Canada Raises Northwest Territories PR Quota to Record 350

Canada has approved 50 additional immigration nomination spaces for the Northwest Territories, raising its 2026 allocation to a record 350. The increase gives more foreign workers an opportunity to pursue permanent residence through the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP).

The territorial government announced the decision on November 10, 2026, confirming that another immigration selection round will take place later this month.

New Immigration Draw Scheduled for November 18

Following the federal government's approval, the NTNP will conduct an additional Expression of Interest (EOI) draw under its Employer-Driven Stream on November 18, 2026.

Candidates seeking consideration must submit their EOI profiles by 11:59 p.m. Northwest Territories Time on November 17, 2026.

The program will rank candidates according to their scores, with employers of the highest-ranking applicants receiving invitations to submit nomination applications.

Officials have advised selected applicants to prepare their documents in advance and be ready to submit completed applications within one week of receiving invitations.

The upcoming selection round will be the territory's fifth Employer-Driven Stream draw of 2026.

Immigration Allocation Reaches Historic High

The Northwest Territories initially received 197 nomination spaces for 2026.

Following discussions with federal immigration authorities, the allocation increased by 103 spaces in August, bringing the total to 300.

The latest addition of 50 spaces raises the annual allocation to 350, exceeding the territory's 2025 allocation of 300.

The expansion reflects the government's efforts to address local workforce shortages and provide employers with greater access to skilled international workers.

How Candidates Can Qualify for the Program

The NTNP introduced its points-based Expression of Interest system in February 2026 to manage growing demand.

Candidates receive scores across three assessment categories:

• Skills and experience (375 points): Age, education, language ability and employment experience.
• Connections to the territory (340 points): Current employment, relevant job offers and previous local work experience.
• Ability to settle (130 points): Family connections and previous post-secondary education in the territory.

Applicants generally need a qualifying job offer from an eligible Northwest Territories employer.

Employers must create an account through the NTNP online portal before candidates can submit their profiles.

The program then selects higher-ranking candidates during scheduled immigration draws.

Previous Draws Invited 353 Candidates

Four Employer-Driven Stream draws have taken place in 2026, issuing 353 invitations.

The March 25 draw invited 65 candidates, followed by 79 invitations on June 25 and 104 on August 26.

The September 25 draw issued another 105 invitations, with candidate scores ranging from 317 to 492.

The territory has not disclosed its total number of nominations issued during 2026.

What Happens Next?

The NTNP's Francophone and Business streams will continue accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis.

Officials confirmed that immigration draws for 2027 will be announced once the federal government determines the territory's next nomination allocation.

The additional spaces offer qualified workers another opportunity to pursue permanent residence while helping Northwest Territories employers meet their staffing needs.