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TL;DR
The Northwest Territories has replaced its Employer-Driven Stream intake with a points-based Expression of Interest system that ranks candidates before they can apply.
The first draw on March 25 selected 65 candidates from a pool of 295, with scores ranging from 417 to 597 out of a possible 845.
Two more draws are scheduled for June 25 and September 25, 2026, each capped at 65 invitations.
The territory has 197 total nomination spots for 2026, and the scoring grid rewards NWT-specific ties such as local work experience, trades job offers, and education completed in the territory.
The Government of the Northwest Territories has launched a points-based Expression of Interest system for the Employer-Driven Stream of its Nominee Program, replacing the previous intake model with scheduled draws that rank candidates by score. The territory held its first draw on March 25, issued 65 invitations from a pool of 295 profiles, and has two more draws set for June 25 and September 25.
The NWT has just 197 nomination spots for all of 2026. And under the old system, the stream operated more like an open intake. Now, meeting eligibility requirements is no longer enough to guarantee an invitation. Candidates compete in a ranked pool, and only the highest-scoring profiles receive invitations in each draw.
First draw results
The March 25 draw broke down across three applicant categories: 32 invitations went to Express Entry candidates, 20 to Skilled Workers, and 13 to Entry Level or Semi-Skilled workers. Of the 65 selected profiles, 37 were based in Yellowknife and 28 in communities outside Yellowknife, a geographic split reflecting the territory's goal of distributing newcomers beyond its capital.
The minimum score among selected candidates was 417. The highest was 597. The system's maximum possible score is 845.
How the scoring works
The official points grid assigns points across three categories: Human Capital Factors (up to 375 points), Connections to the NWT Labour Market (up to 340), and Adaptability to NWT (up to 130).
The grid also rewards NWT-specific ties. A full-time job outside Yellowknife is worth 50 points. A trades job offer adds 40. Holding a valid employer-specific work permit for an NWT employer earns 50 points. Education completed in the territory can add 75 or 100 points depending on the credential level, and immediate family in the NWT adds 30.
Language proficiency accounts for up to 125 points based on Canadian Language Benchmark scores. Work experience in the same or similar occupation over the past 10 years can bring up to 100.
How the process works
The employer registers in the online portal and selects the Employer-Driven Stream. The foreign national then completes an Expression of Interest profile. The GNWT scores the profile and ranks it in the pool. Employers of the highest-ranked candidates receive invitations during scheduled draws. Only invited employers can submit a full application.
Profiles remain active for up to 12 months. If any information changes, the government instructs applicants to withdraw and resubmit. The Francophone and Business streams are unaffected and continue on a first-come, first-served basis.
Caitlin Cleveland, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, said the changes came from public engagement in September 2025. "What we heard clearly through engagement is that people want a system that is fair, transparent, and focused on applicants who are building their lives in the Northwest Territories," Cleveland said.
The submission deadline for the June 25 draw is June 22 at 11:59 p.m. MT. The September 25 draw has a cut-off of September 22.
What this means for you
If you're a foreign worker with an NWT job offer, or an employer trying to retain staff through the nominee program, the old approach of submitting when the stream opens no longer applies. You're now competing on score.
Check whether your profile is already in the pool and confirm its expiry date. If it expires before June 25, you'll need to resubmit.
If any details in your profile have changed, withdraw and resubmit. Accuracy affects your ranking.
Candidates with NWT work experience, local education, or family in the territory score higher. If you're building a case for nomination, those factors score higher in the grid.
Employers need to register in the portal before the worker's profile can enter the pool. Coordinate early, not at the deadline.
