When you like working in an environment filled with golds, diamonds, natural gas, and petroleum, you would consider the Northwest Territories (NWT), where two of the biggest mineral resource companies in the world are operating. The fast economic demands in NWT can hardly be met by only 41,462 populations, the figure that came out on 2011 census.

The good news does not only end up with revealing enormous work opportunities in NWT, it also embraces a program that will speed up immigration and visa processing under Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP), through which the government of NWT may nominate qualified foreign workers who may be eligible in any of the categories:

The Skilled Worker Category:

The Employee must:

  • Have a permanent full-time job offer in levels A, B, or 0 in NOC;
  • Have required certification or accreditation for the specified trade;
  • Have a license or be accepted by the Territorial body governing the occupation or trade;
  • Have the ability to conduct basic communication in English or French; and
  • Not be a refugee claimant.

The Employer must:

  • Have been registered and in operation for at least a year;
  • Show that it tried to recruit a Canadian citizen or PR for the job vacancy;
  • Show that the compensation for the job is commensurate with local standards; and
  • Obtain a LMO from HRSDC.

Critical Impact Worker Category

An applicant must:

  • Have a permanent full-time job offer from a NT employer in a hospitality or service sector occupation listed in levels C or D in NOC;
  • Have a work permit and have worked in the NT for 6 months;
  • Show sufficient financial support;
  • Have the required work experience for the occupation;
  • Have the ability to conduct basic communication in the official language of the work place; and
  • Not be a refugee claimant.

An employer must:

  • Show a proposal start or purchase a business in NT;
  • Invest a minimum of $300,000 CDN into starting or buying a business in the Yellowknife area, or invest a minimum of $150,000 CDN into starting or buying a business outside the Yellowknife area;
  • Have a personal net worth of $500,000 CDN if the intended business is in the Yellowknife area or $250,000 CDN if outside the Yellowknife area;
  • Have $75,000 CDN kept in a trust account;
  • Show a  knowledge and understanding of the NT; and
  • Have the experience and education necessary to implement the business plan.

Self-employed business category

  • Have a profession or occupation listed as a professional skill shortage in the NT;
  • Be licensed by the body governing the profession;
  • Show a knowledge of NT;
  • Show sufficient funds to start and operate the professional practice and to support himself/herself for a period of six months; and
  • Submit a detailed business plan.

After carefully examining yourself whether you like to grab a piece of gold from the pot of opportunities in the promising land of Northwest Territories, you should consider consulting an immigration lawyer who can prevent you from possibly going through a roller coaster experience in applying for a work visa under NTNP. Attempting to accomplish the immigration and visa application yourself is not advisable.

Our experienced immigration lawyers at VisaPlace Legal, backed by their knowledge and skills, are able to help you meet your desire to immigrate and live in the Northwest Territories.