The Northwest Territories has been granted an additional 103 nomination spaces for 2026 under the territorial nominee program, raising the year’s allocation from 197 to 300. The Government of the Northwest Territories announced the increase in a news release on Aug. 7.
Extra draw scheduled for late August
As a result of the boost, the territory will hold an extra Expression of Interest (EOI) draw for the Employer‑Driven Stream on Aug. 26, 2026. Employers who sponsor job‑offer holders must submit their applications by Aug. 24, 2026 for those candidates to be considered in that draw.
Officials also confirmed the territory will now run a total of four draws in 2026. Two have already taken place, on March 25 and June 25, with a final draw scheduled for Sept. 25, 2026. Profiles submitted to the EOI pool by Sept. 22 will be eligible for that last selection.
Results so far and candidate distribution
The first two draws this year together issued 144 invitations. The March draw issued 65 invitations and the June draw issued 79. In both rounds, the NWT Express Entry pathway under the Employer‑Driven Stream received the largest share of invitations.
| Date of draw | Invitations issued | Pathway breakdown | Location of selections | Range of candidate scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 25 | 65 | NWT Express Entry: 32; Skilled Workers: 20; Entry Level/Semi‑Skilled: 13 | Yellowknife: 37; Outside Yellowknife: 28 | 417–597 |
| June 25 | 79 | NWT Express Entry: 40; Skilled Workers: 20; Entry Level/Semi‑Skilled: 19 | Yellowknife: 52; Outside Yellowknife: 27 | 336–590 |
Information sessions for employers and applicants
The territory is offering two Zoom information sessions for prospective applicants and employers seeking more detail on the application steps and timelines. Sessions are scheduled for:
- Aug. 18, 2026: 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. — registration deadline Aug. 17 at 5 p.m.
- Aug. 20, 2026: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. — registration deadline Aug. 19 at 12 p.m.
Those wishing to register can email immigration@gov.nt.ca to request the Zoom link. The territory says French interpretation will be provided during the sessions.
The additional nominations may offer breathing room for employers across mining, services and community sectors that rely on temporary foreign workers and permanent economic nominees. With a final draw scheduled for late September, employers and candidates should note the application windows and registration deadlines to ensure profiles are considered.
Further details and official updates are posted on the NTNP news page maintained by the Government of the Northwest Territories.
