territories?
A CELPIP teacher will contact you with a free plan to reach the CLB level your stream needs.
immigrationPage.leadForm.formFinePrint
NWT Nominee Program at a glance
3 streams
The Employer-Driven Stream has 3 categories: Skilled Worker, Entry Level/Semi-Skilled Occupations and NWT Express Entry. The other streams are Francophone and Business.
CLB 4 to CLB 7
Entry Level/Semi-Skilled jobs need CLB 4. Skilled Worker needs CLB 6 for TEER 0–1 jobs, and NWT Express Entry needs CLB 7. Both need CLB 5 for TEER 2–3 jobs.
+600 CRS with Express Entry
The NWT Express Entry category is for candidates in the Express Entry pool. A nomination adds 600 points to your Express Entry profile.
300 nominations in 2026
IRCC first gave the NWT 197 nominations for 2026. In August 2026 it added 103, for a total of 300.
Language tests and EOI points
The NTNP accepts CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for English, and TEF and TCF Canada for French. Results are valid for 2 years, and you must meet the minimum in one test session. In the EOI grid, each of the 4 abilities earns points: CLB 4 12, CLB 5 17, CLB 6 20, CLB 7 22, CLB 8 or higher 25. A second official language at CLB 5 or higher overall adds 25. For the Business stream, the web page lists only IELTS, CELPIP and TEF. CELPIP is accepted in every stream.
NTNP streams and English minimums
The 3 Employer-Driven categories use an Expression of Interest (EOI) and draws. The Francophone and Business streams take applications first-come, first-served.
| Stream | Who it is for | Express Entry | NWT job offer | Minimum English |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employer-Driven: Skilled Worker | Workers in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 jobs with 1 year of full-time experience in the same or a similar job in the last 10 years, and a valid work permit. | No | Required, full-time and permanent | CLB 6 for TEER 0–1, CLB 5 for TEER 2–3 |
| Employer-Driven: NWT Express Entry | Express Entry candidates in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 jobs with a Job Seeker Validation Code, 1 year of full-time experience in the last 10 years, and a valid work permit. | Yes | Required, full-time and permanent | CLB 7 for TEER 0–1, CLB 5 for TEER 2–3 |
| Employer-Driven: Entry Level/Semi-Skilled | Workers in TEER 4 or 5 jobs who worked full-time in the same position with the employer for 12 months, with a valid work permit. | No | Required, full-time and permanent | CLB 4 |
| Francophone | Workers who speak both French and English, in any TEER (0 to 5). | Not stated | Required | CLB 4 in English, plus CLB 5 in French |
| Business | People who will start, buy or invest in an NWT business: at least $200,000 equity in Yellowknife or $100,000 outside it, and a net worth of $500,000 or $250,000. | Not stated | Not required | CLB 4 (or NCLC 4 in French) |
Changes to know
- The Employer-Driven and Francophone streams closed in November 2025, when the 2025 cap was reached. They opened again on March 9, 2026.
- Since 2026, the Employer-Driven Stream uses an Expression of Interest system. The NTNP held 4 draws in 2026, and the next draw is in early 2027.
- Some immigratenwt.ca pages still show the 2025 closure notice. The 2026 news releases say the program is open.
How to apply (Employer-Driven Stream)
Get a job offer and register
You need a full-time, permanent job offer from an NWT employer. The employer registers in the NTNP online portal. Registration is free.
Complete the EOI survey
You complete the Expression of Interest survey. The NTNP emails your score within 5 business days. Your EOI stays valid for 1 year.
Wait for a draw
The NTNP invites the employers of the highest scores. After an invitation, the employer has 30 calendar days to submit the application.
Get nominated
The NTNP aims to assess complete applications within 12 weeks. The employer pays a $230 employer compliance fee in the IRCC Employer Portal. A nomination is valid for 6 months.
Apply for permanent residence
Apply to IRCC within the 6 months. IRCC makes the final decision. In the NWT Express Entry category, you show the nomination in your Express Entry profile and get 600 points.
Official sources
- Immigrate Here (immigratenwt.ca)
- Employer-Driven Stream (immigratenwt.ca)
- Expression of Interest and draw results (immigratenwt.ca)
- Employer-Driven Stream EOI points grid (immigratenwt.ca, PDF)
- Employer-Driven Stream program guidelines (immigratenwt.ca, PDF)
- How provincial nominees immigrate (IRCC)
Checked against immigratenwt.ca and canada.ca on October 18, 2026. Some immigratenwt.ca pages still show the 2025 closure notice, so we followed the 2026 news releases. The Francophone Stream guidelines (November 2025) still list 2025 intake dates. Check the official pages before you apply.
NWT Employer-Driven EOI points calculator
Estimate your Expression of Interest score for the Employer-Driven Stream. The NTNP scores EOIs out of 845 points and invites the highest scores in draws. In the 2026 draws, invited scores ranged from 317 to 597.
Choose an answer for every visible question to see your estimated score.
Based on the NTNP Employer-Driven Stream EOI points grid (immigratenwt.ca, PDF last modified March 10, 2026). Each of the 4 abilities earns its own points. The grid does not say whether to use your credential points or the separate 100-point row for related post-secondary education, so the calculator shows both possible totals as a range. For work experience, pick the last full band you reached. Your official score is the one the NTNP emails you.
Recent NTNP draws
The latest official invitation rounds, scored out of 845. Compare the minimum score with your estimated score above.
| Date | Stream | Targeted at | Minimum score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25, 2026 | Employer-Driven Stream | 26 Express Entry, 21 Skilled Worker, 58 Entry Level/Semi-Skilled | 317 | 105 |
| Aug 26, 2026 | Employer-Driven Stream | 47 Express Entry, 21 Skilled Worker, 36 Entry Level/Semi-Skilled | 346 | 104 |
| Jun 25, 2026 | Employer-Driven Stream | 40 Express Entry, 20 Skilled Worker, 19 Entry Level/Semi-Skilled | 386 | 79 |
| Mar 25, 2026 | Employer-Driven Stream | 32 Express Entry, 20 Skilled Worker, 13 Entry Level/Semi-Skilled | 417 | 65 |
Source: official draw results, checked Oct 19, 2026. See all NTNP draws
Reach your NWT CLB level with CELPIP
The NWT worker categories need CLB 4 to CLB 7. In the EOI grid, CLB 8 in all 4 abilities earns the full 100 points for your first language. CELPIP levels match CLB levels one to one.
- CELPIP 4 = CLB 4
- CELPIP 5 = CLB 5
- CELPIP 6 = CLB 6
- CELPIP 7 = CLB 7
- CELPIP 8 = CLB 8
- CELPIP 9 = CLB 9
- CELPIP 10 = CLB 10
NWT Nominee Program questions
What English level does the NTNP need?
Entry Level/Semi-Skilled jobs need CLB 4 in all four abilities. Skilled Worker needs CLB 6 for TEER 0–1 jobs and CLB 5 for TEER 2–3 jobs. NWT Express Entry needs CLB 7 for TEER 0–1 jobs and CLB 5 for TEER 2–3 jobs. The Francophone Stream needs CLB 4 in English and CLB 5 in French, and the Business Stream needs CLB 4.
Does an NWT nomination add 600 CRS points?
Only through the NWT Express Entry category. You need an Express Entry profile and a Job Seeker Validation Code. When the NTNP approves you, you get 600 points in the Express Entry pool. Skilled Worker and Entry Level/Semi-Skilled are not Express Entry categories.
Do I need a job offer for the NTNP?
Yes for the Employer-Driven and Francophone streams. The job offer must come from an NWT employer. In the Employer-Driven Stream, the employer applies on your behalf. The Business Stream does not need a job offer.
How much does it cost?
For the Employer-Driven Stream, employer registration is free and the guidelines state no NTNP application fee. The employer pays a $230 employer compliance fee in the IRCC Employer Portal. The Business Stream has a $2,800 fee, which is non-refundable.
How are Employer-Driven EOIs ranked?
The NTNP scores each EOI out of 845 points, for human capital (language, age, work experience, education), connections to the NWT labour market and adaptability to the NWT. Each language ability earns its own points. In the 2026 draws, invited scores ranged from 317 to 597.
How many nominations does the NWT have in 2026?
300. IRCC first gave 197 and added 103 in August 2026. The NTNP held 4 EOI draws in 2026, with 65, 79, 104 and 105 invitations.
Photographs: Northern Lights at Yellowknife, Xander, CC BY 2.0 · Canadian Passports - Old and New, Jusfiq, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hand-writing-exam-classroom, Alison wood, CC BY 3.0 · Canadian Passport Stamp Montreal, NagerLB, CC0