DAMA Pathways
Designated Area Migration Agreements help approved regional employers sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers where genuine local labour shortages cannot be met through standard visa programs.
A DAMA is not a visa and individuals cannot apply directly. You need an eligible employer operating in the designated region to sponsor you for an occupation covered by that region's agreement.
What is a Designated Area Migration Agreement?
A DAMA is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and a state, territory or regional authority known as the Designated Area Representative (DAR). It responds to the specific economic and workforce needs of a defined region by providing access to additional occupations and agreed visa concessions.
The framework has two levels: a regional head agreement between the Australian Government and the DAR, followed by individual labour agreements between the Government and endorsed employers operating in that designated area.
Visa programs available through DAMA
Who can access a DAMA pathway?
An overseas worker needs a genuine job offer from an employer located and actively operating within a DAMA region. The occupation must appear in that DAMA's current occupation list, and both the employer and worker must meet the terms of the regional head agreement and the selected visa subclass.
The employer must first obtain endorsement from the relevant DAR. It then requests an individual DAMA labour agreement, nominates the worker in an approved occupation, and supports the worker's visa application.
How the DAMA process works
Confirm regional coverage
Check that the employer's workplace is inside an active DAMA area and the role is on its occupation list.
Employer seeks DAR endorsement
The employer demonstrates a genuine vacancy, local recruitment efforts and compliance with regional requirements.
Request a labour agreement
After endorsement, the employer lodges an individual DAMA labour agreement request through ImmiAccount.
Lodge the nomination
The approved employer nominates the worker under the relevant Subclass 482, 494 or 186 labour agreement stream.
Worker applies for the visa
The nominee provides skills, experience, English, health, character and other evidence required by the agreement and visa.
Potential DAMA concessions
A regional head agreement may provide access to occupations unavailable under standard skilled programs and can contain negotiated concessions relating to English, work experience, age, salary or other criteria. Concessions are not automatic and differ across regions, occupations and visa pathways.
Applicants must meet the exact terms applicable to their nominated occupation. Being eligible for a concession does not remove the need to satisfy all remaining nomination and visa requirements.
Employer requirements
DAMA employers must demonstrate a genuine labour shortage and make genuine attempts to recruit Australian citizens and permanent residents first. They need to be lawfully operating in the designated area, offer appropriate employment terms and salary, and meet workplace, sponsorship and labour agreement obligations.
The employer may also need to complete labour market testing, consult with stakeholders, show financial viability, demonstrate a strong record of compliance and explain how the overseas worker will address the regional skills need.
Worker requirements
Requirements vary by DAMA, occupation and visa subclass but commonly include relevant qualifications, skills assessment where required, specified work experience, English ability, licensing or registration, age criteria for permanent pathways, and health and character checks.
Important DAMA Facts
- A DAMA cannot be accessed without an eligible sponsoring employer.
- The job and workplace must fall within the relevant regional agreement.
- Occupation lists and concessions vary between DAMA regions.
- DAR endorsement comes before the employer's labour agreement request.
- Australian workers must receive first priority for available positions.
- A permanent pathway is available only where the agreement and visa criteria allow it.
- Approval at one stage does not guarantee nomination or visa grant.
Documents commonly required
Employer evidence can include DAR endorsement, labour market testing, business registration and financial records, organisational structure, employment contract, position description and salary evidence. Worker documents may include passport, qualifications, skills assessment, employment references, English results, registration, police certificates, health examinations and family records.
How Echoes Global Education can assist
Our migration team can assess the region, employer, occupation and available concessions; explain the staged DAMA process; prepare employer and worker checklists; and assist with the labour agreement, nomination and visa application stages.