Maple News reports that the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) has opened its Employer-Driven and Francophone Streams for candidate consideration as of 12 p.m. on March 9. This marks the program’s transition to an Expression of Interest (EOI) model for its Employer-Driven Stream, a change announced in late February.
The NTNP will conduct its inaugural EOI draw on March 25, inviting up to 65 eligible candidates to submit applications. Officials say several additional EOI draws are expected to take place throughout the year, providing ongoing opportunities for submission.
The NTNP Francophone Stream will continue to accept direct applications on a first-come, first-served basis, maintaining a separate submission pathway from the EOI process.
For 2026, the federal government has allocated 197 nomination spaces to the Northwest Territories, underscoring the territory’s ongoing role as a key entry point for skilled workers and entrepreneurs in Canada’s north.
Within the Employer-Driven Stream, there are three pathways: Entry Level/Semi-Skilled Occupations, Skilled Worker, and NWT Express Entry. To be considered, applicants must hold a qualifying job offer from an NWT-based employer, and crucially, the employer must submit the application on behalf of the candidate.
As this is an employer-driven process, prospective applicants cannot submit on their own behalf; involvement from the local employer is required at the submission stage. Interested readers should prepare the typical documentation associated with provincial nominee processes, including the job offer, a record of qualifications, and any language or credential assessments required by the program. Maple News will continue to monitor developments and provide updates on further EOI draw dates and submission timelines.