Program status · Last reviewed July 2026
The NTNP Business Stream operates separately from the 2026 Employer-Driven overhaul and continues to accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis; it was not moved to the new Expression of Interest model. Source: NWT Nominee Program – Business Stream. Eligibility advice, program selection, and filings remain with the partner RCIC or lawyer.
How NWT selects
Northwest Territories runs first-come, first-served, not a draw
Unlike NWT's Employer-Driven stream, which moved to an Expression of Interest model in 2026, the Business Stream remains open continuously and reviews applications in the order they arrive.
1
Visit & interview. The candidate completes an exploratory visit to the NWT and a face-to-face interview before the formal application is submitted.
2
Apply. A complete Business Stream application, business plan, net worth verification, and supporting evidence, is submitted and reviewed in arrival order.
3
Operate & perform. On approval and a work permit, the candidate establishes the business and meets Business Performance Agreement milestones before nomination.
With no ranked pool to clear, the exploratory visit and the business plan's credibility carry the file. We prepare both to the standard the territory expects at interview.
Active · accepting files
Northwest Territories · NTNP Business Stream
Northwest Territories
The lowest outside-capital tier among active Canadian entrepreneur streams: $250K net worth and $100K investment outside Yellowknife, running first-come, first-served rather than a ranked draw.
Available streams
Entrepreneur
Self-Employed
Net worth
yellowknife
$500K
outside
$250K
Investment
yellowknife
$200K
outside
$100K
Job creation
Not required
Ownership
≥ 33.3%, unless personal equity investment is ≥ $1M
Language
CLB 4 minimum
Experience
Verifiable business ownership or management experience
Work-permit phase
Business Performance Agreement; nomination on meeting BPA milestones
What we tell partners about Northwest Territories
1
Two-tier capital structure: Yellowknife ($500K net worth / $200K investment) versus outside Yellowknife ($250K / $100K), the lowest outside-capital tier among active Canadian entrepreneur programs.
2
The Business Stream runs first-come, first-served; NWT kept it outside the Expression of Interest model it introduced for the Employer-Driven stream in 2026 because it is not oversubscribed.
3
Standard ownership is at least 33.3%, though a personal equity investment of $1M or more allows a lower ownership share.
4
An exploratory visit and a face-to-face interview are required before the formal application is submitted.
5
The Self-Employed sub-stream is for applicants creating their own employment, lower capital but more scrutiny on business viability.
What we deliver, and what stays with your firm
CanBizVisa delivers
- Business plan aligned to NTNP Business Stream criteria
- Market study and location rationale
- Financial model and investment plan
- Job creation plan and premises strategy
- Source-of-funds organization
- Operating and performance evidence after landing
Your firm remains responsible for
- Eligibility assessment and immigration advice
- Registration / EOI strategy and timing
- Legal submissions and government filings
- Client representation before the province and IRCC
FAQ
Northwest Territories entrepreneur files, answered
Is NWT's Business Stream affected by the 2026 Employer-Driven changes?+
No. The 2026 overhaul introduced an Expression of Interest model for the Employer-Driven stream only. NWT kept the Business Stream on its existing first-come, first-served basis because it is not oversubscribed, entrepreneur files are unaffected.
What's the real difference between the Yellowknife and outside-Yellowknife tiers?+
Location of the business, not the applicant's residence. A business established within Yellowknife's corporate boundaries needs $500K net worth and $200K investment; the same business outside those boundaries needs $250K and $100K. We confirm the tier before scoping the plan.
Can my client own less than 33.3% of the business?+
Only if the personal equity investment is $1M or more. Below that, standard NTNP rules require at least 33.3% ownership. We confirm which ownership structure the client's capital supports before drafting the plan.
What happens at the exploratory visit interview?+
NWT requires an in-person exploratory visit and a face-to-face interview before the formal application. It's where the territory tests whether the business concept and the applicant's fit for the NWT are real, not just paperwork. We prepare the business plan and interview materials together.
Do you provide immigration advice or file the application?+
No. We are a business consulting company, not an immigration firm. We work behind your client's RCIC or immigration lawyer on the commercial file only: business plan, market research, financial model, and operational documentation. We do not provide immigration advice.
Comparing provinces?
Every PNP entrepreneur stream, side by side
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