What is the DAMA Agreement?

DAMA, which stands for “Designated Area Migration Agreement,” is a special agreement that the Australian Government signs with specific regions or areas within the country. It is also referred to as a Labour Agreement.

Labour Agreements are work agreements that allow approved employers to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled foreign workers for positions that they cannot fill with local workers, in response to identified labor shortages in the market.

These visas were created so that specific regional areas can attract much-needed employees to fill vacant positions. However, you still need to have an employer nominate you for a position in order to apply for this visa.

DAMA visas can provide the only opportunity for applicants who are too old to apply for permanent residency through standard visa pathways. Additionally, they may allow applicants to obtain permanent residency through employer sponsorship when their occupation would not normally allow for it through traditional visa pathways.

Key Points of the DAMA Agreement

• It can lead to Permanent Residency even if you are over 45 years of age.
• Additional jobs can be sponsored with this visa (that are not on the STSOL). Each specific occupation comes with a list of in-demand occupations for the region.
• You can only apply for this specific type of visa in a designated regional area (you cannot apply for this visa in any regional area, only in a specifically approved regional area authorized by immigration, as detailed below).
• There are often lower entry requirements for this visa. (Depending on the specific DAMA region, you may be able to apply for this visa with a lower level of English, a lower offered salary, and even receive age concessions).

Which Occupations Can Be Applied for with this Visa?

Each specific area creates a list of jobs that are in demand in that region. Therefore, there is no universal list for all regions. However, the list is quite extensive in many regions and often includes occupations such as Childcare Worker (not childcare centre manager) or Bar Supervisor. You can check the full list of occupations for each area through the corresponding regional website.

Where Are These DAMA Areas?

As of 2023, 12 DAMA agreements have been established across Australia, each catering to specific regional needs and labor shortages. Here is a summary of some of them:

• DAMA South Australia: Includes two agreements, one focused on Adelaide’s growing tech industries such as Defence, Space, Technology, and Advanced Manufacturing, and another focused on high-growth industries in regional areas like the Agribusiness.
• DAMA Western Australia: Agreements here cover various areas like East Kimberley and Goldfields, targeting specific occupation shortages.
• DAMA Queensland: Two DAMAs are currently in effect in Queensland: Far North Queensland DAMA and the Townsville North Queensland Destination Area Migration Agreement, each addressing the needs of their respective areas.
• DAMA Victoria: This region has two DAMAs, Goulburn Valley DAMA and Great South Coast DAMA, which cater to the specific needs of these areas.
• DAMA Northern Territory: The Northern Territory DAMA is unique as it covers the entire state area.
• DAMA Orana, New South Wales: The Orana DAMA, focused on regional development, is the only existing agreement in New South Wales.

Each DAMA is designed to meet the needs of its region, focusing on specific sectors or industries where shortages exist, and where foreign workers can contribute most effectively. The list of occupations covered by each DAMA is updated regularly to reflect changing economic conditions and labor market needs.

How to Apply for a DAMA? Steps

The DAMA is an employer-sponsored visa program, and individual workers cannot apply independently. Employers must submit an application to the relevant Designated Area Representative (DAR) to access the DAMA based on the occupations, concessions, and the number of workers they need.

Typically, the application process consists of the following steps:

1. The employer (sponsoring business) submits an application to the relevant DAR for endorsement.
2. The DAR evaluates the endorsement application.
3. If the evaluation is positive, the DAR issues an endorsement letter to the employer and notifies the Department of Immigration.
4. The employer submits an individual application to the Department of Immigration to establish a labor agreement under the DAMA program.
5. The Department of Immigration evaluates the DAMA application.
6. Upon receiving a positive result from the Department of Immigration, the employer can proceed to submit a nomination for the employee, and the employee can also submit a visa application under the labor agreement with the Department of Immigration.

Do These Visas Help with Permanent Residency?

The Department of Immigration understands that without making these visas more attractive, there won’t be many applicants willing to move to these areas.

Each DAMA region has its own particular pathway to permanent residency. Generally, this involves the applicant working in their occupation for 2 to 4 years before meeting the requirements to apply for the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) 186 visa, which is a permanent residency visa.

For specific advice and guidance on your situation, you can contact us through the form to get updated information on the requirements and application process.