DAMA — Designated Area Migration Agreements
Regional employers can access occupations and concessions unavailable under the standard 482 pathway. A DAMA opens doors — with the right MARA guidance at every step.
What is a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA)?
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal arrangement between a regional authority and the Australian Government. It gives employers in designated regions access to broader occupations and concessions than the standard Skills in Demand visa (Subclass 482) pathway allows — including AMSR discounts, age concessions, and English-language flexibility.
What Is a Designated Area Migration Agreement?
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal arrangement negotiated between a state, territory, or regional authority and the Australian Government. It gives employers in designated regional areas access to a broader range of occupations and concessions than the standard Skills in Demand Visa (Subclass 482) pathway allows.
DAMAs exist because regional Australia faces persistent workforce shortages in occupations that are not on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) — or where standard requirements like English language and salary benchmarks create barriers to filling genuine local needs.
To access a DAMA, your business must be located or operating in a designated regional area, and you must obtain an endorsement from the relevant regional authority before lodging a nomination. Visa Advisor manages this process end-to-end.
DAMA Key Facts
Active DAMA Regions in Australia
Each DAMA is specific to its designated area and has its own occupation list, concessions, and endorsing authority. You must be operating in the region to access it.
Northern Territory DAMA
One of the most comprehensive DAMAs, covering a broad range of occupations across agriculture, hospitality, construction, and health. Endorsed by the NT Government through the NT Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade.
South Australia DAMA
Covers both Metro SA (including greater Adelaide) and regional South Australia. Includes occupations in food manufacturing, engineering, IT, and healthcare. Endorsed by the SA Government.
Far North Queensland DAMA
Covers the Cairns and Far North Queensland region. Strong focus on tourism, hospitality, agriculture, and healthcare occupations. Endorsed by the Cairns Regional Council.
Great South Coast DAMA (VIC)
Victoria's regional DAMA covering the Great South Coast area including Warrnambool and surrounding regions. Focus on food and fibre, manufacturing, and health sectors.
Orana DAMA (NSW)
Covers the Orana region of NSW (Dubbo and surrounding areas). Agriculture, food processing, healthcare, and construction are key sectors. Endorsed by the Orana Regional Organisation of Councils.
Other Active DAMAs
Additional DAMAs are active in the Pilbara region (WA), the Hunter region (NSW), and other designated areas. DAMA availability and occupation lists change — confirm current active DAMAs and their terms with a MARA-registered agent.
DAMA Concessions Available to Regional Employers
DAMAs give regional employers access to concessions unavailable under the standard 482 pathway. Each DAMA specifies which concessions apply to which occupations.
Off-CSOL Occupation Access
Sponsor workers in occupations not listed on the Core Skills Occupation List. This is the primary reason regional employers access DAMAs — filling roles the standard pathway cannot accommodate.
English Language Concessions
Reduced English language requirements for specified DAMA occupations. Typically a lower IELTS/equivalent score or alternative evidence of operational English. The concession level varies by occupation within each DAMA.
Salary Concessions (CSIT or AMSR)
Some DAMAs allow sponsorship at salary levels below the standard AMSR for specified occupations — typically where award wages or industry rates are below the standard threshold. The agreed floor rate is binding.
Age Concessions (Over 45)
A significant DAMA advantage: some agreements allow sponsorship of workers over the standard 45-year age cap for certain occupations — particularly valuable for experienced tradespeople and health professionals.
Skills Assessment Concessions
For some DAMA occupations, the standard skills assessment requirement is waived or modified. This reduces barriers for experienced workers whose qualifications may not align with Australian assessment frameworks.
Pathway to Permanent Residence
DAMA workers on a Subclass 494 visa can apply for permanent residence via Subclass 191 after 3 years of regional employment. This pathway is a major attraction for workers — and a retention tool for regional employers.
How to Access a DAMA
Unlike company-specific Labour Agreements, DAMA access is structured through a two-stage process involving the regional authority before the Department of Home Affairs.
Confirm DAMA Eligibility
Verify your business is in a designated DAMA region, your roles are on the relevant DAMA occupation list, and you meet the DAMA's business eligibility criteria. Visa Advisor checks this upfront.
Strategy consultationObtain Regional Endorsement
Apply to the relevant regional authority for DAMA endorsement. Each authority has its own application requirements — typically demonstrating genuine business activity, workforce need, and commitment to the region.
4–12 weeksObtain Standard Business Sponsorship
You must hold approved SBS before lodging nominations. If already an approved sponsor, this step is done. If not, apply concurrently with or before the endorsement stage.
4–8 weeksLodge Nomination & Visa
With endorsement and SBS in place, lodge the DAMA nomination (Subclass 494 or 482 Labour Agreement stream) and the worker's visa application. Standard compliance obligations apply from grant.
3–6 monthsWho Should Consider a DAMA
A DAMA is the right pathway when the standard 482 cannot meet your needs and you are based in a designated regional area.
Agriculture & Food Processing
Regional farms, abattoirs, food manufacturers, and primary producers needing workers in roles not on the CSOL — packers, farm hands, livestock operators, food technicians.
Hospitality & Tourism
Regional hotels, resorts, tourism operators, and restaurants in designated DAMA areas needing cooks, accommodation supervisors, and hospitality workers outside standard visa pathways.
Healthcare & Aged Care
Regional health services, aged care providers, and disability support organisations needing aged and disability carers, enrolled nurses, and health assistants where the CSOL does not apply.
Trades & Construction
Regional construction companies, mining service providers, and infrastructure projects needing tradespersons over 45 or in specific trade classifications where standard age caps create barriers.
End-to-End DAMA Support
DAMA access involves regional authorities, the Department, and complex eligibility rules. Visa Advisor manages every stage — from eligibility check to visa grant.
What's included in our DAMA service
DAMA FAQs
Quick answers to the most common questions about Designated Area Migration Agreements.
A standard Labour Agreement is negotiated directly between your business and the Department of Home Affairs. A DAMA is a region-wide agreement already negotiated between a state/territory or regional authority and the Australian Government — you access it through that existing agreement rather than negotiating your own.
This makes DAMAs faster and more accessible than company-specific Labour Agreements. The trade-off is that the DAMA terms (occupations, concessions) are fixed — you take what the agreement offers for your region rather than negotiating custom terms.
Yes. Your business must be operating in a designated DAMA area to access that DAMA. "Operating in" means having a genuine business presence and activity in the region — not simply being registered there. The work must also be performed in the DAMA region.
Businesses headquartered in capital cities but with genuine regional operations may qualify, depending on the specific DAMA terms. This must be assessed on a case-by-case basis with a MARA-registered agent.
Most DAMA workers are sponsored under the Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa, which is a 5-year temporary visa. After 3 years of regional employment, 494 holders can apply for the Subclass 191 — Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.
Some DAMA arrangements are accessed under the Subclass 482 Labour Agreement stream (2–4 year visa). The applicable visa type depends on the specific DAMA and occupation.
Processing times vary by regional authority and their current workload. Typically:
- NT DAMA: 4–8 weeks for endorsement
- SA DAMA: 6–10 weeks
- Far North Queensland: 4–8 weeks
- Other DAMAs: 4–12 weeks
These are indicative only. Applications must be complete and well-documented — incomplete applications significantly extend processing times.
Yes. Eligible secondary applicants — typically a spouse or de facto partner and dependent children — can be included in the same visa application as the primary DAMA worker. They receive the same visa type and conditions, including regional work and study rights.
Family members on a Subclass 494 visa must generally also reside in the regional area, though their work rights are not restricted to the region. Family presence is often a key factor in worker retention — regional employers should communicate this benefit clearly to prospective workers.
Subclass 494 visa holders are required to live and work in a designated regional area as a condition of their visa. Moving to a capital city or non-regional area can breach their visa conditions.
As the sponsor, you must notify the Department if the worker ceases employment with you — this triggers the worker's 60-day period to find another sponsor, a different visa, or to depart. If you have prior knowledge the worker intends to breach their regional conditions, seek MARA advice immediately.