Northwest Territories Restores 2024 Nomination Levels for Immigration Program

The Northwest Territories (NWT) has announced that its 2025 allocation for the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) has been increased to 300 nominations, returning to the same level as in 2024. This marks a significant rise from the earlier allocation of 197 and is expected to allow over 100 additional candidates to apply for provincial nomination this year.

The announcement was made on October 17, 2025, by Caitlin Cleveland, NWT’s Minister of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE). She confirmed that preparations are underway to open the next intake period for the NTNP soon.

“The restoration of our full allocation means that employers will once again have access to the skilled workers they need to keep their business running and expand,” said Minister Cleveland.

Background: A Return to Full Nomination Levels

Earlier in 2025, the federal government reduced PNP nomination allocations by 50% as part of a broader effort to manage Canada’s immigration levels and ease pressure on housing and social services.

In response, the NWT and other provinces advocated for higher nomination limits, highlighting the urgent need for workers to fill labour gaps.

In September 2025, Ottawa granted the NWT an additional 47 nominations, bringing the total to 197. These extra nominations were allocated to eligible applicants from the earlier 2025 intake who had not been selected.

The latest announcement restores the territory’s allocation back to 300, the same level as 2024 — making NWT the only jurisdiction in Canada to have its full PNP allocation reinstated so far.

What Is the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)?

The NTNP is the Northwest Territories’ Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), designed to attract and retain skilled workers, Francophone talent, and entrepreneurs who can contribute to the region’s economic growth.

It includes the following immigration streams:

• Employer-Driven Stream, which has two categories:
• Entry-Level/Semi-Skilled Occupation
• Skilled Worker Category
• NWT Express Entry Category
• Francophone Stream
• Business Stream
  
  

To apply under the Employer-Driven or Francophone Stream, applicants must have a valid job offer from an NWT employer.
In the Employer-Driven Stream, the employer submits the nomination application on behalf of the candidate, while the Francophone and Business Streams allow applicants to apply directly.

Each stream has specific eligibility requirements for both the employer and the candidate, including job offer validity, work experience, and settlement intent.

Application Intake Periods in 2025

As of now, two NTNP intake periods have taken place in 2025:

• February 27 to March 6, 2025
• July 2 to July 9, 2025
  
  

With the restored allocation, a new intake window is expected to open soon.
Details on how the additional nominations will be distributed across NTNP streams will be announced once finalized by the NWT government.

Why This Matters

For both employers and skilled workers, this development is a positive signal that the Northwest Territories remains committed to attracting and retaining global talent.
The restored quota will help address critical labour shortages in sectors like healthcare, construction, and hospitality — all vital to the region’s economic growth.

In summary, the Northwest Territories’ restored 2024-level allocation offers renewed hope for employers seeking skilled talent and for foreign nationals aspiring to build a career in Canada’s North.