DAMA and Labour Agreement Migration Agents

A DAMA can make a sponsorship work when the standard program will not. It is one of the more specialised corners of Australian migration, so the agents listed here focus on it specifically.

What to know about DAMAs

A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a regional labour agreement that lets approved local employers sponsor overseas workers on more flexible terms than the standard visa program. There are around a dozen across Australia, covering parts of the NT, SA, WA, VIC, QLD, TAS, NSW and the ACT. Depending on the agreement and occupation, a DAMA can offer a lower salary threshold, lower English requirements, higher age limits, occupations not on the standard skilled lists, and a pathway to permanent residence. That makes them a strong fit for regional trades, aged and disability care workers, chefs and cooks, and experienced older workers, where the standard 482 or 494 does not quite fit. The local Designated Area Representative endorses the employer first, and labour market testing is not required under a DAMA.

Frequently asked questions

What is a DAMA? A regional labour agreement between the government and a local representative body that lets approved employers in that area sponsor workers on concessional terms.

Which regions have a DAMA? Around a dozen across the NT, SA, WA, VIC, QLD, TAS, NSW and ACT, each with its own occupation list and concessions.

What concessions can a DAMA offer? Commonly lower salary and English thresholds, higher age limits, and broader occupations, varying by agreement.

Does a DAMA lead to permanent residence? Often yes, typically through the 186 labour agreement stream after the temporary visa period.

Contact a DAMA specialist

Use the enquiry form to contact a listed agent. Your enquiry goes to the specialist you choose.