Lower salary floors
Salary thresholds below the standard CSIT where the regional labour market justifies. Makes genuine regional roles viable.
NT DAMA · Orana · Goldfields · Pilbara · Far North QLD
Your region is crying out for workers. DAMAs are the answer.
Designated Area Migration Agreements give regional employers concessions that mainland metro businesses cannot access: lower salary floors, relaxed English, broader occupation lists, age caps lifted. Our Darwin office has been handling NT DAMA work since the agreement was first signed.
DAMA concessions
Five concession types.
Each DAMA offers specific concessions. Not every DAMA has all of them. Regional negotiation matters.
Relaxed English requirements
Lower IELTS requirements for specific occupations. Critical for trade and services roles where functional English is sufficient.
Broader occupation lists
Occupations not on the CSOL available under DAMAs. Regional labour market gaps filled.
Age caps lifted
Some DAMAs allow nominations of workers over 45 in specific occupations. Standard skilled migration closes at 45.
Streamlined pathways
Some DAMAs provide clearer or shorter pathways to permanent residency than standard employer sponsorship.
Current DAMAs
Eight active agreements.
DAMAs cover specific regions with their own Designated Area Representative.
Northern Territory DAMAOur Darwin office specialty. Covers all of NT. Broadest occupation list. English concessions. Strong PR pathway.
Orana DAMA (NSW)Central western NSW. Regional services, trades, agricultural industries.
Goldfields DAMA (WA)Goldfields-Esperance. Mining, trades, regional services.
Pilbara DAMA (WA)Pilbara region. Mining-focused occupations.
South West DAMA (WA) and Far North QLDSouth-west Western Australia. Cairns and Far North QLD. Tourism, agriculture, services.
Goulburn Valley and othersSmaller regional DAMAs with specific industry focus.
DAMA application flow
Three-stage process.
DAMA applications involve the DAR, the Department, and the employer. Order matters.
Stage 1: DAR endorsement
Employer approaches the Designated Area Representative. DAR assesses the role and endorses if the regional need justifies concessions.
Stage 2: Department sponsorship
Standard Department sponsorship and nomination. DAMA endorsement enables the concessions but does not replace Department approval.
Stage 3: Worker visa
Worker lodges the SID or 494 visa. Department processes with DAMA concessions applied.
The NT DAMA is the most broadly-used DAMA in Australia.
Northern Territory DAMA covers the widest occupation list of any DAMA and includes strong English and salary concessions. For businesses anywhere in the NT, it is the primary pathway to sponsor workers who would not qualify under standard skilled migration. Our Darwin office handles NT DAMA applications end to end.
Common questions
The questions we hear most.
For DAMA endorsements, book with Sourabh Aggarwal or contact our Darwin office.
How long does DAMA endorsement take?
DAR endorsement times vary. NT DAMA typically 4-8 weeks. Other DAMAs faster or slower. Department sponsorship stage runs in parallel.
Do DAMA workers have a pathway to permanent residency?
Yes. Most DAMA sponsorships eventually transition to 186 Direct Entry or TRT pathways. Specific DAMA rules on PR timing vary.
Can our business be approved under multiple DAMAs?
Only for the region where the business operates. A business cannot use a DAMA for a role located outside the designated area.
What happens if the DAMA is not renewed?
Existing sponsorships continue under grandfathering rules typically. New applications stop. Historical DAMAs have been consistently renewed.
Some information on this page has been sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and has been interpreted and approved by Principal Migration Agent Sourabh Aggarwal (MARN 1462159). Last reviewed: May 2026.