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- Designated Area Migration Agreement
DAMA Visa Australia – Designated Area Migration Agreement
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) provides Australian employers in participating regions with additional options to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers when suitable Australian workers cannot be found.
DAMA arrangements can provide access to more occupations and, in some circumstances, concessions to standard migration requirements — including age, English language ability, salary, work experience or other visa criteria.
DAMA at a glance
DAMAs in operation
13 agreements across SA, WA, NT, QLD, VIC and NSW (2026)
Visas used
Subclass 482 · Subclass 494 · Subclass 186 (Labour Agreement streams)
Who applies
Employer-driven — an individual cannot access a DAMA directly
Possible concessions
Age, English, salary, work experience, skills — where approved
For skilled workers who may not qualify through Australia’s standard employer-sponsored or skilled migration programs, a DAMA pathway may provide another opportunity to work in Australia and potentially progress towards permanent residence.
13
DAMAs operating in 2026
3
Visa subclasses available
5 yrs
Typical labour agreement term
20 +
Years of GIEC Global experience
98%
Visa success rate
There is no separate visa called a “DAMA visa”.
A DAMA is an agreement between the Australian Government and a state, territory or regional authority. Employers operating in an approved DAMA region can seek endorsement and enter into an individual labour agreement, then nominate eligible overseas workers through the Subclass 482, 494 or 186 programs. The visa, occupation, requirements and concessions available all depend on the relevant DAMA and the employer’s approved labour agreement.
On this page
What is a DAMA?
DAMA stands for Designated Area Migration Agreement. It is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and a Designated Area Representative (DAR), designed to address genuine labour shortages in a particular region.
Instead of applying exactly the same migration settings throughout Australia, a DAMA allows a region to negotiate arrangements that reflect its own employment and economic requirements. A regional area may have ongoing shortages in hospitality, construction, agriculture, healthcare, trades or manufacturing — and some of those jobs are not available under standard skilled migration programs.
A DAMA may therefore provide access to occupations beyond the standard skilled occupation lists, and may contain concessions to some standard visa eligibility requirements.
At GIEC Global, we assist employers and skilled workers in understanding DAMA eligibility, available occupations, employer endorsement, labour agreements, concessions, visa requirements and potential permanent residence pathways.
A Designated Area Representative may be a:
- State government
- Territory government
- Regional development organisation
- Local government
- Chamber of commerce
- Another approved regional organisation
How does a DAMA work?
A DAMA operates through a two-tier system — a head agreement covering the region, and an individual labour agreement covering the employer.
- Tier 1
DAMA Head Agreement
An agreement between the Australian Government and the Designated Area Representative. It generally identifies:
- Geographical area
- Eligible visa subclasses
- English requirements
- PR pathways
- Eligible occupations
- Skill requirements
- Salary requirements
- Worker caps
- Work experience
- Possible concessions
A Head Agreement generally operates for a defined period and is subject to review.
- Tier 2
Employer Labour Agreement
An employer cannot simply nominate a worker because the business sits inside a DAMA region. The employer must first satisfy the requirements of the relevant Designated Area Representative and obtain DAMA endorsement.
Once endorsed, the employer can request an individual DAMA labour agreement with the Australian Government. After that agreement is approved, the employer may nominate eligible overseas workers under its terms.
Home Affairs states that individual DAMA labour agreements are generally valid for five years.
Can an individual apply directly for a DAMA?
- NO
An overseas worker cannot independently apply for a DAMA. Home Affairs specifically confirms that individuals cannot directly access a DAMA — they must be sponsored by an employer operating in the designated region, for an occupation specified under the relevant DAMA arrangements.
Simply having qualifications or experience in a DAMA occupation does not provide a right to apply for a visa. You must first have an eligible sponsoring employer.
What you need
- 01 An employer operating within an eligible DAMA region
- 02 An occupation covered by that DAMA
- 03 An employer willing to sponsor you
- 04 Employer endorsement from the relevant Designated Area Representative
- 05 An approved labour agreement covering the position
- 06 An appropriate employer-sponsored visa application
Current DAMA regions in Australia
As of 2026, the Department of Home Affairs identifies 13 DAMAs currently operating across Australia.
South Australia
1
- Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement DAMA
- South Australia Regional DAMA
Western Australia
4
- Western Australia DAMA
- East Kimberley DAMA
- Pilbara DAMA
- South West DAMA
- Goldfields DAMA
Northern Territory
2
- Northern Territory DAMA
Queensland
5
- Far North Queensland DAMA
- Townsville DAMA
Victoria
3
- Goulburn Valley DAMA
- Great South Coast DAMA
New South Wales
6
- Orana DAMA
Home Affairs is supporting a transition towards more state and territory-led DAMA arrangements, so structures, geographical coverage and occupation lists can change over time. Applicants and employers should check current regional requirements rather than relying on older occupation lists found online.
What occupations are available under DAMA?
Each DAMA has its own occupation list. There is no single national DAMA occupation list that applies to every region — and that is one of the key advantages of the system. Occupations that may not qualify under Australia’s standard skilled migration program can potentially be available under a particular DAMA.
Availability is highly regional. An occupation available under a Western Australian DAMA may not be available under a Victorian or Queensland DAMA.
The occupation must also be approved under the employer’s individual labour agreement before the employer can nominate a worker.
Industries commonly covered
Hospitality
Tourism
Healthcare
Aged care
Childcare
Construction
Engineering
Agriculture
Livestock
Meat processing
Automotive trades
Manufacturing
Mining
Resources
Mechanics
Food processing
Information technology
Administration
Community services
Other skilled & semi-skilled roles
DAMA concessions
One of the main reasons employers and applicants consider DAMA is the possibility of concessions to standard migration criteria. Concessions are not automatic. What is available depends on the relevant DAMA, the occupation, the nominated visa, the employer’s labour agreement and the terms agreed with the Australian Government.
Age
Some DAMAs provide an age concession for particular occupations or permanent residence pathways — important where an applicant cannot satisfy the standard age requirement for Subclass 186 or 494.
Permitted age varies between occupations and regions. Never assume that being over 45 automatically qualifies you for a concession.
English language
Some DAMA occupations allow a lower English requirement than the equivalent standard visa program, which can assist applicants with strong occupational skills.
Where professional registration or licensing requires a higher English level, a DAMA concession does not override that separate requirement — common in healthcare occupations.
Salary
Some labour agreement settings provide concessions to applicable migration income thresholds in approved circumstances.
This never means an employer can pay a sponsored worker less than an Australian doing equivalent work. Employment conditions must comply with Australian workplace laws and market salary requirements.
Work experience
Some DAMA occupations have different work experience requirements from standard employer-sponsored pathways, benefiting workers with appropriate qualifications and experience who do not meet the standard threshold.
The exact requirement depends on the DAMA, occupation, visa subclass, qualifications and approved labour agreement.
Skills & qualifications
Certain DAMAs allow modified skill, qualification or experience requirements for specific occupations — particularly roles designed for a DAMA or at lower ANZSCO skill levels.
Applicants must still genuinely hold the skills and experience necessary to perform the nominated position. A DAMA does not remove all skill requirements.
Not sure which concessions apply?
Be cautious of advertisements claiming every DAMA occupation automatically receives a salary or age concession. It does not work that way — concessions must be checked against the specific agreement.
Visa pathways used under a DAMA
Workers are nominated through the Labour Agreement stream of one of three employer-sponsored visas.
482
Skills in Demand Visa
The Labour Agreement stream allows an employee to work temporarily in Australia for an employer with an approved labour agreement. Current settings generally allow a stay of up to four years, depending on the agreement.
The base visa application charge for this stream starts from AUD 4,015; additional costs and concessions can apply.
Applicant normally needs to
- Be nominated by an approved employer
- Hold an occupation covered by the labour agreement
- Satisfy the agreed skills and work experience requirements
- Meet English requirements or an approved concession
- Meet health and character requirements
- Meet any licensing or registration requirements
A Subclass 482 DAMA pathway can sometimes provide a later pathway to permanent residence, but this depends on the particular DAMA and labour agreement.
494
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)
A DAMA can use the Subclass 494 Labour Agreement stream where permitted under the relevant agreement. The Subclass 494 is a regional provisional visa granted for five years.
Home Affairs currently states that eligible holders may apply for permanent residence three years after grant, subject to satisfying the applicable Subclass 191 requirements.
DAMA settings may modify some standard requirements depending on the occupation and agreement.
186
Employer Nomination Scheme — permanent
Some DAMA arrangements provide access to permanent residence through the Subclass 186 Labour Agreement stream. Where the employer’s agreement allows it, the employee may become eligible after meeting the employment, age, English and skills requirements specified.
Under the normal framework, applicants are generally required to be under 45 unless the labour agreement provides otherwise — which is why DAMAs matter for applicants whose occupation or age makes standard PR difficult.
Not every DAMA occupation has the same PR pathway. Eligibility must be checked against the specific Head Agreement and labour agreement.
DAMA employer requirements
The employer may need to demonstrate
- Genuine business operations
- A genuine need for the position
- Appropriate employment conditions
- Appropriate salary arrangements
- Workforce requirements and proposed duties
- That the occupation is available under the DAMA
- Financial capacity
- Inability to fill the position locally
- Compliance with Australian workplace laws
- Recruitment of Australians as first priority
- Compliance with previous sponsorship obligations
The employer must first seek endorsement from the relevant Designated Area Representative before submitting a DAMA labour agreement request through ImmiAccount.
Labour market testing
A central principle of the DAMA program is that overseas workers should not replace suitable Australian workers. The employer must demonstrate genuine attempts to recruit Australians first.
Home Affairs states that labour market testing generally involves advertising the position in Australia for at least four weeks through at least two advertisements, subject to specific visa requirements and exemptions. Individual DAMAs may impose additional endorsement requirements.
Evidence to retain
Advertisements
Advertisement dates
Job descriptions
Salary details
Applications received
Recruitment outcomes
Why applicants were unsuitable
Other recruitment records
The DAMA application process
A typical DAMA process runs through eight stages, from checking the region to lodging the visa.
STEP 01
Check the region
The employer must operate in an area covered by an existing DAMA. Check the exact postcode, local government area or regional boundary.
STEP 02
Check the occupation
The occupation must appear on that DAMA’s list. Also check skill level, qualifications, experience, English, salary, age concessions, skills assessment and PR options.
STEP 03
Labour market testing
The employer carries out genuine recruitment to demonstrate that suitable Australian workers are not available.
STEP 04
Apply for DAR endorsement
The employer applies to the Designated Area Representative, which assesses whether the employer and position meet the regional DAMA requirements.
STEP 05
Request a labour agreement
The exact requirement depends on the DAMA, occupation, visa subclass, qualifications and approved labour agreement.
STEP 06
Nomination
Once the labour agreement is approved, the employer lodges an eligible nomination under the appropriate visa subclass.
STEP 07
Visa application
The employee applies for the relevant visa — a Subclass 482, 494 or 186 Labour Agreement visa, depending on the DAMA and circumstances.
STEP 08
Meet visa requirements
The applicant provides evidence of identity, qualifications, employment history, skills, English, health, character, family details and any registration or licensing.
Documents commonly required from the applicant
Exact documents vary depending on the occupation and DAMA. Employment evidence is particularly important — claimed duties and experience should be consistent with the nominated occupation.
Current passport
Birth certificate
Educational qualifications
Academic transcripts
Employment references
Employment contracts
Payslips
Taxation evidence
Bank statements showing salary
CV or résumé
English test results
Skills assessment (where required)
Professional registration
Licences
Police certificates
Health examinations
Marriage certificate
De facto relationship evidence
Dependent children’s documents
Can family members be included?
Depending on the relevant visa, eligible family members can generally be included in the visa application. This can include an eligible:
- Spouse
- De facto partner
- Dependent child
Family members must satisfy the applicable health, character and other visa requirements. Additional government visa application charges can apply.
DAMA vs standard employer sponsorship
DAMA should normally be considered where a regional employer has a genuine workforce shortage that cannot be addressed through standard skilled migration arrangements. The correct pathway is determined after considering both the employer and the employee.
A standard visa may be simpler where
- The occupation is already available
- The applicant satisfies normal age requirements
- Standard English requirements can be met
- Salary requirements can be met without concessions
- No other DAMA concession is required
A DAMA may be more relevant where
- The occupation is not available through a standard pathway
- A semi-skilled occupation is included under the DAMA
- An age concession is required
- An English concession is available
- Modified work experience requirements apply
- An approved salary concession is relevant
- The region has negotiated a special pathway for the occupation
Is DAMA a guaranteed PR pathway?
- NO
A DAMA should not be described as guaranteed permanent residency. Some DAMA occupations provide a potential PR pathway, while others have different requirements.
A visa application must still be assessed and approved by the Department of Home Affairs.
Where PR is available, applicants may still need to satisfy
Length of employment
Visa held
Continued employment
Occupation
Age
English
Salary
Regional residence
Employer nomination
Health
Character
Other labour agreement requirements
Why DAMA applications need careful assessment
A DAMA application involves more than checking whether an occupation appears on a list. A mistake at an early stage can affect the later nomination or visa application.
A worker may qualify for an occupation while the employer sits outside the designated region. Or the employer may qualify geographically while the occupation is not included under that DAMA. An applicant may also meet the temporary visa requirements but not the future permanent residence conditions.
For this reason, both the immediate visa and the longer-term migration strategy should be considered before proceeding.
Issues that must be considered together
Employer location
DAMA coverage
Occupation
Duties
Work experience
Qualifications
English requirements
Age
Salary
Labour market testing
Employer eligibility
DAR endorsement
Labour agreement
Visa nomination
Visa eligibility
Long-term PR options
- FAQ
Frequently asked questions about DAMA
Is DAMA a visa?
No. DAMA is a migration agreement covering a particular geographical area. Eligible employers may sponsor workers under visas such as Subclass 482, Subclass 494 or Subclass 186.
Can I apply for DAMA without an employer?
No. An individual cannot directly access a DAMA. You need an eligible employer located in the designated region that is prepared and eligible to sponsor you.
Can DAMA provide permanent residency?
Potentially. Some DAMAs and occupations provide PR pathways through the Subclass 186 Labour Agreement stream, or through a regional provisional visa such as Subclass 494 followed by an eligible permanent residence pathway. The exact conditions depend on the particular DAMA.
Is DAMA only for highly skilled occupations?
No. One advantage of DAMA arrangements is that some regions may obtain access to occupations and skill levels not available through standard skilled visa programs. However, occupation availability varies between DAMAs.
Can I obtain an age exemption through DAMA?
Some DAMA occupations offer age concessions. The maximum eligible age and PR requirements depend on the occupation and DAMA, so an age concession should be checked individually.
Is IELTS mandatory for DAMA?
Not IELTS specifically. Applicants can generally use an English test recognised for the relevant visa, subject to applicable requirements. Some DAMA occupations provide an English concession — but separate occupational registration requirements may still require a higher result.
Can an employer in Melbourne or Sydney use DAMA?
Only where the employer and nominated position satisfy the geographical conditions of the particular DAMA. Being in Australia generally is not enough — the employer must operate within an area covered by an approved DAMA and meet the regional requirements.
Can a DAMA employer sponsor anyone they choose?
No. The employer, occupation, position and overseas worker must satisfy the applicable endorsement, labour agreement, nomination and visa requirements. The employer must also demonstrate the genuine need for overseas recruitment.
Can I change employers while on a DAMA visa?
Employer changes can have significant immigration consequences, because DAMA visas are based on employer sponsorship and an approved labour agreement. Obtain advice before stopping work or accepting another position — the new employer may need its own approval, endorsement, labour agreement and nomination.
How GIEC Global can help with DAMA
We assist both employers and skilled workers in assessing available DAMA pathways.
For skilled workers, we review
Occupation eligibility
Relevant DAMA regions
Qualifications
Employment experience
English requirements
Skills assessment
Age concessions
Salary requirements
Subclass 482 options
Subclass 494 options
Subclass 186 pathways
Permanent residence options
For Australian employers, we review
DAMA geographical eligibility
Occupation availability
Designated Area Representative requirements
Labour market testing
DAMA endorsement
Labour agreement requirements
Nomination requirements
Salary and employment arrangements
Employee visa requirements
- Free consultation
Looking for a DAMA pathway in Australia?
If your occupation is not available under the standard skilled migration program, you are over the standard age limit, or you have an employment opportunity in regional Australia, a Designated Area Migration Agreement may provide another pathway.
If you are a regional employer struggling to find suitably skilled workers locally, a DAMA may provide access to skilled or semi-skilled overseas workers where standard sponsorship does not meet your business requirements.
Speak with the GIEC Global migration team
Talk to a MARA registered lawyer about DAMA eligibility, occupations, employer sponsorship and PR pathways.
Toll free
1300 170 704
Phone
+61 3 8394 7111
Office
Suite 205, 757 Bourke Street, VIC 3008
Topics we can discuss
DAMA Australia
DAMA Visa
DAMA Occupation List
DAMA Employer Sponsorship
Subclass 482 DAMA
Subclass 494 DAMA
Subclass 186 DAMA
DAMA PR Pathway
Regional Employer Sponsorship
Important information
Australian immigration law, DAMA occupation lists, employer requirements, concessions, regional boundaries and visa criteria can change. Each DAMA operates under its own Head Agreement and may have different occupation lists, age requirements, English requirements, salary settings, work experience requirements and permanent residence pathways.
Information on this page is general information only and should not be treated as personalised migration or legal advice. Eligibility should be assessed against the relevant DAMA, employer labour agreement and Australian migration law in force at the time of application.