NWT Business Stream: Immigrate by Starting or Buying a Business

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program is the NWT's version of the Provincial Nominee Program. Most of it is for workers with an NWT job offer. The Business Stream is for entrepreneurs.

The NWT says the stream is for foreign nationals who want to:

• start a new business in the NWT,
• buy an existing NWT business, or
• invest in and operate an existing NWT business.

You must take an active part in the business. The stream leads to a nomination, which lets you apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence (PR).

Unlike the Employer-Driven Stream, the Business Stream does not use Expression of Interest draws. The NWT assesses applications first-come, first-served, because fewer people apply. All figures on this page are in Canadian dollars and come from immigratenwt.ca as of September 2026. For more on the territory, see our Northwest Territories guide.

The minimums depend on where the business is.

You must own at least 33.3% of the business, unless your personal equity investment is at least $1,000,000.

The lower amounts outside Yellowknife reflect the NWT's interest in business growth in its smaller communities, such as Hay River, Inuvik and Fort Smith. A smaller market also carries more risk, so research demand carefully.

You will need to prove your net worth and show that your money came from legal sources. Expect to provide bank records, property valuations, tax records and business financial statements. Our proof of funds guide explains the kind of evidence immigration officers look for.

The NWT also asks you to show:

• Language: at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in English, or the equivalent level in French. Accepted tests include IELTS and CELPIP for English and TEF for French, and results must be no older than two years. See our language tests guide.
• Knowledge of the NWT: a reasonable understanding of the territory and its economy.
• Business communication: communication skills suited to running a business.
• Experience and education: enough to carry out your business plan successfully.

You cannot apply if you:

• have an active application with any other provincial or territorial nominee program, or
• are a refugee claimant.

If you have a past refusal, a criminal record, or complex finances, talk to a lawyer or licensed consultant (RCIC) before you apply. Our guide shows how to verify a lawyer or consultant.

The NWT lists seven stages:

1. Self-assessment. Check yourself against the criteria.
2. Exploratory visit and interview. Visit the NWT and attend a face-to-face interview.
3. Pre-screening and invitation. The NWT reviews your case and may formally invite you to apply.
4. Application with a business plan. Submit your full application and detailed plan.
5. Review. The NWT assesses the application.
6. Business Performance Agreement. If approved, you sign a two-year legal agreement that sets out what you must do with the business.
7. Business development and nomination. You build the business under the agreement, and then the NWT nominates you for PR.

The exploratory visit matters. It lets you test your idea in the local market, meet contacts, and show the NWT that your plan is real. Ask the NTNP office about work permit options for the business development period, since that part is handled with IRCC.

Your business plan is the center of the application. It should show the NWT that the business can succeed and that you can run it. Check the NTNP guidelines for required contents. A strong plan usually covers:

• The business: what you will sell, to whom, and where.
• Local market research: demand in your chosen community, competitors, and what you learned on your exploratory visit.
• Investment and financing: how much you will invest, where the money comes from, and what it buys.
• Your role: how you will manage the business day to day and why your experience fits.
• Operations and staffing: premises, suppliers, and any jobs you expect to create for local residents.
• Financial forecasts: realistic revenue, costs and cash flow for at least the agreement period.
• Risks: seasonal demand, remote supply costs, and how you will handle them.

Northern businesses face high shipping costs, short construction seasons and small customer bases. A plan that addresses those realities is more convincing than an optimistic one.

Yes, as of September 2026.

The allocation is shared across all NTNP streams, so business nominations compete for the same spaces as workers. Contact the NTNP office early in your planning.

Federal entrepreneur options are limited in 2026. The Start-Up Visa closed to new applicants at the end of 2025, and the Self-Employed Persons Program is paused. Provincial and territorial business streams are now the main route.

Saskatchewan closed all of its entrepreneur and farm streams on March 27, 2025. Our invest in Canada hub has more.

Be careful of anyone who promises a guaranteed nomination or sells a business "with PR included." Read our scam protection guide.