Province profile
Immigration to Northwest Territories.
335 new permanent residents named Northwest Territories as their destination in 2025, 0.1% of Canada’s total, or 7.3 per 1,000 residents.
Data through July 2026Retrieved October 8, 2026Updated monthly, mid-month
Permanent residents 20253350.0% vs 2024
New study permits 202550
New work permits 2025340IMP + TFWP
Asylum claims 20250
Permanent residents by category
Per year.
| Category | Economic | Family | Refugees and protected persons | Humanitarian and other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 105 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 65 | 30 | 5 | 0 |
| 2017 | 135 | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 155 | 55 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 50 | 55 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 45 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 180 | 55 | 5 | 0 |
| 2022 | 110 | 30 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 160 | 50 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 240 | 75 | 20 | 0 |
| 2025 | 285 | 50 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 (Jan–Jul) | 290 | 25 | 5 | 10 |
Source: IRCC, Permanent Residents – Monthly IRCC Updates (open data). 2026 covers January to July only.
Top programs, 2025
| Program | Value |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program | 280 |
| Spouses and partners | 45 |
| Other relatives | 5 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 5 |
| Federal Skilled Worker | 0 |
| Protected persons in Canada | 0 |
| Children | 0 |
| Parents and grandparents | 0 |
Source: IRCC, Permanent Residents – Monthly IRCC Updates (open data).
Destination cities, 2025
Census metropolitan areas named as intended destination.
| Metropolitan area | Value |
|---|---|
| Yellowknife | 365 |
| Territories (outside Census agglomeration, Northwest Territories) | 55 |
Source: IRCC, Permanent Residents – Monthly IRCC Updates (open data).
Study and work permits
| Period | Study permits | IMP work permits | TFWP work permits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5 | 60 | 10 |
| 2016 | 5 | 120 | 15 |
| 2017 | 5 | 95 | 10 |
| 2018 | 10 | 75 | 0 |
| 2019 | 10 | 80 | 5 |
| 2020 | 0 | 50 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 | 60 | 5 |
| 2022 | 10 | 60 | 55 |
| 2023 | 20 | 285 | 75 |
| 2024 | 50 | 220 | 110 |
| 2025 | 50 | 255 | 85 |
| 2026 (Jan–Jul) | 45 | 250 | 30 |
Source: IRCC, Temporary Residents: Study Permit Holders – Monthly IRCC Updates; IRCC, Temporary Residents: TFWP and IMP Work Permit Holders – Monthly IRCC Updates. 2026 covers January to July only.
More context
Who lives here, who leaves.
- Who lives in Northwest Territories today (origins, languages, recent immigrants): Census Atlas: Northwest Territories.
- Statistics Canada estimates 45 people emigrated from Northwest Territories in 2025–2026. See emigration by province.
- 280 of the 2025 admissions came through Northwest Territories’s nominee program. PNP data.