NWT Francophone Stream: Nomination for French and English Speakers

French is one of the official languages of the Northwest Territories, and the territory wants more bilingual workers. The Francophone Stream is the NTNP's route for them. The NWT says the stream is designed to increase the pool of bilingual workers in all National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The NTNP is the NWT's version of the Provincial Nominee Program. A nomination lets you apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence (PR).

The NTNP has three streams:

The NWT says the Francophone and Business streams stay first-come, first-served because they receive fewer applicants. For the full picture of the territory, see our Northwest Territories guide.

The NWT lists these core requirements. The program guidelines on immigratenwt.ca have the full criteria.

• You speak both French and English. The stream is for bilingual workers, not French speakers only.
• You meet minimum language levels in both languages and provide test results as proof.
• You have a valid job offer from an NWT employer. The job can be at any TEER level, 0 to 5.
• You are qualified for the job through your training, education and experience.

For French, the standard IRCC-approved tests are TEF Canada and TCF Canada. For English, they include IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General and PTE Core. Check the NTNP guidelines for the tests and minimum levels it accepts. Our language tests guide and CLB converter explain how scores convert to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) and Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) levels.

Your employer must support the nomination. The NWT expects employers in its nominee program to hire foreign nationals only when Canadians or permanent residents are not available.

Yes. The NTNP opened its 2026 intake on March 9, 2026, including the Francophone Stream.

First-come, first-served means the NWT assesses complete applications in the order it receives them, as long as nominations remain. It also means the stream can close without much notice once the year's spaces are used, as happened in 2025. If you qualify, apply as early as you can with a complete file. Missing documents can push your application back.

These dates and figures are current as of September 2026.

• Any job level counts. Few programs accept TEER 4 and 5 jobs. This one does, as long as you are bilingual.
• No EOI competition. You do not need to out-score other candidates in a draw.
• French opens other doors too. Strong French results can qualify you for federal French-language Express Entry draws, and the Francophone Mobility work permit lets many French-speaking workers get a work permit without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for jobs outside Quebec.

A possible path looks like this: come to the NWT on a Francophone Mobility work permit, work for an NWT employer, then apply for nomination through the Francophone Stream. Check that each step fits your situation before you rely on it.

No NWT community is part of the federal Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, so the NTNP is the main territorial route for French speakers here.

If you speak French and English, you may qualify for more than one NTNP route. Here is how they differ, based on the NWT's published criteria as of September 2026:

For an entry-level worker who is bilingual, the difference can be large. The Entry Level/Semi-Skilled category asks for a full year with the same employer and competes in draws. The Francophone Stream does not use draws. Read the full guidelines for each route before you choose, because other conditions apply.

• Testing only one language. You need proof for both French and English.
• Using old results. Language results for Canadian immigration are usually valid for two years from the test date. Check that yours will still be valid when you apply.
• Sending an incomplete file. In a first-come, first-served stream, a missing document can cost you your place.
• Waiting too long. In 2025 the program closed once it had enough applications to fill its cap. Apply early in the year when you can.
• Relying on unlicensed agents. In Canada, only lawyers, Quebec notaries and licensed consultants (RCICs) may charge for immigration advice.

Once nominated, you apply to IRCC for PR. IRCC will ask for a medical exam, police certificates and biometrics. Your spouse or partner and dependent children can be included.

If you are in Canada, keep your permit valid. See extending your status and the bridging open work permit.

If you have a past refusal, a criminal record, or a gap in status, talk to a lawyer or licensed consultant (RCIC) before applying. Our guide shows how to verify a lawyer or consultant. Never pay anyone for a job offer; see our scam protection guide.