How the NWT Nominee Program works with Express Entry for employers

Hiring in the Northwest Territories can be challenging when the local labour pool is small. The NWT Nominee Program (NTNP) — Employer Support stream helps employers fill job gaps by supporting foreign workers for permanent residence. This program is only available to employers in the Northwest Territories, Canada. It includes pathways that connect to Express Entry, making it easier to keep skilled workers and move them from a work permit to permanent status.

How Employer Support under the NWT Nominee Program connects to Express Entry

The NWT Nominee Program — Employer Support is an immigration support program, not a grant or funding source. It allows eligible employers in the Northwest Territories to nominate foreign workers for permanent residence. Some nominations are linked to Canada’s federal Express Entry system. This link can speed up federal processing after the worker is nominated.

What the Employer Support stream is designed to do

Employers use this stream for several reasons:

To fill entry-level jobs when local recruitment is unsuccessful
To hire for roles that need formal education or special training
To keep temporary foreign workers already working in the NWT
To support candidates applying through Express Entry–linked nomination streams

Employer eligibility requirements

To use the NWT Nominee Program — Employer Support stream, you must meet these requirements:

Operate a registered business or government department in the NWT
Your business must have been running for at least one year
Be in good standing with:
- Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC)
- NWT Employment Standards
Advertise the position and show you could not find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for the job

If any requirement is missing, your nomination will not be approved.

The worker’s role in Express Entry–aligned nominations

For Express Entry–linked pathways, the worker must also qualify at the federal level. This means the worker:

Has an active Express Entry profile
Meets criteria under federal programs (language skills, work experience, education)
Has a valid job offer from your NWT business

When the worker is nominated by the NWT, they get extra points in Express Entry. This improves their chances of getting an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence.

Step-by-step: How the process works for employers

Here is a simple outline of the process:

You recruit and hire a foreign worker with a valid work permit
You advertise the job and keep records of unsuccessful Canadian recruitment
You apply to the NWT Nominee Program — Employer Support stream
The territory reviews your business, the job offer, and the worker’s qualifications
If approved, the worker receives an NWT nomination
The worker applies for permanent residence:
- Through Express Entry, if eligible
- Through a non–Express Entry pathway

Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you filter immigration and workforce programs for your business type and province, so you focus on programs that fit your needs.

Common mistakes to avoid

Thinking the program offers funding
The NWT Employer Support stream does not give wage subsidies or cash support. It only provides help with immigration nomination.

Skipping recruitment documentation
If you do not prove that you advertised the job and could not find a Canadian worker, your application will likely be refused.

Applying before one year of operation
Businesses must be operational for at least 12 months. New businesses are not eligible, even if the job offer is valid.

Believing Express Entry is automatic
Not every nomination is Express Entry–aligned. The worker must meet federal Express Entry requirements on their own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Northwest Territories Nominee Program — Employer Support stream?
It is a territorial immigration program that helps NWT employers hire and keep foreign workers by supporting them for permanent residence.

Q: Does the program give employers funding?
No. The program does not provide direct funding. It helps with immigration and workforce retention.

Q: Can entry-level jobs qualify under the NWT Nominee Program?
Yes. Entry-level jobs and those needing special training can qualify, as long as recruitment efforts are documented.

Q: How does Express Entry help employers?
Express Entry–aligned nominations give workers extra points, which can speed up federal permanent residence processing and help you keep staff.

Q: How long does the employer nomination process take?
Timelines depend on your application. Complete applications with clear recruitment proof and eligible workers are processed faster.

Next steps

If your business relies on hard-to-fill roles, the NWT Nominee Program with Express Entry could help you keep skilled workers long term. Start by checking your eligibility. Then compare immigration programs and other workforce supports. GrantHub lets you see relevant options in one place, so you can plan hiring with fewer surprises and better results.

How the NWT Nominee Program works with Express Entry for employers