DAMA · Darwin and the Northern Territory · NT DAMA III
Northern Territory DAMA — Darwin to Alice Springs, 325 occupations, eight of them outside ANZSCO
NT DAMA III lets Territory employers sponsor overseas workers in roles the standard programs will not cover. Endorsement by MigrationNT comes first, and it is free. Age, English and income-threshold concessions attach to individual occupations.
What is the NT DAMA program?
It is an agreement between the Northern Territory and Australian governments. MigrationNT endorses the business first. The Department then enters a labour agreement with it, and the employer nominates workers against approved occupations. The current version is NT DAMA III, executed on 19 March 2025. It covers 325 occupations across skill levels 1 to 5. It is also one of several agreements reaching occupations with no ANZSCO code at all.
Key facts
- 325 occupations, skill levels 1 to 5, reviewed annually by the two governments.
- Endorsement by MigrationNT is free, and so is skills verification. The labour agreement carries no Departmental charge.
- Age: under 55 for skill levels 1 to 4, under 50 for skill level 5.
- Income threshold: a concession to 85 per cent of the CSIT or TSMIT, or the market salary, whichever is higher.
- Permanent residence: the 186 after two years in the NT, or the 494 then the 191 after three.
- Eight occupations sit outside ANZSCO entirely, under the code 070499.
- Concessions are per occupation. Not every occupation carries them.
NT DAMA Program Overview
NT DAMA II expired on 13 December 2024. NT DAMA III was executed on 19 March 2025 and the endorsement portal is open. MigrationNT sits inside the Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations and is the designated area representative for the Territory.
- Administered by: MigrationNT, for endorsement and skills verification.
- Regions: Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek and other Northern Territory areas.
- Occupations: 325, each carrying its own age, English and qualification settings.
- Employer-led. A worker cannot apply to the NT DAMA independently.
The occupations outside ANZSCO
Eight NT DAMA occupations have no ANZSCO code. MigrationNT has given them the code 070499, and publishes a task description for each:
- bar attendant (supervisor)
- civil construction site supervisor
- cook (specialist ethnic cuisine)
- electrical motor repairer or winder
- high access maintenance and cleaning technician
- hospitality worker
- skilled horticultural worker
- waiter (supervisor)
For these roles the applicant shows that their tasks, skills, qualifications and experience match MigrationNT's published description. There is no ANZSCO lead statement to argue from, which changes how the evidence is built.
What we see in practice
The trap here is not the worker's record. It is the employer's agreement. MigrationNT states the rule plainly. A business holding a labour agreement under an earlier NT DAMA must be endorsed under the current one. It must also enter a new labour agreement before it can nominate anyone for the 186. So two years of NT work is necessary but not sufficient. If the sponsor is still on an NT DAMA II agreement, the permanent nomination cannot be lodged. Check the employer's agreement version early, not in the month PR becomes available.
Eligibility
For Employers
- be lawfully and actively operating in the Northern Territory;
- show a genuine need for the position, and that it cannot be filled locally;
- carry out labour market testing, at endorsement and again at nomination;
- apply to MigrationNT for endorsement before approaching the Department;
- enter a labour agreement with the Department once endorsed, then nominate.
One rule catches employers out. If an industry labour agreement is available for the occupation, the NT DAMA cannot be used for that occupation. Check the Department's list of labour agreement types before assuming the DAMA is the route.
For Skilled Workers
- the occupation must be on the current NT DAMA occupations list;
- meet the qualification and experience category published against that occupation;
- meet the age and English settings for that occupation, concession or not;
- satisfy the usual health and character requirements;
- hold a job offer from an NT employer already endorsed and holding a labour agreement.
What concessions apply under the NT DAMA?
Concessions are set per occupation. The occupations list marks which ones carry an English concession and which age limit applies. Not every occupation is eligible for a concession.
Age
The 494 and the 186 normally require an applicant to be under 45. Under the NT DAMA the limit is under 55 at skill levels 1 to 4. At skill level 5 it is under 50.
English
| Situation | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Occupation has an English concession — 482 or 494 | Overall IELTS 4.5 or equivalent, with at least 4.0 in each band |
| Occupation has an English concession — 186 | Overall IELTS 5.0 or equivalent, with at least 4.0 in each band |
| Occupation has no English concession — 186 | At least 6 in an IELTS test or equivalent |
That last row matters more than it looks. An occupation without an English concession faces a materially higher bar at the permanent stage. Check the concession column against the occupation before anyone plans a PR timeline.
Income threshold
Workers must be paid the market salary for the role. On top of that, the salary must normally reach a published threshold. That is the Core Skills Income Threshold for the 482 and 186. For the 494 it is the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold. Both index on 1 July each year.
The NT DAMA concedes that threshold to 85 per cent where the NT market rate sits below it. The worker must be paid the concessional amount or the market salary, whichever is higher. MigrationNT publishes both the current threshold and the current concessional figure. It also works two examples, showing the market rate winning where it is the larger number.
The concessional amount must be annual earnings the contract commits to, excluding superannuation. Non-monetary benefits can make up to 10 per cent of it. They must support the worker's living costs and be quantifiable. They must also match what comparable Australian employees receive, and sit in the employment contract.
Step-by-Step Guide
Employers
- EndorsementConfirm the occupation is on the list, then apply to MigrationNT through the online portal. There is no charge.
- Labour agreementOnce endorsed, request the labour agreement from the Department through ImmiAccount.
- Nominate, then applyNominate the worker against an approved occupation. The worker then lodges the visa application.
Applicants
- secure a job offer from an endorsed NT employer that holds a current labour agreement;
- confirm the age, English and income settings published against that occupation;
- meet the qualification and experience category MigrationNT has assigned to it;
- lodge the 482, 494 or 186 in its labour agreement stream once the nomination is in place.
Visa Subclass Pathways
| Visa | Duration | PR Pathway | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subclass 482 – Skills in Demand | Up to 4 years | 186 after 2 years working in the NT in the nominated occupation | Age, English and income concessions by occupation |
| Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional | Up to 5 years | 191 after 3 years with an NT DAMA endorsed employer, no sponsorship needed | Territory-wide regional settlement |
| Subclass 186 – Employer Nomination Scheme | Permanent | Direct PR (labour agreement stream) | Employer-sponsored, no points test |
What the 186 actually requires
MigrationNT publishes the criteria in full. The worker must have worked in the NT for two years full-time, or the part-time equivalent. That work must fall within the three years immediately before nomination. That work must be in the nominated occupation or a closely related one at the same skill level. Visa conditions must have been complied with.
The employer's side matters too. The job offered must be full-time and ongoing for at least two years with the possibility of extension. The occupation nominated must be the one connected to those two years of NT experience. The business must be endorsed under the current NT DAMA and hold an associated labour agreement.
Visa Fees & Charges
MigrationNT charges nothing. It publishes that endorsement to access the NT DAMA carries no charge. Nor does skills verification on selected occupations. The labour agreement itself carries no Australian Government charge either. On this point the NT differs from several other agreements, where the regional representative does charge per position.
Three costs do apply, all to the Australian Government. The nomination application charge. The worker's visa application charge, which is indexed every 1 July. And the Skilling Australians Fund levy, paid by the employer. We do not print those amounts here because they change. Professional fees are quoted in writing after a consultation.
Family Members You Can Include
- Spouse or de facto partner: full work rights in Australia.
- Dependent children under 18: study rights, and Medicare on the permanent visas.
- Older dependants: may qualify if financially dependent.
Family must be declared at application stage or added later as subsequent entrants. On the 494 the family carries the regional condition as well.
Free download
The DAMA Handbook — the 13 regional agreements, how they work
How a DAMA works end to end. The four stages, why the regional representative comes before the Department, and what an endorsement business case has to show. Includes the 482 to 186 and 494 to 191 routes and a directory of all 13 agreements.
PDF · 2026 edition · no cost · prepared by a MARA-registered agent
The DAMA Handbook
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Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Planning PR without checking the employer's agreement version. A business still on an earlier NT DAMA must re-endorse before it can nominate for the 186.
- Reading a dollar figure off an old page. The threshold and the concession both move on 1 July. Take them from MigrationNT.
- Assuming the concessions are automatic. They are set per occupation, and some occupations have none.
- Missing the English step-up at PR. An occupation with no English concession needs a higher score at the 186.
- Going to the Department first. MigrationNT endorsement comes before the labour agreement.
- Using the DAMA where an industry labour agreement exists. If one is available for the occupation, the NT DAMA is not.
Tips for Strong Application
- Read the occupation's row on the list first. Age, English and the qualification category are all set there.
- For a 070499 occupation, build the evidence against MigrationNT's own task description, not an ANZSCO entry.
- Keep labour market testing current. It is required at endorsement and again at nomination.
- Date the two years of NT work carefully. They must fall inside the three years before nomination.
Related visas and resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NT DAMA program?
An agreement between the Northern Territory and Australian governments. It lets endorsed NT employers sponsor overseas workers in 325 occupations, several of which the standard programs do not reach.
What concessions apply?
Age under 55 at skill levels 1 to 4 and under 50 at skill level 5. An English concession on flagged occupations. An income threshold concession to 85 per cent, or the market salary if that is higher. All are set per occupation.
How long until PR?
Do I need to pass the points test?
No. DAMA visas are employer-sponsored, not points-based, and there is no invitation round.
Are there NT Government fees?
No. MigrationNT publishes that endorsement and skills verification carry no charge, and the labour agreement carries no Australian Government charge. Nomination, visa and Skilling Australians Fund levy costs still apply.
What happens if I change jobs?
You must be nominated again by another NT employer. That employer must be endorsed under the current NT DAMA and hold its own labour agreement. The occupation must be on the list for it.
What if my occupation is not on the list?
You cannot be nominated under the NT DAMA for it. The standard employer-sponsored programs and state nomination remain open. The list is reviewed annually by the two governments.
What are the occupations with code 070499?
Eight roles the NT DAMA created outside ANZSCO. They are bar attendant (supervisor), civil construction site supervisor, and cook (specialist ethnic cuisine). Also electrical motor repairer or winder, high access maintenance and cleaning technician, and hospitality worker. Plus skilled horticultural worker and waiter (supervisor).
Can a worker apply for the NT DAMA on their own?
No. The agreement is employer-led. A worker needs a job offer from a business MigrationNT has endorsed. That business must also hold a labour agreement.
Start with the occupation's row, not the visa.
A free eligibility check confirms whether the role is on the NT DAMA list. It also shows which age, English and income settings apply to it.
Visa Advisor is a MARA-registered visa agent in Sydney, NSW, working with Northern Territory employers on DAMA sponsorship. We advise sponsored workers too, Australia-wide and offshore.
Sources and last checked dates
- Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations (MigrationNT) — Concessions available (age limits, English settings, the 85 per cent income threshold concession, non-monetary rules and the two worked examples, and the eight non-ANZSCO occupations) read in full 8 September 2026 open ↗
- Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations (MigrationNT) — NT DAMA occupations list (325 occupations, the three visa programs, the qualification categories, and the industry labour agreement exclusion) read in full 8 September 2026 open ↗
- Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations (MigrationNT) — Permanent residence pathway (the two-year and three-year routes, the three-year window, English at the 186, and the employer's agreement requirement) read in full 8 September 2026 open ↗
- Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations (MigrationNT) — Fees and charges (no charge for endorsement, skills verification or the labour agreement) read in full 8 September 2026 open ↗
- Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations (MigrationNT) — Important update on the NT DAMA program (NT DAMA II expiry, NT DAMA III execution date, and the transition rules) read in full 8 September 2026 open ↗
- Department of Home Affairs — Designated Area Migration Agreements (the current list of agreements and representatives) list last updated 5 November 2025 · checked 22 July 2026 open ↗
- Migration Regulations 1994 — Schedule 2 clauses 482.24, 186.24 and 494.23 (Labour Agreement streams), Compilation No. 288, 1 July 2026 (F2026C00667) read 8 September 2026 open ↗
The occupations list, the concessions and the income thresholds change during a programme year, and the thresholds index every 1 July. Confirm the current position with MigrationNT or the Department before acting on anything on this page.