Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA)
A DAMA helps approved employers in designated Australian regions sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers when genuine local workforce shortages cannot be filled through standard visa programs.
A DAMA is not a visa and workers cannot apply directly. Access requires an eligible employer operating in the designated region, an occupation covered by that agreement and approval through the employer-led DAMA process.
What is a DAMA?
A Designated Area Migration Agreement is a formal arrangement between the Australian Government and a state, territory or regional authority known as the Designated Area Representative (DAR). It addresses region-specific economic and workforce needs.
The framework operates at two levels: a head agreement between the Government and DAR, followed by an individual labour agreement between the Australian Government and an employer endorsed to use that DAMA.
Pathways available through DAMA
Employer eligibility
The business must generally be lawfully operating within the designated area, have a genuine vacancy and demonstrate that suitably qualified Australian citizens or permanent residents are unavailable. The proposed position must appear on the current regional occupation list.
Requirements can include labour market testing, financial viability, workplace compliance, stakeholder consultation, appropriate salary and employment terms, and a clear business case for accessing overseas labour.
How the DAMA process works
Check the region and occupation
Confirm the workplace is inside an active DAMA area and the role appears on its current occupation list.
Apply for DAR endorsement
The employer demonstrates the genuine vacancy, local recruitment efforts and compliance with regional requirements.
Request a labour agreement
After endorsement, the employer requests an individual DAMA labour agreement through ImmiAccount.
Lodge the nomination
The approved business nominates the worker under the applicable Subclass 482, 494 or 186 pathway.
Worker applies for the visa
The nominee provides skills, experience, English, health, character and other required visa evidence.
Potential DAMA concessions
A DAMA may provide occupations unavailable under standard skilled programs and negotiated concessions concerning English, work experience, age, salary or other requirements. The concessions differ by region, occupation and visa pathway.
Concessions are not automatic. The employer and worker must request and qualify for the specific concession and continue to meet all remaining labour agreement, nomination and visa criteria.
Worker requirements
The nominee generally needs qualifications and experience relevant to the occupation, a skills assessment where required, prescribed English ability, licensing or registration, and health and character clearance. Permanent pathways can include additional age, employment and residence criteria.
Employer sponsorship obligations
Approved employers must comply with Australian workplace law, sponsorship obligations, approved occupation and salary terms, record-keeping and notification requirements. Overseas workers must receive lawful employment conditions and cannot be used to undercut Australian wages.
Permanent residence pathways
Some DAMAs provide access to permanent residence through the Subclass 186 Labour Agreement stream after the worker meets specified employment, age, English and other agreement requirements. Availability varies between regional agreements and occupations.
A temporary DAMA visa does not automatically become permanent. The employer must remain eligible and support the later nomination, while the worker must meet the criteria applying at that stage.
Important DAMA Considerations
- An individual cannot access DAMA without an eligible employer.
- The job and workplace must fall within the designated agreement.
- Occupation lists and concessions vary between regions.
- DAR endorsement precedes the labour agreement request.
- Australian workers receive first priority for vacancies.
- Every nomination and visa requirement must still be met.
- Approval at one stage does not guarantee later approval.
Documents commonly required
Employer documents can include business registrations, financial records, DAR endorsement, organisational charts, labour market testing, employment contract, position description, salary evidence and compliance records. Worker evidence may include passports, qualifications, skills assessment, employment references, English results, registration, police certificates and health examinations.
How Echoes Global Education can assist
Our migration team can assess DAMA coverage, occupation eligibility and potential concessions; prepare employer and worker checklists; and assist through DAR endorsement, labour agreement, nomination and visa application stages.