On September 25, the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) invited 105 foreign workers to apply for territorial nomination. The invitation marks the territory's latest selection round under one of Canada's Provincial Nominee Programs, and it moves the successful candidates one step closer to Canadian permanent residence.

The NTNP works in two stages. First, the territory selects foreign workers it wants to nominate. Once nominated, a candidate can then apply to the federal government — through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) — for permanent residence (PR). A territorial nomination itself is not permanent residence; it is the gateway to a federal PR application.

Who received invitations

All 105 invitations in this round went to foreign workers. The Northwest Territories uses its nominee program to address local labour needs, and employer-supported candidates form the core of its intake.

The invitation figure matters for another reason. The Northwest Territories receives a limited allocation of nominations each year from the federal government, as all provinces and territories do under the PNPs. Each invitation therefore draws down a finite quota, and candidates who receive one should act on it within the timelines the program sets out.

What nominees can do next

A key benefit follows nomination. Nominees may be eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). This permit lets a nominee keep working in Canada while their permanent residence application is in process, rather than waiting without status-flexible employment authorization. Candidates who receive an invitation should verify their own BOWP eligibility, since it depends on individual circumstances and federal rules.

The steps from here are straightforward in sequence but strict in execution. An invited candidate must submit a complete application for territorial nomination to the Northwest Territories. If the territory approves and nominates them, they then submit a PR application to IRCC under the nominee stream.

Why territorial programs matter

Territorial and provincial nominee programs give regions outside Canada's major cities a direct tool to attract and retain workers. For the Northwest Territories, which has a small labour market and persistent recruitment challenges, the 105 invitations represent a deliberate effort to secure workers who already have local employment ties.

For candidates in the pool who did not receive an invitation this round, the program continues to hold draws as allocations and processing capacity allow.

Anyone invited should rely on official guidance for their next steps. The Government of the Northwest Territories publishes NTNP requirements, forms, and deadlines, and IRCC sets the federal rules governing nomination-based PR applications and Bridging Open Work Permits. This article explains the program change reported; it does not assess any individual case.