Lexi Webster
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and regional, state, or territory authorities. DAMAs allow employers to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas professionals for positions they are unable to fill with local workers. Each DAMA is different and addresses the specific needs of employers in that region. To apply for a DAMA, you must first have a form of employer offer or sponsorship. You will then need to gather the documents required for your application, which may include a CV and qualifications. You can then submit an application via the Skilled & Business Migration Portal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To address local worker shortages and support economic development in designated regional areas |
| Applicant | Employers in designated areas |
| Applicant's Requirements | Must be eligible and operate within the designated area |
| Type of Visa | Skilled work visa |
| Visa Applicant's Requirements | Skills, qualifications, experience, and employment background |
| Visa Applicant's Requirements (cont.) | Skills assessment, occupational licensing, and registration |
| Visa Types | Subclass 482 Labour Agreement pathway, Subclass 407 Training visa |
| Application Process | DAR endorsement or variation request, DAMA labour agreement request or variation of deed request, nomination application |
| Application Platform | Skilled & Business Migration Portal |
| Application Fee | No fee for endorsement application to access WA DAMA |
| Application Processing Time | Positive WA DAMA endorsement is valid for 12 months |
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What You'll Learn
DAMA eligibility requirements
To be eligible for a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA), employers in designated regional areas of Australia must demonstrate that they have been unable to fill positions with local workers. DAMAs are formal agreements between the Australian Government and regional, state, or territory authorities, designed to address labour market shortages and local terms and conditions of employment.
Each DAMA is different and tailored to meet the unique needs of employers in a specific region. DAMAs allow employers to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers for positions they are unable to fill with local staff. To be eligible for a DAMA, employers must operate within the designated area and ensure that the occupation they are seeking to fill is available for the intended visa subclass and designated area category.
Overseas workers sponsored under the DAMA must meet the skills, qualifications, experience, and employment background requirements as determined by the Department of Home Affairs. Nominees may need to undertake a skills assessment and must meet any occupational licensing and registration requirements as per migration regulations and/or State and Territory laws.
To apply for a DAMA, employers typically need to follow these steps:
- Apply for DAR endorsement or Variation Request via the Skilled & Business Migration Portal.
- Request a DAMA Labour Agreement or Variation Request with the Department of Home Affairs.
- The Department of Home Affairs assesses the application and notifies the employer of the outcome.
- If the Labour Agreement or Variation Request application is successful, the employer lodges a nomination application with the Department of Home Affairs.
- Submit an online application via the Skilled & Business Migration Portal.
- Create an account or log in to an existing account and follow the prompts to complete the application.
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DAMA Labour Agreement application
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and a regional, state, or territory authority. DAMAs allow employers to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas professionals for positions they are unable to fill with local workers. Each DAMA is different because it addresses the specific needs of employers in that region.
If you are an employer interested in finding out if DAMA is an option for your business, you should first review all the terms and conditions. You should then apply for DAR endorsement or a variation request via the Skilled & Business Migration Portal. The DAR will then assess your application and issue a letter of endorsement to you and notify the Department of Home Affairs.
Once you have received the letter of endorsement, you can request a DAMA Labour Agreement or Variation Request with the Department of Home Affairs. The department will assess your application and notify you of the outcome. If your application is successful, you will need to lodge a nomination application with the Department of Home Affairs. You will then be able to submit an online application via the Skilled & Business Migration Portal.
Nominees, or overseas workers, must satisfy the skills, qualifications, experience, and employment background requirements under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (OSCA) or as determined by the Department of Home Affairs. Nominees may need to undertake a skills assessment as determined by the Department of Home Affairs with the relevant Skills Assessing Authority. Nominees must meet any occupational licensing and registration requirements as per migration regulations and/or State and Territory laws.
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DAMA fees and charges
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal agreement between the Australian Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs and a regional, state, or territory authority. DAMAs allow eligible businesses to recruit skilled overseas workers to address local labour shortages.
There are fees and charges payable by the employer or the visa applicant for the following:
- Nomination application - Department of Home Affairs (payable by the employer)
- Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy - Department of Education, Skills and Employment (DESE) (payable by the employer)
- Worker visa application - Department of Home Affairs (payable by the visa applicant)
- Fees associated with professional services and evidence gathering (payable by the visa applicant)
For an initial business endorsement by Regional Development Australia – Orana (RDA Orana), the charge is $990 plus GST for each position for the first five positions requested under the Orana DAMA. After five positions, the fee is $550.00 plus GST per position, paid to RDA Orana at the time of application. Any request for DAMA variation requires a payment of $880 inclusive of GST per position.
It is important to note that Migration Services in Western Australia does not currently charge a fee for an Endorsement application to access the WA DAMA.
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DAMA application process
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and a regional, state, or territory authority. DAMAs allow employers to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas professionals for positions they are unable to fill with local workers. Each DAMA is different because it addresses the specific needs of employers in that region.
The process for applying for a DAMA varies depending on the region and the specific requirements of the employer and the applicant. However, there are some general steps that can be outlined:
Step 1: Check Eligibility
Firstly, it is important to check if you are eligible to apply for a DAMA. This will depend on factors such as your occupation, skills, qualifications, and the specific requirements of the DAMA region you are applying for. Some sources suggest that applicants should first have a form of employer offer or sponsorship before applying for a DAMA.
Step 2: Gather Documents
If you are eligible, the next step is to gather the required documents for your application. This may include your CV, academic qualifications, employment history, and other relevant documents. The specific documents required may vary depending on the DAMA region and your occupation.
Step 3: Apply for Endorsement
After gathering your documents, you or your employer will need to apply for endorsement from the relevant regional authority. This typically involves submitting an application through the Skilled & Business Migration Portal and may require a fee. If your endorsement application is successful, you will receive a Letter of Endorsement.
Step 4: Submit Nomination Application
Once you have received endorsement, the next step is to submit a nomination application to the Department of Home Affairs. This is typically done by the employer and may involve paying a nomination application fee.
Step 5: Visa Application
Finally, after the nomination application has been approved, the visa applicant can submit their visa application to the Department of Home Affairs. This will involve paying a visa application fee and providing any other required documentation.
It is important to note that the above process is a general overview and the specific steps may vary depending on the DAMA region and your individual circumstances. It is recommended to carefully review the requirements and guidelines for the specific DAMA region you are applying for.
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DAMA visa options
The DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreements) is an employer-sponsored visa program that lets employers in designated regional areas sponsor skilled workers under the terms and conditions of the agreement. Individual workers cannot apply for a visa independently. DAMAs have been established in Western Australia to address local worker shortages. Each DAMA has been tailored to meet unique regional labour demands, providing local businesses access to visa concessions to help attract skilled migrants.
There are currently 12 DAMAs in place in Australia, with four in Western Australia (WA): Goldfields DAMA, Kimberley DAMA, Pilbara DAMA, and South West DAMA. The WA DAMA will be the fifth DAMA for WA. Each DAMA has its own list of occupations that can be nominated, based on the needs of the designated area. If the occupation you are seeking to fill is not available through one DAMA, it may be available through another.
To apply for a DAMA, eligible employers who operate within a designated area and have a nominated occupation available on the DAMA Occupation list should apply directly to Migration Services or the relevant regional authority for endorsement to employ skilled migrants. Migration Services does not currently charge a fee for an Endorsement application to access a DAMA. Through the DAMA, eligible businesses can seek access to a range of concessions to the requirements in the Commonwealth Migration Legislation required to sponsor skilled migrants and grant a visa application.
Businesses seeking to nominate an existing Skills in Demand (formerly TSS) or SESR visa holder must meet certain eligibility criteria. The nominated occupation must be available under the DAMA and the nominated employee must have lived and worked in the DAMA Designated area for a specified period. The occupation must be connected to the existing employee’s experience in Western Australia while nominated on the Skills in Demand visa, and the business must offer full-time employment for at least two years, with the possibility of an extension or offer of permanent employment.
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Frequently asked questions
DAMA stands for Designated Area Migration Agreement. It is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and a regional, state or territory authority, providing flexibility for regions to respond to their unique labour market needs. DAMA allows employers to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas professionals for positions they are unable to fill with local workers.
To apply for DAMA as an employer, you need to first apply for DAR endorsement or Variation Request via the Skilled & Business Migration Portal. Then, request a DAMA Labour Agreement or Variation Request with the Department of Home Affairs. The department will then assess your application and notify you of the outcome. If your Labour agreement or Variation Request application is successful, lodge a nomination application with the Department of Home Affairs.
To apply for DAMA as a worker, you need to first have a form of employer offer or sponsorship. Then, you can apply for a skills assessment through the DAMA program. You will need to include your CV, which outlines your academic studies and employment history.
There are fees and charges payable by the employer or the visa applicant for the following: Nomination application, Department of Home Affairs; Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy, Department of Education, Skills and Employment; Worker visa application, Department of Home Affairs; Fees associated with professional services and evidence gathering.
