NWT Express Entry: Northwest Territories Nomination for Express Entry

Express Entry is the federal online system for three skilled worker programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. Candidates in the pool get a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invites top scorers in regular draws.

Provinces and territories can nominate people from the pool through "enhanced" streams. NWT Express Entry is the Northwest Territories' enhanced category. It sits inside the Employer-Driven Stream of the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP), the NWT's version of the Provincial Nominee Program.

The key point: the NWT does not pick people from the pool on its own. You need a job offer from an NWT employer, and your employer takes part in the process. Read our Northwest Territories guide for the full list of routes.

You must meet both federal and territorial rules. The NWT's full criteria are in the program guidelines on immigratenwt.ca.

Federal side

• An active Express Entry profile, which means you meet the rules of at least one federal program.
• Language test results that meet that program's minimum. See our language tests guide.
• For the Federal Skilled Worker Program, an Educational Credential Assessment for foreign education and, in most cases, proof of settlement funds.

Territorial side

• A job offer from an NWT employer that meets the Employer-Driven Stream's rules. The stream is for employers who want to hire and nominate a foreign national when no Canadian or permanent resident is available.
• The training, experience and education to do the job.
• A profile in the NWT Expression of Interest system for this category.

Express Entry only counts skilled experience (NOC TEER 0 to 3), so this category is for skilled jobs. For entry-level work, see the Entry Level/Semi-Skilled category.

The 2026 intake opened on March 9, 2026, with a new Expression of Interest (EOI) system for all Employer-Driven categories.

The NWT scores EOIs on skills and experience, connections to the NWT, and how likely you are to settle. CIC News reported maximums of 125 points for language, 50 for age, 100 for work experience, 100 for education, 340 for connections to the NWT labor market, and 130 for adaptability. Ties to the NWT carry the most weight. Check the current grid on immigratenwt.ca.

The CRS is scored out of 1,200. A provincial or territorial nomination is worth 600 points. Try our CRS calculator and read how the CRS works.

After the NWT approves your application:

1. The NWT issues the nomination in the Express Entry system.
2. You accept it in your IRCC online account, and your score rises by 600.
3. IRCC invites you in a draw that includes provincial nominees.
4. You submit your PR application within IRCC's deadline. Our ITA to COPR guide explains this stage.

Express Entry applications are usually processed faster than base nominee applications. Check current times with our processing times tool.

Keep your Express Entry profile valid. Profiles expire after 12 months. If yours expires before the nomination, you may need to create a new one and update the NWT.

If you speak both French and English, also look at the NWT Francophone Stream, which is first-come, first-served. French ability can also help in federal French-language Express Entry draws. Yukon has a similar category, Yukon Express Entry. Our Express Entry vs PNP comparison explains the trade-offs.

Draws come a few times a year, and invited candidates must move quickly. Prepare these before you submit your EOI:

• Your Express Entry profile number and job seeker validation code.
• A valid passport and, if you are in Canada, your current permit.
• Language test results that are less than two years old.
• Education documents, plus an ECA report if you use the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
• Reference letters from employers that list your duties, hours, pay and dates.
• Your signed NWT job offer and any license or certification the job needs.
• Proof of your ties to the NWT, such as past work, study or a lease, since connections carry many EOI points.

IRCC asks for more after it invites you, including police certificates and a medical exam. Documents not in English or French need certified translations.

• Be accurate in both profiles. Your Express Entry profile and your NWT EOI must match your documents. Misrepresentation can lead to a refusal and a five-year ban from applying to Canada.
• Keep your status. If you are in Canada, a nomination does not extend your permit. See extending your status and the bridging open work permit.
• Get licensed help if needed. If you have a past refusal or a criminal record, talk to a lawyer or licensed consultant (RCIC). See how to verify one.
• Ignore job-offer sellers. Read our scam protection guide.