Moving to Northwest Territories: health card, driver's licence and taxes

The first steps after arriving in Northwest Territories: health coverage, driver's licence, sales tax, online accounts and benefits.

1. Health card. Apply to the provincial plan: NWT Health Care Plan. Keep your previous coverage until the new one starts, since there can be a waiting period.
2. Driver's licence and vehicle. Licences and registration are handled by NWT Department of Infrastructure. There is a deadline to exchange an out-of-province licence and re-register a vehicle.
3. Taxes. Sales tax in Northwest Territories: GST 5%. For income tax, the province where you live on December 31 applies for the whole year. Update your address with the CRA.
4. Benefits. File a tax return even with little income: federal and provincial benefits are calculated from it and follow you to your new province.
5. Housing and work. See our guides on renting and working in Northwest Territories.

Official government site ↗ · Source: Canada Revenue Agency, GST/HST rates ↗, read on 2026-11-13.

Programs to know about

• NWT Child Benefit — Monthly amount for lower-income families, paid with the CCB.
• Senior Citizen Supplementary Benefit — Monthly top-up for low-income seniors receiving the GIS.
• Senior Home Heating Subsidy — Helps lower-income seniors pay for home heating fuel.
• Student Financial Assistance — The territory's own grants and loans for post-secondary students.

General information, not legal or financial advice. Figures show their source and the date they were read; confirm with the official body before making a decision.

Guides for this province

• Renting in Northwest Territories: rights, rent increases and average rents
• Working in Northwest Territories: minimum wage, standards and wages
• Moving to Northwest Territories: health card, driver's licence and taxes
• Cost of living in Northwest Territories: prices, rent, wages and taxes
• Buying a home in Northwest Territories: land transfer tax, rebates and first-time buyer help
• Health care in Northwest Territories: health card, drug plans and dental help
• Studying in Northwest Territories: tuition, student aid and grants
• Seniors in Northwest Territories: pensions, supplements and programs
• Taxes in Northwest Territories: income tax rates, sales tax and take-home pay (2026)
• Families in Northwest Territories: child benefits and family programs
• Immigrating to Northwest Territories: nominee program, steps and processing times