Many employers in regional areas struggle to find suitable talent for key roles, facing challenges such as limited local workforce availability, difficulty attracting skilled professionals from metropolitan centres, and the need to fill specialised positions critical to business continuity and growth.
Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) address these challenges by allowing access to a broader range of eligible occupations than the standard program.
DAMAs also provide access to concessions that align with a region’s specific labour needs.
Designated Area Migration Agreements: DAMAs
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a type of Labour Agreement negotiated between the Commonwealth Government and a Designated Area Representative, such as a shire council or state or regional authority, that is tailored to the region’s unique labour demands.
Employers operating in regions covered by a DAMA may be able to access relaxed visa requirements and a broader occupation list to sponsor overseas workers.
DAMA Labour Agreements are currently in place for the below regions:
- South Australia Regional, SA
- Townsville, QLD
- Far North Queensland, QLD
- Goulburn Valley, VIC
- Great South Coast, VIC
- Northern Territory, NT
- Orana, NSW
- Goldfields, WA
- Pilbara, WA
- South West, WA
- East Kimberley, WA
- Western Australia – Explore WA DAMA
- Adelaide City (Technology and Innovation Advancement), SA
DAMA Labour Agreement Features
Designed to address persistent skill shortages in designated regional areas covered by a DAMA sponsorship head agreement. Employers may nominate workers for roles listed in the region’s DAMA occupation list.
Conditions are fixed and set in consultation with regional area stakeholders and the Commonwealth.
May include relaxed visa requirements for English language, age limits for Permanent Residence, salary, qualifications and experience.
Expanded occupation lists that include semi-skilled and regionally relevant occupations not available under standard skilled migration programs.
DAMAs are valid for five years and can be renewed and varied.
The DAMA Sponsorship Process
1. Seek endorsement from the Designated Area Representative (DAR)
Lodge an endorsement request with details about your business, workforce needs, and recruitment efforts. If approved, you’ll receive a Letter of Endorsement.
2. Apply for a Labour Agreement with Home Affairs
Lodge a Labour Agreement Request with supporting evidence that demonstrates your need to access the concessions available under your region’s DAMA.
3. Agreement Negotiation and Approval
Home Affairs reviews your requests. If approved, your business will enter into a Labour Agreement under the DAMA sponsorship framework.
4. Nominate and Sponsor Workers
Your business can now nominate overseas workers for relevant visa subclasses (typically 482 Skills in Demand Visas, 494 Regional Visas and 186 Visas – Permanent Residence).
Workers must meet the agreed terms, including any concessions and submit a visa application.
Your Business Case for DAMA Concessions
Concessions under a DAMA are pre-negotiated and fixed through regional agreements, meaning employers cannot negotiate new concessions – but they can request to access the concessions already established for their region.
Presenting a strong case during the regional endorsement and Labour Agreement application stages will justify why those concessions are needed for your business.
Interstaff assist with DAMA strategy, regional endorsement, Labour Agreement applications, and visa sponsorship needs.
STEP 1
Assess and Strategise:
Regional Workforce Solutions
DAMA sponsorship arrangements are highly technical due to region-specific eligibility criteria, occupation lists, and concessions that vary significantly across different regions.
We support you by:
- Evaluating your current and future workforce needs and business operations to determine if a DAMA is the right fit, and if so, which DAMA Labour Agreement is most suitable.
- Developing a DAMA strategy that maximises access to eligible occupations and available concessions – such as relaxed English, salary and age requirements.
- Advising on visa pathways and sponsorship obligations to maintain compliance under a DAMA.
STEP 2
Apply and Comply:
Regional Endorsement and Labour Agreement Request
We guide you through each step of the DAMA application process, while helping you stay compliant.
Our support includes:
- Assisting with preparing and lodging your endorsement request to the Designated Area Representative (DAR).
- Advising on both regional and Labour Agreement compliance requirements.
- Partnering with you to prepare evidence for DAMA visa requirements that justifies your need for concessions and access to broader occupation lists.
- Managing all aspects of your Labour Agreement Request to Home Affairs and lodging on your behalf.
STEP 3
Retain and Grow:
DAMA Visa Requirements and Compliance
Once your business has been approved for a DAMA, we help you boost workforce stability and growth, with sponsorship obligations remaining a key focus.
We support you by:
- Managing nomination and visa applications and lodgements, including complex cases.
- Keeping you and your employees informed at every stage of the process.
- Compliance advice during business or employment changes.
- Visa expiry alerts to plan future workforce needs.
- Permanent Residence pathway mapping for temporary visa holders.
- Ongoing training on immigration policy impacts.
Talk to us to explore a migration strategy to support DAMA Regional Visa needs.
What DAMA Regional Visa Applicants Should Know
If a business is willing to sponsor you, it is essential to understand the Designated Area Migration Agreement sponsorship pathways that may be available to you and the sponsoring business.
Interstaff provide eligibility assessments to both individuals and employers.
We also advise on skills assessment requirements, visa conditions, health and character issues and Permanent Residence pathways.
Experience and Insights
Designated Area Migration Agreements
Explore more about how we work, our industry experience and insights.
Permanent Residence Planning
Industries
Skills in Demand Visa
Subclass 482
Employer Sponsored Regional Visa
Subclass 494
Employer Nomination Scheme Visa
Subclass 186