What is a DAMA visa?
A simple guide to understanding what an Australian DAMA visa is for businesses and skilled workers.
Everything you need to know about DAMA visas
- A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and a state or territory government or regional authority that gives employers in a specific region access to hiring overseas skilled workers in a wider range of occupations not available under the standard skilled migration program.
- A DAMA visa allows employers in a region covered by a DAMA labour agreement to sponsor workers for skilled and semi-skilled occupations that they are unable to source from the Australian labour market.
- One of the main benefits of a DAMA is that it allows regional employers to sponsor workers for occupations not covered by the standard occupation lists and can provide access to concessions on applicant requirements, including English language, salary and age.
- Employers who want a DAMA visa need to be endorsed by the relevant Designated Area Representative (DAR) in the region before they can enter into an individual DAMA labour agreement with the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA).
- DAMAs are not available as an option in industries that are covered under an industry labour agreement.
- Some of the industries covered under existing DAMAs include: agriculture, horticulture and livestock, hospitality and tourism, health and aged care, and construction and trades.
There are also other types of labour agreements, with each one designed to meet a specific purpose. These include:
- Industry labour agreements – negotiated with industry bodies to address nationwide shortages in a specific industry
- Company-specific labour agreements – negotiated directly with one employer to meet their unique, employer‑specific needs
Our top tips for applying for a visa again following a cancellation
Our highly skilled and experienced team of immigration lawyers at PAX Law will manage the DAMA visa application process for your business and for your proposed sponsored overseas workers.
DAMA labour agreements are one of the most complex areas of Australia’s employer‑sponsored migration system, with each stage – endorsements, labour agreements, nominations and visa applications – carrying its own requirements.
Our team of skilled professionals assess your business’s eligibility for a DAMA, as well as each worker that you wish to nominate for a position, and manages the application process at every step along the way.
Once approved, we make sure that you understand your responsibilities under the DAMA, and will act on your behalf in relation to all communications with both the DOHA and the DAR. For skilled workers seeking permanent residency with their DAMA visa, PAX Law will assess the visa pathways available and manage the application process.