How can you secure a DAMA Visa through an Approved Employer

About DAMA

The Australian regional immigration policy presents DAMA Visa or the Designated Area Migration Agreement, a step towards addressing certain skill shortages faced by local businesses. As a result, the economy is uplifted with this temporary visa programme, where agreements are customised to the needs of specific regions so that they can address their unique demographical challenges.

The DAMA is a formal agreement between a regional authority, state or territory and the Australian government, which provides access to overseas workers. This is a notch higher than the standard skilled immigration programme. To learn more about how this works, reach out to our DAMA expert in Darwin.

Covering a defined area in a region, DAMA comes with a two-tier framework – the first tier includes a five-year head agreement or deed of agreement with the representative of the requesting region. The second one consists of employers handing over individual labour agreements under the head agreement for that specific area.

The DAR or Designated Area Representative belongs to the state, territory or regional body like the Chamber of Commerce, Shire Councils, Regional Development Australia, etc. The agreement could define a range of occupations, terms and concessions effectuating the skilled visa eligibility criteria, as negotiated between the parties. Businesses seek individual DAMA labour agreements once the head agreement has been established and completed, outlining the agreement’s terms and concessions.

Endorsed employers or businesses operating within a designated region and the Australian Government formulate the individual DAMA labour agreements that are in effect for about five years and use the following visa programmes:

• Subclass 482 TSS or Temporary Skills Shortage
• Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)
• Subclass 186 Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS)

Before lodging a labour agreement request, employers must get an endorsement from the DAR. The requisition is then placed online through ImmiAccount with a form that includes the requirements and supporting documentation for the labour agreement.

Businesses with approved DAMA labour agreements can nominate and sponsor semi-skilled and skilled overseas workers for jobs covered under the range of occupations defined by the DAMA head agreement.

Process for DAMA Application

1. The employer makes a DAR Variation Request or Endorsement through the Skilled & Business Migration portal.
2. DAR issues a Letter of Endorsement – notification is sent to the Department of Home Affairs.
3. DAMA Labour Agreement or Variation Request is made by the employer to the Department of Home Affairs.
4. Employer lodges nomination application.

The first preference, however, is to be given to Australian citizens and permanent residents. Besides, employers must make a genuine attempt to hire local candidates before accessing the DAMA labour agreement.