DAMA Australia:
DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreement), is an agreement of Federal government of Australia with thirteen Australian regions. This agreement enables businesses of thirteen Australian regions to hire skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers. DAMA helps to meet the workforce shortage of employers, businesses and industries of these regions. [Read Also: Australia Visa without sponsor]
List of DAMA Regions of Australia:
Australian government has made DAMA with thirteen regions. It means, you can get DAMA visa to work in any of these regions. The names and websites of these regions are listed below (check the official DHA DAMA page for the latest list, as new regions have been added):
- Northern Territory (Click to visit website)
- The Goldfields, WA (Click to visit website)
- Warrnambool (DHA DAMA page (interim link — the dedicated Great South Coast DAMA site is offline))
- Pilbara DAMA (click to visit website)
- Adelaide City and Regional SA (Click to visit website)
- Orana, NSW (Click to visit website)
- Far North Queensland (Click to visit website)
- South West (Western Australia)
- East Kimberley (Western Australia)
- Townsville (Queensland)
- Western Australia (statewide)
Type of DAMA Work Visa:
DAMA uses the Labour Agreement stream of visa subclass 482. It means, you will get a 482 visa under the DAMA visa system. On 7 December 2024 the Temporary Skill Shortage visa was replaced by the Skills in Demand visa (still subclass 482), which is issued through three streams which are as follows
- Specialist Skills stream
- Core Skills stream
- Labour Agreement stream
Under DAMA visa system, you can get a visa through the Labour Agreement stream. You can live and work in DAMA regions of Australia for up to four years under the Labour Agreement stream of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa.
Only Federal department of Home Affairs issues 482 visa. You can read all about this visa at their official website by clicking here.
Please Note: DAMA visa system is different from Australia’s regional visas. DAMA uses the 482 visa subclass whereas regional visas use the 491 and 494 subclasses. [Recommended: Work in Japan]
Age Limit:
There is no age limit to apply for DAMA 482 visa under labor agreement stream as specified by federal immigration department. however, employers and DAMA regional authorities may have some age limitations.
Eligibility for DAMA Visa:
- Your occupation must be in DAMA occupation list.
- You need to get a job offer/contract from an employer who is operating in any of the thirteen DAMA regions.
- You should be nominated for this visa.
- have at least one year’s work experience in the nominated occupation (reduced from two years under the Skills in Demand visa).
- have necessary qualification/skills. it depends on type of occupation and job position.
- Meet health and character requirements.
- Have sufficient knowledge of English.
Is Ielts mandatory for DAMA Visa?
Yes, English is required for the DAMA visa. The English requirement is set by each DAMA labour agreement, and concessions are granted in many occupations. You have to check the DAMA occupation list of each region to find the English requirement and any concession for your occupation.
DAMA Australia Occupation List:
DAMA occupation list includes occupations which are eligible for DAMA 482 visa with labor agreement stream. As said above, there are thirteen DAMA regions, so each region have its own Skill occupation list. In order to check skill occupation list, you have to visit there websites. To be eligible for this visa, your occupation must be in occupation list of any of DAMA regions.
Northern Territory Occupation list Click Here.
The Goldfields Occupation List DHA DAMA page (current occupation lists) (interim link — the linked 2019-20 Year-1 list is outdated).
South Australia Occupation List Click Here
Orana Occupation List Click Here.
Far North Queensland Occupation List Click Here.
Warrnambool (DHA DAMA page (interim link — the dedicated Great South Coast DAMA site is offline))
Pilbara DAMA (click to visit website)
What if Your Occupations is not in DAMA Occupations list:
If your occupation is not on the DAMA occupation list of any of the thirteen DAMA regions, you need not worry. Your occupation may be on the occupation list for another stream of the 482 visa. Your occupation may be on the “Skills in Demand (subclass 482) – Core Skills stream” list, so you can apply for the 482 visa under the Core Skills stream.
In the second scenario, your occupation may be eligible under the “Skills in Demand (subclass 482) – Specialist Skills stream” (for high-earning specialist roles), so you are still eligible to apply for the 482 visa under that stream.
The Core Skills and Specialist Skills streams of the 482 visa subclass are employer sponsored, same as the Labour Agreement (DAMA) stream.
To check your occupation, Click here to visit official portal of Australian immigration. You will see a search box, simply enter your occupation name and click on search icon. It will show you all visa types which you are eligible for.
Please Note: To find DAMA occupations list, you must visit the website of each DAMA region.
How to Apply for DAMA Visa Australia:
As said earlier, DAMA uses the 482 visa Labour Agreement stream which is an employer sponsored visa. You cannot apply for this visa independently without any job offer. You must need to secure a job offer from any employer/business or company of any of the thirteen DAMA regions.
Step#01:
Find a suitable job offer from an Australian Employer who belongs to any one of the thirteen DAMA regions. This is the most challenging step for you because you have to struggle hard to find a suitable employment offer. The government of Australia has listed many websites in order to find a job offer. We have placed these websites at the bottom of this page, please brows down to the bottom of the page to find list of approved job search websites.
Step#02:
Employer will submit nomination application to Regional DAMA authority and Federal immigration respectively. Once he gets nomination approval for you, you are ready to apply for visa subclass 482. There are certain requirements for employers which they are need to meet before hiring an overseas worker. For example: employers have to submit evidence that they are failed to find a local worker for the job. Furthermore they have to offer proper salary to overseas worker and it should be equal to that of an Australian workers. However, salary concession is granted under some circumstances.
Step#03:
After receiving nomination approval, you have to apply for the 482 visa online. You can find more information regarding visa application at DHA website.
DAMA Skill Assessment:
Before you apply for visa, you have to get skill assessment from authorized body of Australia. Your employer may also demand skill assessment. Skill assessment let’s employer and other government bodies know of your qualifications’ suitability for the job you are applying for. Each DAMA region have agreement with assessing bodies, you can find relevant bodies on website of DAMA regions.
VETASSESS is appointed as assessing authority for DAMA skills assessments (including South Australia, Goldfields, Orana, Great South Coast, Far North Queensland and the statewide Western Australia DAMA), you can read more at their website. We suggest you to read instructions on DAMA regions’ website before taking any step.
Click to Read How to Write Cover Letter for Visa Application.
The key elements of NT DAMA are:
- pathways to permanent residency for NT DAMA visa holders (including transitional arrangements for existing visa holders)
- a broad range of occupations that reflect NT skilled and semi-skilled shortages, with no caveats to apply
- English language concessions for some occupations
- salary concessions that reflect NT market rates, ensuring that worker terms and conditions of employment are not eroded, and NT businesses and consumers are not subjected to inflationary costs
- a range of risk and integrity actions to ensure that the rights of both employees and employers are protected
- a five-year agreement to reduce red tape.
Note: NT DAMA III commenced on 19 March 2025 with a new five-year agreement covering 325 occupations.
Cover Letter For Job Click To Read
Additional occupations not in ANZSCO
The NT DAMA is unique in that it provides access to three occupations not in the Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupation (ANZSCO).
These are:
- bar attendant (supervisor)
- waiter (supervisor)
- cook (specialist ethnic cuisine)
For the purposes of the NT DAMA these occupations have been given the code 070499.
For these occupations, applicants need to demonstrate that skills, qualifications and experience align to the following sample position descriptions:
- Bar attendant (supervisor)
Bar attendant (supervisor) - Waiter (supervisor)
Waiter (supervisor) - Cook (specialist ethnic cuisine)
Cook (specialist ethnic cuisine)
English language concessions
The English language concessions are available to overseas workers applying for a Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa, and those transitioning to Australian permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) labour agreement pathway.
Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold concessions
All workers employed under the DAMA must be employed under Australian employment conditions and receive no less than what an Australian would to undertake the same job in the same location.
Many employer sponsored visa programs have a minimum salary threshold. The TSMIT (now called the Core Skills Income Threshold), which is $79,423 from 1 July 2026, also applies, though salary concessions are available under individual DAMAs.
Click to Read How To Write Resume for Freshers
Australia Job Search Websites to find job offer:
Alert: Please Do not Share Your Credit Card Details and Do not Pay any Money at Job search Websites. Thanks
Australian Government Workforce Australia Website Please Click Here.
Australian Government APS Job Website Please Click Here.
Find Sponsorship jobs Please Click Here.
Alert: Please Do not Share Your Credit Card Details and Do not Pay any Money at Job search Websites. Thanks
To Apply Visa:
Australian Immigration Website Please Click Here.
