The Northwest Territories are governed and organized in much the same manner as any Canadian province. It lies in northern Canada, east of the Yukon, southwest of Nunavut, and north of British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

Its capital is the city of Yellowknife. The Northwest Territories Bureau of Statistics (NWTBS) estimated that the area is approximately 1,140,835 square kilometers with a population of 45,602, as of recent statistics in 2022.

The Northwest Territories boasts the highest median household income in Canada, and its capital, Yellowknife, has the highest rate of employment in the country.

The Northwest Territories is where newcomers can expect a friendly welcome. It also facilitates the continuing practice of immigrant traditions and practices inherited from the motherland. As a consequence, there are many thriving cultural communities there.

The large expanse of natural resources and low population provide the Northwest Territories with the highest GDP per capita among Canadian provinces. The territory has enormous geological resources concerning diamonds, gold, and natural gas.

Make Your Move to Canada

For Immigrants With a Job Offer in the Northwest Territories

 

A job offer is one of the most critical acquisitions of any prospective immigrant to Canada. It greatly increases your chances of obtaining permanent residency in Canada since immigrants who work in the country are normally obligated to do so over a significant period and therefore are encouraged to settle in the nation more permanently.

The Northwest provinces are no different than other provinces in recognizing the importance of attracting and retaining skilled workers who can contribute economically to the country. In the pursuit of this goal, businesses in the Northwest Territories can offer job opportunities to eligible foreign nationals who can fulfill job posts in high-demand occupations.

Should you be fortunate enough to receive one of these job offers, you can use the Northwest PNP streams to immigrate to the province.

The Employer-Driven Stream

The Northwest Territories Provincial Nominee Program's (NWT PNP) Employer-driven stream is created to assist businesses in the Northwest Territories in filling job posts they cannot find eligible Canadian citizens or permanent residents for. The program empowers employers to source and nominate foreign workers for permanent residency in the province.

To be eligible for the Employer-driven stream, the business must have a job offer valid for a foreign worker in a skilled or semi-skilled position. The job offer must meet these requirements:

• Have a full-time permanent position (Minimum 30 hours per week).
• Have an occupation classified into a high-skill level category
• The offer must not conflict with any prior existing collective bargaining agreements
• Comply with NWT Employment Standards Act
• Have a rate of pay that is comparable and meets industry standards

Skilled Workers Program

The Skilled Workers category was designed to assist employers in filling positions that need the worker to have formal education and specialized training. Candidates need a job offer in an occupation that can be classified and placed into a high-skill level category.

As an employee, you must:

• Have the required qualifications for the occupation or trade
• Meet the job's territorial certification, registration requirements, or licensing.
• Have work experience in your chosen occupation.
• You must provide evidence of sufficient financial or settlement funds to support yourself and your family in the NWT.
• Communicate in French or English
• Not claim a refugee claimant

Entry Level/Semi-Skilled Occupations

Suppose an employer in NWT cannot fill an entry-level or semi-skilled position in Canada. In that case, they can seek an eligible foreign national with six months of work experience. To do so, they must:

• Have a temporary work permit and work in the same position for the preceding six months of the year
• Provide evidence of sufficient financial or settlement funds to support yourself and your family in the NWT
• Have the requisite work experience in the specific occupation
• Conduct fundamental communication in French or English
• Not claim a refugee claimant

NWT Express Entry

The Northwest Territories Express Entry stream is for foreign nationals placed into Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) Express Entry Pool. Only Applicants placed into this Express Entry Pool and provided with an Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Validation Code can apply for this stream. As an applicant, you must:

• Satisfy all the Skilled Worker Stream requirements outlined in the Northwest Territories PNP.
• Be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, and Canadian Experience Class Express Entry programs.
• Meet the criteria required for entry into the Express Entry Pool
• Express an interest in moving to and settling in the Northwest Territories
• Provide the Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Validation Code granted by the IRCC

How to Apply

To apply for these programs, you can do so by following the steps outlined below:

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

The first crucial step of your Canada Express Entry application process is ensuring eligibility for your chosen program based on the following information:

• Work Experience
• Language Ability
• Tertiary Education
• Criminal Record
• Medical Certification
• Travel Documents

Step 2: Calculate Your CRS Score

Your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score gives you a clear picture of how you'll do in the upcoming draws for Express Entry. You can do this by using the CRS Calculator here on our site.

Step 3: Gather Your Documents

You must certify and gather all the required documentation to support and verify your application. The s documents include the following:

• Your Passport
• National Occupational Classification Code of your job
• An Education Credential Assessment report (ECA) if you obtained your educational qualifications from a foreign institution
• CLB-approved test results
• Proof of sufficient settlement funds
• Police certificates
• Results of your medical exams from a Canadian government-approved health professional
• Job letters from ex-employers
• A Canadian job offer if you have one
• A Provincial Nomination If you have one

Step 4: Create Your Express Entry Profile

Create your Express Entry profile on the Canadian government website.

Step 5: Get an ITA, Pay Your Fees, and Apply

You must look at every Express Entry draw to observe the minimum requirements and see whether you will get your Invitation To Apply (ITA). If you received your ITA, you have 60 to submit corroborating documentation and pay your processing fees.

Do You Qualify?

For Immigrants who want to start a Business in the Northwest Territories

The Northwest territorial government designed the following streams to source and retained talented and highly skilled businesspeople to build its nascent, primary industry-dominant economy.

Business Stream

The Business Stream was created to attract and retain international business experts. If you fit this description, we recommend using this program to apply to immigrate. To apply for this stream, applicants must:

• Invest at least CAD 300,000 in starting or investing in an existing business in the community of Yellowknife or CAD 150,000 outside of the community
• Show proof that you have a net worth of a minimum of CAD 500,000 if you plan to open a business in Yellowknife or $250,000 outside of the community
• Provide a deposit in good faith of $75,000 to the Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment, if they are selected;
• Get a minimum score of level 4 for the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)
• Show a knowledge of the NWT and its economy
• Make at least one exploratory visit to the Northwest Territories to learn about the region's business environment
• Submit a business plan that a third-party professional should validate
• Plan to settle full-time in the Northwest Territories

How to Apply

To apply for the Northwest Territories Business, you must:

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

For your application to be eligible for processing, you must:

• Have a Letter of Support from a designated organization
• Meet the language requirements of Canada
• Meet the financial requirements about settlement funds, i.e., support yourself and your family.

Step 2: Get Your Documents Together

The required documents to complete your application include the requested information, forms, medical and police clearance documents, etc.

Step 3: Complete Your Application Form

You must log in or create a Permanent Residence online application portal account. After doing so, fill out the forms for the application.

Step 4: Pay Your Fees

The right of permanent residence fee ($515)must be paid immediately to avoid delays. You must pay this before you get permanent residency.

Step 5: Submit your Application

Once your application is complete, submit it online for processing with all questions answered, signatures signed, processing fee receipt intact, and supporting documents uploaded.

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For Immigrants That Can Speak French

French-speaking immigrants have their own special designated set of immigration visa programs. The following are French speakers' most commonly used programs to immigrate to Canada.

The Francophone Stream

This stream is a permanent residency program for eligible French-speaking individuals who received a full-time job offer that is valid and from an employer in the Northwest Territories (NWT).

The program is part of the NTNP and was created to attract and retain French-speaking individuals to the Northwest Territories. To be eligible to apply, you must

• Have the required certification or accreditation for your chosen trade or occupation
• Have a valid, full-time permanent job offer as classified by the NOC.
• Have qualifications and work experience required in your chosen trade or occupation
• Have a valid work permit.
• Provide proof of sufficient funds to support yourself and your family in the Northwest Territories.
• Not claim refugee status
• Get a CLB level of 4 in English and 5 in French

The Francophone Stream presents an excellent opportunity for French-speaking individuals who want to live and work in the province and contribute to the region's development.

The program gives eligible applicants a path to permanent residency in Canada and allows them to settle and be a member of the Francophone community in the territory.

Find Your Pathway

For Refugees

Canada offers a haven to refugees. If you're a refugee and desire to make the cold and rustic landscapes of the Northwest territories your home, you can use the following Northwest PNP stream catered to refugees.

Learn more about getting refugee status in Canada here!

The Northwest Territories Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (NTEMP)

The NTEMP was created to assist eligible immigrant workers and international graduates residing in the Northwest Territories (NWT) to obtain permanent residency and contribute to the growth and development of the region.

The NTEMP began in 2018 and will be in use until 2024. The program gives eligible applicants a path to permanent residency through a two-year open work permit. The permit enables them to work for any employer that offers them a job in the NWT. After six months of work experience, applicants can apply for permanent residency using the program.

To be eligible for this stream, applicants must:

• Please provide proof of their eligibility
• Be admissible into Canada
• Be eligible for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP), The Rural and Northern Immigration Program (RNIP), and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).

Life in the Northwest Territories: Benefits, Sights, and Wonders

The Northwest Territories have some of the most unique vistas in Canada. Life in these lands is very down-to-earth and rustic, offering a pace of life that is very genial to a healthy and fulfilled lifestyle. These are some of the benefits to look forward to in the Northwest Territories:

Spectacular Natural Beauty

The territories are home to many of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world. It is filled with vast boreal forests, crystal clear and pristine lakes and rivers, and the rugged splendor of the Canadian Shield.

Friendly People

The Northwest Territories are famous for its people's warmth, generosity, and hospitality. Newcomers can always feel welcome and at home in the region.

Diverse Culture

The region is home to a diverse and rich indigenous culture that has many indigenous languages spoken in the region.

Outdoor Activities

The Northwest Territories is fantastic for people who love the great outdoors. You can hike, fish, go canoeing, ski, snowboard, and more.

Affordable Living

Compared to other regions in Canada, living in the Northwest Territories is very affordable due to the low cost of living. Housing, food, and most essential services and products are affordable.

Career Opportunities

With a growing economy, the Northwest Territories provide many mining, tourism, and government administration work opportunities. Here is a list of in-demand occupations in the province.

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FAQs

What are the Best Places to Live in the Northwest Territories?

The Northwest Territories has some of the most scenic and liveable places in Canada, which include:

• Yellowknife
• Fort Smith
• Hay River
• Inuvik

What Jobs Can I Get in the Northwest Territories?

Because the region is predominantly rural, most job opportunities are in the primary sector in the farming, fishing, and mining industries.