Foreign nationals wishing to relocate to Northwest Territories may apply under the Northwest Territories Program for provincial nomination.
The Northwest Territories and Nanvut Provincial Nominee Programs comprised of five streams:
- Express Entry Stream;
- Skilled Worker;
- Critical Impact Worker;
- Entrepreneur Business;
- Self-Employed Business;
Northwest Territories Express Entry Stream
The Northwest Territories’ Express Entry stream is for foreign nationals who have been accepted in The Northwest Territories’ Express Entry stream is for foreign nationals who have been accepted into the Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Express Entry Pool. Only candidates who have been accepted into the Express Entry Pool and have been issued an Express Entry Profile Number and a Job Seeker Validation Code are eligible for this stream.
Candidates for the Northwest Territories’ Express Entry stream must first meet the following criteria:
- Criteria for the Northwest Territories’ Nominee ProgramSkilled Worker Stream;
- Criteria for Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Express Entry Pool;
- Have expressed interest in immigrating to the Northwest Territories;
Once the above eligibility criteria have been met, an Employer can submit an application to the Northwest Territories’ Express Entry System.
Northwest Territories Skilled Worker Program
In order to qualify under this program, the following criteria must be satisfied by applicant:
Employer Eligibility:
- Have a job vacancy;
- Identify a potential nominee;
- Be a registered business, industry association or a local, municipal, First Nation or Territorial government in the NWT that has been registered and operational for a minimum of 1 year;
- Be in good standing with the Worker’s Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) and the NWT Employment Standards Office;
- Provide proof of local and national recruitment efforts and submit a summary of results;
- Obtain a positive HRSDC Service Canada Labour Market Opinion.
Employment Eligibility:
- Be for a permanent full time position (minimum 30 hours per week);
- Be in an occupation that falls into high skill level occupation;
- Not conflict with existing collective bargaining agreements;
- Comply with the NWT Employment Standards Act;
- Provide a comparable industry rate of pay.
Nominee Eligibility:
- Have the required certification or accreditation for the specific trade or occupation;
- If applicable, meet territorial certification, licensing or registration requirements of the job;
- Have the required work experience for the specific occupation;
- Provide proof of sufficient financial or settlement supports in the NWT;
- Be able to communicate in either English or French;
- Not be a refugee claimant.
Northwest Territories Critical Impact Worker Program
In order to qualify under this program, the following criteria must be satisfied by applicants:
Employer Eligibility:
- Have a job vacancy;
- Identify a potential nominee;
- Be a registered business, industry association or a local, municipal, First Nation or Territorial government in the NWT that has been registered and operational for a minimum of six months;
- Be in good standing with the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission;
- Provide proof of local and national recruitment efforts and submit a summary of results;
- Obtain a positive HRSDC Service Canada Labour Market Opinion.
Employment Eligibility:
- Be for a permanent full time position (minimum 30 hours per week);
- Be in an occupation that falls into NOC skill levels C or D;
- Provide a comparable industry rate of pay;
- Be in good standing with the Worker’s Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) and the NWT Employment Standards Office.
Nominee Eligibility:
- Have a temporary work permit and have worked in the same position for six months;
- Provide proof of sufficient financial or settlement supports in the NWT;
- Have the required work experience for the specific occupation;
- Be able to conduct basic communications in either English or French;
- Not be a refugee claimant.
Northwest Territories Self-Employed Business Program
In order to qualify under this program, applicants must follow:
- Have a profession that is identified as a professional skill shortage;
- Satisfy any certification or accreditation requirements for the particular profession or occupation;
- For regulated occupations, the nominee must meet all NWT regulatory authority requirements; if no regulatory authority exists within the NWT, then the Canadian licensing body will be consulted;
- Demonstrate reasonable communication skills appropriate to the NWT;
- Demonstrate reasonable knowledge and understanding of the NWT and its economy;
- Demonstrate access to sufficient financial resources to start and operate the professional practice and to support themselves and any dependents for a period of six months;
- Submit a detailed business plan for the business or practice.
Northwest Territories Entrepreneur Business Program
In order to qualify under this program, the applicant must demonstrate:
- Invest:
- A minimum of $300,000 CDN equity into starting or buying a business within the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT, or
- A minimum of $150,000 CDN equity into starting or buying a business outside of the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT.
- Have a personal net worth of:
- At least $500,000 CDN if starting or buying a business within the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT,or
- At least $250,000 CDN if starting or buying a business outside the corporate boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT.
- Have an additional $75,000 kept in a trust account and released upon completion of a Performance Agreement based on a business proposal;
- Demonstrate a reasonable knowledge and understanding of the NWT and its economy;
- Be able to demonstrate reasonable communication skills appropriate to the NWT;
- Have the necessary experience and education to successfully implement the business plan.
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