Designated Area Migration Agreement
Northern Territory DAMA
The Northern Territory DAMA — renewed in March 2025 with 325 eligible occupations and 1,500 nomination places per year — allows NT employers to sponsor overseas workers with concessions on English, age, and salary requirements not available under standard visa pathways.
Endorsing Authority
Northern Territory Government
English Concession
IELTS 4.5 (or equivalent) for eligible occupations
Age Concession
Up to 55 years for eligible occupations
Salary Concession
Up to 10% TSMIT discount for approved occupations
Key industries in the Northern Territory
The Northern Territory DAMA is designed to address genuine workforce shortages across specific industries in the region. Endorsed employers in these industries may access occupations and eligibility concessions not available under standard visa pathways.
Industries Covered
Construction, health, hospitality, agriculture, transport, retail, mining support
Occupation Note
325 occupations — the largest occupation list of any active DAMA. Agreement valid to 30 June 2030.
The DAMA process
Eligibility assessment
We confirm your regional classification, the applicable DAMA, the occupations you need to fill, and the concessions available before any application is lodged.
Endorsement application
We prepare and submit the endorsement application to Northern Territory Government, including the genuine need case and local recruitment evidence required by the endorsing body.
Sponsorship approval
We prepare and lodge the Standard Business Sponsorship application under the DAMA Labour Agreement stream and manage all Departmental correspondence through to approval.
Nomination and visa
We prepare nominations and visa applications for each worker, applying all applicable DAMA concessions and managing requirements through to grant.
Why instruct Visa Plan for your Northern Territory DAMA?
Legal Professional Privilege
DAMA applications require disclosure of business operations, payroll structures, and recruitment history. All disclosures to an admitted solicitor are protected by Legal Professional Privilege. Migration agents cannot provide this protection.
Endorsement strategy
Regional endorsing authorities apply their own assessment criteria separate from the Department's requirements. We structure submissions for both Northern Territory Government and the Department simultaneously.
Government experience
James Bae represented the Australian Government at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal before establishing Visa Plan. That experience on the government side directly informs how we structure employer cases for DAMAs.
Reviewed by Visa Plan Migration Lawyers · Last updated: April 2026 · DAMA information sourced from the Department of Home Affairs. DAMA terms, occupation lists, and concessions are subject to change. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Contact Visa Plan for advice specific to your circumstances.