Ottawa added 103 nomination spaces to the NWT Nominee Program, raising its 2026 allocation to 300 and triggering an extra Employer-Driven Stream draw on August 26.
The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NWTNP) just got room to invite more candidates this year. On August 7, 2026, the Government of the Northwest Territories confirmed a federal top-up of 103 additional nomination spaces, raising the territory's 2026 allocation from 197 to 300 — and triggering an extra Expression of Interest (EOI) draw that ran on August 26.
The federal government sets each province's and territory's provincial nominee allocation annually, and the Northwest Territories doesn't usually see a mid-year change. This one restores its 2026 number to 300 nominations — matching the total it reached by the end of 2025 after two separate increases last year. According to the territory's August 7 news release, the boost reflects "ongoing advocacy by the Government of the Northwest Territories to ensure the territory's immigration priorities and unique labour market needs are reflected in its allocation numbers."
To use the extra room, the NWTNP added a fourth draw to its 2026 schedule under the Employer-Driven Stream, held on August 26, 2026. Employers supporting a candidate had until August 24 to submit their portion of the application. As of this writing, the territory has not yet published the invitation count or score range for that round — we'll update this article once results are confirmed.
Before the August 26 round, the NWTNP had run two Employer-Driven Stream draws in 2026:
| Draw date | Invitations | NWT Express Entry | Skilled Workers | Entry Level/Semi-Skilled | Score range |
|---|
| March 25, 2026 | 65 | 32 | 20 | 13 | 417–597 |
| June 25, 2026 | 79 | 40 | 20 | 19 | 336–590 |
Both rounds skewed toward candidates already in Yellowknife (37 of 65 in March, 52 of 79 in June), with the NWT Express Entry pathway pulling the largest share of invitations each time. A final draw for the year is scheduled for September 25, considering profiles submitted to the EOI pool by September 22.
The NWTNP moved this stream to an EOI intake model in late February 2026 after high demand. Candidates need a job offer from a supporting employer, and their employer creates the EOI profile on their behalf. Scoring runs across three categories:
| Category | Maximum points | What it measures |
|---|
| Skills and experience | 375 | Age, education, language proficiency, work experience |
| Ties to the NWT | 340 | Current employment status, a trades-related job offer, or prior NWT employment |
| Ability to establish in the NWT | 130 | Family ties to the territory, or prior post-secondary study there |
EOI profiles stay valid for 12 months, and the territory notifies candidates before a profile's withdrawal date so they can resubmit. The NWTNP reviews submissions and invites the highest-ranking employer-candidate pairs to submit a full nomination application through periodic draws — successful nominees can then apply federally for permanent residence and eventually a confirmation of permanent residence (COPR).
The territory's Francophone Stream and Business Stream continue to run separately, on a first-come, first-served basis, unaffected by this allocation change.
If you have a job offer from an NWT employer and an EOI profile in the pool: the extra 103 spaces and the added August 26 draw mean more invitations than the territory originally planned for 2026 — a better-than-expected year to have your profile active. Make sure your employer's application details and your own profile are current ahead of the September 25 final round.
If you're weighing whether the Northwest Territories is worth pursuing: it remains a small program by national standards — even at 300 nominations, it's a fraction of what larger provinces issue in a single draw. But a territorial nomination is still worth a flat +600 points on your federal CRS score, and a program this size is genuinely under-contested compared to Alberta, BC, or Ontario's PNP streams. If you have a realistic shot at a northern job offer, it's worth a look — see our guide on why French is often the fastest lever if you're weighing the territory's Francophone Stream specifically.
If you don't have an NWT job offer: this allocation increase doesn't change your eligibility today, but it's a reminder that provincial and territorial allocations can shift mid-year — worth checking back on any province where you're building a profile.
Tip
The Northwest Territories is now the third jurisdiction to receive a mid-year federal allocation top-up in 2026, after Alberta and British Columbia. When a province or territory gets extra room, an additional or larger-than-usual draw has followed within weeks each time this year. If you're sitting in a PNP pool anywhere in Canada, an allocation increase announcement is a reasonable cue to double-check your profile is current.
NWT Francophone Immigration Support | PNP Guide | CRS Calculator | All Express Entry Draws
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. Always verify information with official IRCC sources and consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or licensed immigration lawyer for advice specific to your situation.