DAMA Visa

The DAMA Visa represents a significant step in Australia’s regional immigration policy, designed to tackle specific labour shortages and enhance local economies. This temporary visa programme, formally known as the Designated Area Migration Agreement, enables employers in designated regions to sponsor overseas workers. These agreements are tailored to the needs of individual areas, allowing regions to address their unique economic and demographic challenges.

Each DAMA is negotiated between the Australian government and regional or state authorities. It specifies the types of occupations eligible for sponsorship and provides concessions on criteria such as language proficiency or salary levels, which are typically stricter under standard immigration schemes. The primary goal is to support businesses struggling to find Australian workers, thereby ensuring sustained regional growth and community enhancement.

The DAMA offers pathways to permanent residency for visa holders, reflecting a long-term approach to population planning. These pathways acknowledge the contribution of migrants to regional communities and aim to foster a stable and integrated workforce. The introduction of the DAMA visa in Australia has been met with significant attention from various sectors, signalling potential shifts in the country’s workforce landscape.

DAMA Visas are not themselves are subclass of Visas, instead, DAMA labour agreements use one of the following visa subclasses:

482 Skills in Demand (SID)​
494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)
186 Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS)

Count on the leading registered immigration agents from Immagine Immigration to guide you through the DAMA visa’s requirements, application process, and included rights & concessions.

Overview of DAMA

What Is a DAMA Visa?

The Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a framework between the Australian Government and designated regional areas to address their unique workforce shortages. Each DAMA is a type of Labour Agreement, granting regional employers the ability to sponsor overseas workers for 482, 494 and 186 Visas. This pathway is designed to aid in filling nominated occupations which are not catered for by the standard skilled migration programmes.

Why apply through a DAMA Pathway?

Many candidates will make an appliCation via a Temporary Skilled Shortage Subclass 482 visa. However, this visa is not available to many people who are in semiskilled occupations or occupations that simply do not appear on any of the occupations lists. The advantage of a DAMA pathway includes:

• Age limit concessions for permanent residency. Currently the age limit for a permanent residence Visa under most skilled programs is 45, however, a company sponsoring someone under a DAMA can apply for permanent residence up to the age of 55.

• Salary concessions. For some industries, they will not pay a minimum salary that is above $73,000 per year. Some industries will have a concession to pay a lower amount and still be able to nominate a candidate for a temporary, and eventually a permanent residence Visa.

• Certain occupations made available. Under the general skilled migration program and standard employer sponsored program, there are a number of occupations that aren’t available for sponsorship, despite the huge demand for these skills and workers. The company can nominate certain occupations under a DAMA pathway.

• English-language concessions. In some cases, candidates who cannot meet the minimum English level may be able to get a concession.

DAMA Visa Requirements and Criteria

DAMA Visa Age Limit: Candidates must be under a specific age, up to 55 years old for some occupations.

Skills: Applicants meet the skills assessment and English language benchmarks.

Nominated Occupation: The visa applicant must have a job offer in a nominated occupation which aligns with the skills shortages listed within the DAMA.

Health and Character Checks: Additionally, candidates are subject to health and character checks before approval

The Role of Employers in DAMA

Employers have a pivotal role in the DAMA scheme. They are responsible for becoming approved sponsors and demonstrating their commitment to employment and training of Australian citizens, as well as proving genuine efforts to recruit locally. Once employer sponsorship is secured, they can nominate overseas workers whose occupations and skills are required for their region’s workforce. The endorsement of these employment agreements by the relevant regional authority is essential for the DAMA visa to be granted.

Specific DAMA Regions and Agreements

The Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) are tailored to address the specific skilled labour needs of regions across Australia. Each DAMA region has distinct agreements, reflecting local economic and labour circumstances.

Regions Covered by DAMA

Australia has engaged in numerous DAMA agreements with different areas, focusing on regions that are experiencing acute labour shortages. Some of the key regions with active DAMA agreements are:

• South Australia: Incorporating the Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement agreement to drive local growth in tech sectors.
• Northern Territory: Pioneering DAMA agreements to cater to a broad array of employment sectors.
• Far North Queensland: Specifically targeting gaps in the labour market in the tropical north.
• Orana: Located in New South Wales, addressing shortages in regional industries.
• Pilbara: In Western Australia, with emphasis on the mining and resource sectors.
• Townsville: Addressing the labour needs in North Queensland’s diverse economy.
• East Kimberley: Also situated in Western Australia, focusing on agriculture, tourism and hospitality.
• Great South Coast: Located in Victoria, supporting the dairy farming and other agricultural sectors.
• South West: Spanning areas in Western Australia, with a variety of industry focuses.
• The Goldfields: Another Western Australian initiative, designed to meet mining industry skill shortages.
• Goulburn Valley: Found in Victoria with a focus on manufacturing, agriculture and food processing.

DAMA Visa Application Process

The DAMA Visa application process is a structured pathway that involves precise steps and adheres to specific visa subclass requirements.

Steps for Applying for a DAMA Visa

1. Identify Eligibility: The applicant must ensure they meet the eligibility criteria set by the Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA).
2. Labour Agreement: Employers in designated areas must have a Labour Agreement with the Australian Government under the DAMA.
3. Nomination: The employer must nominate the applicant for a position under the DAMA.
4. Documentation: Applicants gather necessary documents concerning identity, skills, and work experience.
5. Application Submission: Complete and submit the visa application to the Department of Home Affairs, accompanied by the required documentation.
6. Await Decision: After submission, the applicant must wait for the assessment and decision from the Department of Home Affairs.

DAMA Visa Processing Time

The processing times for a DAMA, commonly referred to as the Distinguished Talent visa, can vary depending on several factors, including the complexity of the application, the completeness of the provided documentation, and the current workload of the Department of Home Affairs in Australia.

As of the most recent updates, the processing times for these visas are:

• Subclass 124 (Offshore):
  • 75% of applications: Approximately 7 months
  • 90% of applications: Approximately 11 months
• Subclass 858 (Onshore):
  • 75% of applications: Approximately 4 months
  • 90% of applications: Approximately 7 months

These times are estimates and can change. It’s always a good idea to check the official Australian Department of Home Affairs website for the most current information. Additionally, ensuring that your application is complete and well-documented can help avoid delays.

How does DAMA Visa Compare To Other Australian Work Visas?

Feature	DAMA Visa	Subclass 482 Visa	Subclass 494 Visa	Subclass 186 ENS Visa
Visa Type	Work Visa (Temporary)	Temporary Work Visa	Regional Provisional Work Visa	Permanent Work Visa
Designation	Designated areas	Anywhere in Australia	Regional Australia	Anywhere in Australia
Duration	Up to 4 years, depending on the agreement	Short-term stream: 2 years; Medium-term stream: 4 years	5 years	Permanent
Pathway to Permanent Residency	Possible after working in the region for a set period	Yes, if eligible	Yes, after living and working in the region for 3 years	Directly grants permanent residency
Employer Sponsorship Required	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Occupation List	Specific to the agreement for a designated area	STSOL or MLTSSL	Regional Occupation List	MLTSSL and additional occupations for regional employers
Labour Market Testing Required	Yes, but may vary by agreement	Yes	Yes	Yes, unless exempted
English Language Requirements	Concessions may apply depending on the agreement	Required, level varies by stream	Required	Required
Salary	Must meet the market salary rate and can include concessions	Must meet TSMIT	Must meet AMSR	Must meet the market salary rate
Skill Level	Varies, may include lower-skilled occupations	Generally higher-skilled occupations	Generally higher-skilled occupations	Generally higher-skilled occupations
Age Limit	Yes, usually under 45 years of age	Yes, usually under 45 years of age	Yes, usually under 45 years of age	Yes, usually under 45 years of age

Rights and Concessions

Employees can live and work in Australia. Candidates may also have pathways to permanent residency, depending on the specific DAMA.

Dama Visa Pathways to Permanent Residency and Citizenship

482 to 186 visa pathway:
After working for at least two years on a 482 Skills in Demand visa with the same employer, you can be nominated for the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa, which grants permanent residency.

494 to 191 visa pathway:

If you hold a 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa and live and work in a regional area for three years while meeting the income requirement, you can then apply for the 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.