The Northwest Territories of Canada is technically not a province of Canada but it covers up a large part of Canada’s North. This territory has one of the largest surface areas and a slightly warmer climate than Canada’s other territories. You can either establish a business in NWT, or you can find an employer in the NWT who wants to hire you. To qualify on the basis of a job offer, you need to be working inside Canada, with a valid work permit, before you apply. Here are some of the ways to qualify for Canada permanent residency under the Northwest Territories PNP.
The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) accepts applications under the following three immigration categories of Employer-Driven Stream:
1. Skilled worker
2. NWT Express Entry
3. Entry level/Semi-Skilled Occupations
The Skilled Worker stream allows qualified employers to nominate foreign nationals who have work experience in a skilled position (NOC 0, A or B).
• An employer should have a job vacancy and should identify a potential nominee.
• An employer should possess a registered business operating for a minimum of one year.
• Be in good standing with the Worker’s Safety and Compensation Commission (WSCC) and the NWT Employment Standards.
• Provide proof of local and national recruitment efforts and submit a summary of results.
• Obtain a positive Canada Labor Market Opinion through Employment and social development, Canada.
• The job position should be a permanent full-time job position (Minimum 30 hours per week)
• The job position should fall in high skill level occupation in National Occupation classification level O, A and B
Applicant criteria:
• The applicant must possess the required certification or accreditation for the specific occupation.
• The applicant has a min of one year work experience for the specific occupation.
• Provide proof of sufficient financial or settlement supports in the Northwest Territory.
• The applicant must be able to communicate in either English or French.
• The applicant should not be a refugee claimant.
The Express Entry stream enables skilled workers to apply for Provincial Nomination when they have an active Express Entry profile and they meet the criteria of the Skilled Worker stream of the NWT Nominee program. Applying through this stream will enable the foreign national to gain Permanent Residence much more quickly than applying through the regular Skilled Workers stream.
The Entry Level/Semi-Skilled Occupations helps employers fill shortages for entry-level jobs when they cannot find a Canadian candidate locally or nationally for a position.
To be eligible, foreign nationals must have worked fulltime in the same position with the employer for six months and be in good standing with the requirements of their temporary foreign work permit.
The foreign national must able to communicate in either English or French. This requirement must be met at the time the application is made, and proof of testing must be provided.
The Business Stream of Immigrate NWT is designed for those with business management experience who wish to establish business operations in the Northwest Territories. Foreign nationals can qualify by establishing, purchasing or investing in an existing business in the NWT. You must intend to actively manage the day-to-day operations of the business.
Applicant criteria:
• you will invest a min of CAD $300,000 into a business in Yellowknife, or a min of CAD $150,000 into a business outside of Yellowknife
• you can demonstrate a personal net worth of a min CAD $500,000 if you are planning to operate a business in Yellowknife, or a min CAD $250,000 if you are planning to operate outside of Yellowknife
• you will own at least 1/3 of the business; unless you are investing $1 million or more
• you achieved a min of CLB 4 on a valid language test
• you will provide a deposit of CAD $75,000 to Immigrate NWT which will be returned when you meet all conditions
• you demonstrate sufficient knowledge, experience, education and financial resources to successfully start and operate the business
• you do not have any other active applications for Provincial Nomination
• you have made a trip to the Northwest Territories to explore business opportunities, and had an interview with program staff