Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA)

A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal five-year agreement between the Australian Government and a regional, state, or territory authority that allows employers in specific regions to sponsor overseas workers for positions that can’t be filled locally, using tailored terms and concessions beyond the standard skilled migration program.

Overview How to Apply

Duration

Temporary

Cost

$420

Processing Time

6-12 months

Pathway

Pathway to Permanent Residency through ENS 186

Overview

The DAMA program provides a flexible and region-specific approach to skilled migration, addressing critical labour shortages and supporting economic growth in regional Australia.
Each DAMA operates under a two-tier framework:

A Head Agreement between the Commonwealth and a regional representative body (Designated Area Representative – DAR).
Individual DAMA Labour Agreements between the Department of Home Affairs and approved local employers endorsed by the DAR.

Through a DAMA, employers can access both skilled and semi-skilled occupations, often with concessions to requirements like English language, salary level (TSMIT), and age limits. DAMAs support regional communities by filling labour gaps while ensuring Australian workers remain the first priority for recruitment.

Currently, there are 13 active DAMAs across Australia, covering designated regional zones such as the Northern Territory, Pilbara, Orana, Townsville, the Goldfields, Far North Queensland, and others.

Do You Have What It Takes?

✔ You are an employer operating within a designated DAMA region.
✔ You seek to fill positions not met by local Australian workers.
✔ You have labour market testing evidence showing genuine recruitment efforts.
✔ You gain endorsement from the Designated Area Representative (DAR).
✔ You lodge a labour agreement request via ImmiAccount.

✔ The occupation is covered under the region’s DAMA Head Agreement.
✔ You agree to the terms, concessions, and obligations of the DAMA.
✔ You comply with all employment, sponsorship, and migration laws.
✔ Workers sponsored under DAMA meet visa-specific requirements (482, 494, or 186).
✔ You demonstrate your business is financially viable and acting in good faith.

Why Choose This Path?

Access to a wider range of occupations (including semi-skilled jobs).
Greater flexibility in English, age, and income threshold requirements.
Ability to sponsor workers under subclass 482, 494, or 186 programs.
Tailored regional solutions to critical labour shortages.
Strengthened regional workforce stability and growth.
Long-term 5-year framework for ongoing recruitment.
Concessions aligned to local economic needs.
Genuine pathways to permanent residence for workers.
Encourages settlement and community integration in regional areas.
Government collaboration ensures compliance and sustainability.

Your Roadmap to Success

Check your region’s DAMA coverage and contact its DAR.
Identify eligible occupations within your regional DAMA list.
Prepare proof of labour market testing and recruitment attempts.
Apply for DAR endorsement under the DAMA head agreement.
Once endorsed, lodge a labour agreement request via ImmiAccount.
Receive approval for the individual DAMA labour agreement.
Nominate a skilled worker under a relevant visa (482/494/186).
Lodge worker visa applications with required supporting documents.
Meet obligations as an approved sponsor and maintain reporting compliance.
Continue annual reviews and extensions via your DAR.

Visa Duration

Initial Duration

Temporary

Visa Pathways

Pathway to Permanent Residency through ENS 186

Employers operating under a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) can sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers through multiple visa pathways, with the most significant being the pathway to permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Subclass 186 visa. DAMA labour agreements operate within the ENS 186 visa program framework, allowing regional employers who have obtained individual DAMA labour agreements to nominate overseas workers for direct permanent residency with negotiated concessions to standard skilled migration criteria.