A DAMA is a formal, two-tier agreement between the Australian Government and a regional authority (such as a state government or shire). Unlike standard skilled migration, these agreements are tailored to the specific economic needs of a region, offering access to occupations and concessions that are otherwise unavailable.
Depending on the specific region, the following concessions may apply:
Designated Area Migration Programs provide access to a vast range of occupations not found on the standard skilled migration lists. This includes semi-skilled roles (ANZSCO Skill Levels 4, and 5) and specialized non-ANZSCO positions, such as:
| Feature | DAMA Stream | Standard Employer Sponsored visas |
| Occupations | Extensive (includes semi-skilled) | Limited to National Lists (CSOL, MTSSL, ROL) |
| Age Limit | Up to 55 years | Generally 45 years |
| English Level | Concessions available | Higher standard requirements |
| PR Pathway | Yes (often faster/guaranteed) | Limited (occupation dependent) |
| Salary | TSMIT concessions (up to 10% discount) | Must meet full TSMIT |
Businesses with a DAMA Labour Agreement can sponsor workers across three primary visa subclasses:
Important Update: Most Designated Area Migration Agreements now offer a structured pathway to Permanent Residency (PR). For example, many regions allow 482 visa holders to transition to a 186 permanent visa after just 2 years of employment.
There are currently 13 active DAMAs across Australia. Each is managed by a Designated Area Representative (DAR) responsible for endorsing employers.
| State | Region / Agreement Name | Managing Authority (DAR) |
| WA | Western Australia (State-wide) | Dept. of Training & Workforce Development |
| WA | East Kimberley | East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce |
| WA | Pilbara | RDA Pilbara |
| WA | South West | Shire of Dardanup |
| WA | The Goldfields | City of Kalgoorlie Boulder |
| SA | South Australia Regional | Skilled & Business Migration SA |
| SA | Adelaide City Technology | Skilled & Business Migration SA |
| NT | Northern Territory | Northern Territory Government |
| QLD | Far North Queensland (FNQ) | Cairns Chamber of Commerce |
| QLD | Townsville | Townsville Enterprise Limited |
| VIC | Goulburn Valley | Goulburn Valley Designated Area |
| VIC | Great South Coast | Warrnambool City Council |
| NSW | Orana | RDA Orana |
Employers cannot apply directly to Home Affairs without first securing regional backing. They need to follow this step-by-step process:
Note on Industry Labour Agreements: If your industry is already covered by a specific Industry Labour Agreement (e.g., Dairy, Fishing, Meat, Minister of Religion), you generally cannot use a DAMA for those specific occupations.
Yes, but with restrictions. Because your visa is tied to a specific labour agreement, you cannot simply move to any employer. You must find another employer within a designated region who is also an approved DAMA sponsor and is willing to nominate you under the agreement framework. Once the nomination will be approved, you can start work with new employer.
Yes, international graduates can apply, provided they meet the specific skills and experience requirements of the DAMA agreement. Crucially, you must secure a job offer from an endorsement-approved employer within the designated DAMA region to be eligible.
Yes. You can include immediate family members (such as your spouse/partner and dependent children) as secondary applicants in your visa application. They will generally have the same work and study rights as the primary applicant
Generally, no. Most DAMA pathways are structured as a transition. You are usually required to hold a Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa and work for your sponsoring employer in the designated region for a set period (typically 2 years) before you are eligible to transition to the permanent Subclass 186 visa.
