DAMA Visa Process: All You Need to Know

Regional Australian firms have always had a tough time hiring skilled workers than their urban counterparts. The epidemic has only aggravated this situation by restricting access to international travellers and creating a skills deficit across the country.

To alleviate the skills gap in rural areas and as part of Australia’s focus on regional skilled migration, three new Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) recently took effect. To determine whether the sponsor and the visa applicant may be eligible for DAMA and the Subclass 482 Labour Agreement track, you can speak with an immigration agent.

What is DAMA Visa?

A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal contract between the Australian Government and a local state or territory authority. Employers in some locations can sponsor skilled and semi-skilled foreign employees for positions they can’t fill locally under the DAMA. It is specifically designed to solve the present and escalating labour market shortages in addition to regional employment terms and conditions.

Most DAMA jobs are also included on the Australian government’s lists of professions that qualify for skilled immigration. The Australian Government and endorsed employers/businesses operating in the applicable designated region enter into individual DAMA labour agreements. They:

• use the Temporary Skill Shortage Visa Subclass 482, subclass 494 visa Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional), and subclass 186 Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) visa programmes, and
• are typically valid for five years.

DAMA Visa Processing Times

Processing times for DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreement) and TSS 482 Visa streams vary, reflecting different needs and priorities.

1. Short-Term Stream: Current Estimate: 5-14 months This stream offers a pathway for skilled workers with offers in occupations for short-term employment needs. While this stream might take some time, it caters to immediate staffing requirements.
2. Medium-Term Stream: Current Estimate: 3-7 months Designed for medium-term employment needs, this stream provides a quicker processing time than the short-term stream. It suits those who are looking for more extended work opportunities.
3. Labour Agreement Stream (DAMA): Estimate: 2-6 months DAMA programs utilize this stream to meet specific labor demands in regional areas. The processing time here is relatively shorter, as DAMA’s focus on regional economic growth expedites the process.

DAMA Priority: DAMA visa processing holds a strategic advantage due to its role in supporting regional economies by addressing skill shortages. As a result, DAMA applications are processed faster compared to other streams.

Prerequisites For A DAMA Visa

The Department of Home Affairs and the applicable DAMA agreements have stringent policy requirements. These comprise evaluations of (among other things):

• the Subclass 482’s general nomination and sponsorship requirements, which apply to all three streams;
• Guaranteeing that the chosen occupation must be listed as an occupation that the party to the labour agreement may nominate in the applicable labour agreement;
• The Department of Home Affairs must be convinced that the conditions of the labour agreement have been completed if the endorsement contains obligations that must be fulfilled by the parties to the agreement;
• The number of nominations accepted for the nominated occupation must be less than the total nominations obtained for that year under the collective bargaining agreement.

The Fundamental Components of Dama Are:

• DAMA visa holders have access to permanent residency options (as well as temporary alternatives for current visa holders).
• A wide range of jobs reflecting skilled and semi-skilled shortages, with no restrictions on applying English language accommodations for some jobs
• Pay concessions that are in line with market rates, preventing the deterioration of employee terms and circumstances of employment and preventing the burden of inflation on businesses and consumers.
• A series of risk- and integrity-related steps to guarantee the protection of the rights of both employees and employers, as well as
• A five-year agreement to cut down on red tape.

The Process To Apply For A DAMA Visa

Each DAMA region may have a different application procedure.

Step 1: The childcare centre must submit a DAMA Endorsement and carry out the necessary labour market tests (job adverts). Although it relates to a specific DAMA area, this is similar to a nomination.

Step 2: Following approval of the DAMA endorsement, you will obtain an endorsement letter and be allowed to submit a visa application for the labour agreement with immigration.

Step 3: Submit the Nomination to immigration once the labour agreement has been authorised (just like you would for any other employer-sponsored visa).

Step 4: After submitting the nomination, you can apply for the visa (often a primary 482 visa, but it is possible to receive a visa subclass 494).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.1 Which jobs are eligible to apply for this visa?

There is a list of jobs that are needed in each particular area. It implies that the list isn’t exhaustive. However, the list is immensely long for many places and frequently includes jobs like “Bar Attendant Supervisor” or “Childcare Worker” (not “Childcare Centre Manager”).

Q.2 How may these visas help you become a permanent resident?

Immigration is knowledgeable that few candidates would want to relocate to these places if they didn’t make these visas more desirable. Consequently, immigration has made it possible for anyone, regardless of vocation, to transition from a temporary subclass 482 visa to a permanent resident.

Every DAMA region will have a unique, tailored road to PR. However, to qualify for the Permanent 186 – Employer Nominated Scheme Visa, the candidate must typically work in the field for two to four years.

Q.3  What geographical regions have DAMAs?

The following list contains the 12 regional sites where DAMAs are offered:

• The advancement of technology and innovation in Adelaide, South Australia: skilled and business migration
• East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry, East Kimberley, Washington
• Cairns Chamber of Commerce, Far North Queensland, QLD 
• Victoria’s Goulburn Valley: Goulburn Valley
• Warrnambool City Council of the Great South Coast, Victoria
• Northern Territory, NT: Migration Agreement for the Northern Territory Designated Area
• Regional Development Australia – Orana, New South Wales
• RDA Pilbara, Pilbara, WA
• Regional South Australia: Skilled & Business Migration
• Shire of Dardanup in the southwest of WA
• City of Kalgoorlie Boulder, The Goldfields, WA
• Townsville Enterprise Limited, Townsville, Queensland

Summary

The DAMA is a labour agreement for a specific area that may have LESS stringent restrictions and provide access to a vast range of vocations. Although the DAMA focuses on the requirements of regional businesses, semi-skilled, skilled, and other persons wishing to live and work in regional Australia may be interested in applying.

Applicants can receive assistance from a migration expert in all areas related to Australian visa applications, including DAMA Visa applications. The migration agent Perth provides professional advice on your application and migration requirements.