Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) are special labour agreements between the Australian Government and regional authorities that allow employers in specified regions to sponsor overseas workers with concessions not available under standard employer sponsorship programs.
If you're a regional employer who can't fill positions through standard recruitment — and the standard 482 visa requirements are too restrictive — a DAMA might be your solution.
What concessions do DAMAs offer?
DAMAs can provide concessions on:
- Salary threshold — the TSMIT ($73,150 for standard 482) can be reduced, sometimes to as low as $53,900 depending on the DAMA and occupation
- English language — lower English requirements than the standard visa, sometimes as low as IELTS 4.5 overall
- Age — some DAMAs allow applicants over 45 years of age
- Skills assessment — modified or waived skills assessment requirements for some occupations
- Occupation list — access to occupations not on the standard skilled occupation lists (e.g., lower-skilled roles in hospitality, agriculture, aged care)
Active DAMAs in 2026
Several regions across Australia have active DAMAs, including:
- Northern Territory (NT DAMA) — one of the most extensive, covering a wide range of occupations across the entire Territory
- South Australia (Adelaide Technology and Innovation DAMA, SA Regional DAMA)
- Far North Queensland (Cairns, Townsville)
- Victoria (Great South Coast, Warrnambool)
- Western Australia (Goldfields, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Perth)
- New South Wales (Orana region)
Each DAMA has its own list of eligible occupations, concession levels, and endorsement requirements. Check with your regional authority for current availability.
How the process works
- Employer applies for endorsement from the regional authority (e.g., local council or state government body)
- Regional authority endorses the employer and nominated occupation
- Employer applies for a labour agreement with DHA, referencing the DAMA
- DHA approves the labour agreement — this sets out the specific concessions
- Employer nominates the worker under the Labour Agreement stream of the 482 visa
- Worker applies for the visa
Pathway to permanent residency
Most DAMAs include a pathway to permanent residency. After 2-3 years on a 482 visa under the DAMA, the worker can typically apply for the Subclass 186 visa through the Labour Agreement stream. The permanent residency concessions mirror those of the DAMA — meaning the same salary, English, and age concessions apply.
Common DAMA occupations
DAMAs often cover occupations that are difficult to fill in regional areas:
- Aged and disability care workers
- Chefs and cooks
- Motor mechanics
- Meat processors
- Agricultural workers
- Hospitality managers
- Childcare workers
- Truck drivers (some DAMAs)
- Telecommunications technicians
- Community workers
Costs and timeframes
- Regional endorsement: Varies by region (some free, some charge $500-$2,000)
- Labour agreement application: No government fee, but legal/agent costs apply
- 482 visa nomination: $330
- 482 visa application: $1,455-$3,035 depending on stream
- Total processing time: 3-6 months for endorsement + labour agreement, then standard 482 processing
DAMAs are particularly valuable for employers in industries like aged care, hospitality, and agriculture where standard visa requirements make it nearly impossible to sponsor workers. If you're a migration agent managing DAMA applications, LodgeHQ supports the multi-stage DAMA workflow with dedicated pipeline tracking for endorsement, labour agreement, nomination, and visa stages.