Temporary Skill Shortage Visa | Move to South Australia

A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) can help South Australian Businesses fill vacancies through sponsorship of a skilled migrant.

This scheme helps businesses fill vacancies where there is a shortage of local skilled workers by entering a labour agreement with the Australian Government through the South Australian Government through the South Australian Designated Area Representative (DAR). The DAR is Skilled & Business Migration, Department for Innovation and Skills. It is available to qualifying businesses across South Australia, including Adelaide, regional and rural areas.

Who you can sponsor:

Skilled migrants living overseas
Temporary residents currently working in South Australia.

Who can apply for this visa?

Applications for this visa must be made by South Australian businesses that enter into a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) with the Commonwealth Government and the South Australian Government. This visa is for South Australian Businesses that:

Have identified a skills or labour shortage that they cannot fill locally
The position occupation must be available on the DAMA Occupation Lists for South Australia
The position must be full-time, and duties must align with the nominated occupation
The business can fulfil all South Australian DAMA endorsement requirements.

For full details on employer eligibility criteria, please see Endorsement Requirements.

DAMA Occupation List

South Australian businesses seeking to employ skilled migrants on the 482 visa or the 494 visa can apply to enter into a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) with the Australian Government.

To enter a DAMA labour agreement, you must be endorsed by the Designated Area Representative (DAR). In South Australia, this is Skilled & Business Migration, Department for Innovation and Skills.

The South Australian DAMA:

Provides a framework for local employers experiencing skills and labour shortages to sponsor overseas workers in skilled and semi-skilled positions
Concessions such as English language, salary, occupations not included in the standard skilled occupation lists and age to facilitate pathways to permanent residency are available
Employers will need to be endorsed by the DAR in order to enter into a DAMA Labour Agreement with the Australian Government
Employers will need to meet a range of risk and integrity requirements to ensure that the rights of the worker and employer are protected
Uses two employer-sponsored visa programs, the labour agreement streams of the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa - subclass 482 and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (SESR) visa - subclass 494
Individual workers cannot apply for a visa independently.

DAMA Assessment Criteria
DAMA Terms & Conditions
Employment Endorsement Requirements

South Australian businesses who are actively operating in South Australia can access the DAMA, and will need to show that they:

Are financially viable and have been actively and lawfully operating for at least 12 months
Have no adverse history of not meeting their obligations to employees
Are looking to employ overseas workers to fill full-time positions with duties that align with occupations on the Agreements occupation lists
Can validate they cannot fill the position locally with Australian citizens or permanent residents
Can provide conditions of employment to overseas workers that are in accordance with those offered to Australian workers employed in the region.

NOTE: Labour Hire companies are excluded from accessing endorsement under the SA DAMA.

South Australian employers will be required to complete an application form and a declaration detailing the following criteria have been fulfilled:

DAMA agreement selected and request the number of positions they need to fill in one year, detailing the occupation(s) and concession(s) they seek
Declare they are based in South Australia and are lawfully operating that business for more than 12 months and are financially viable
Demonstrate the position(s) they seek to fill is genuine and there is a genuine vacancy
Show they cannot fill the position locally with Australians citizens or permanent residents
Show employment terms and conditions are in accordance with those offered to Australian workers employed in the region
Provide detail on any recent changes to workforce composition in the last 6 months
Show that requested occupations and concessions are reasonable with regard to current labour market conditions in the region
Declare there is no adverse information about the employer
Confirm that concessions will not undermine Overseas Worker’s ability to support themselves or lead to exploitation
Provide signed declaration.

Once you have ensured that you are eligible to nominate a skilled migrant and meet the requirements to enter into a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA), you will need to prepare and supply a range of documentation to complete your application for endorsement to Skilled & Business Migration.

The following diagram outlines the end-to-end process for applying for this visa. As an employer, you are first required to seek endorsement from the DAR (Skilled & Business Migration).

Dama Endorsement Process

Step 1: DAR Endorsement

The Employer applies for DAR endorsement via the Skilled & Business Migration Portal.
The DAR undertakes assessment for endorsement
The DAR issues a Letter of Endorsement to the employer and notifies Department of Home Affairs

Step 2: DAMA Labour Agreement Request

The Employer requests DAMA Labour Agreement with the Department of Home Affairs
Department of Home Affairs assesses Labour Agreement application and notifies employer of outcome.

Step 3: Nomination Application

If the application is successful, the Employer lodges a nomination and visa application with the department of Home Affairs.

Please review the Before you apply information below prior to starting your application via the Skilled & Business Migration portal

Ensure that you have read and understand the:
DAMA Terms & Conditions
DAMA Assessment Criteria
Ensure you fulfil all requirements and criteria.
Prepare all information and documentation required by Skilled & Business Migration before you apply.

Once you have ensured you meet all the criteria, and prepared all documentation required for your endorsement application, you will need to submit an electronic application via the Skilled & Business Migration portal.

If you are not currently registered to access the Skilled & Business Migration portal, you will need to create an account by:

Visiting the Skilled & Business Migration Portal and select ‘register’
Ensure you choose ‘South Australian Employer’ as your registration type.
Complete your contact details on the ‘Register here’ section, then click ‘register now.

If you are already registered as a South Australian Employer, login to your account and select to apply for:

Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) - 482

Fees & Charges There are no fees and charges applicable for the following:

Endorsement by the DAR to access South Australia’s DAMAs
Entering into a labour agreement with the Australian Government.

There are fees and charges applicable for the following:

Nomination application - Australian Government
Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy - Australian Government
Worker visa application - Australian Government
Fees associated with professional services and evidence gathering.

Application Help & Support Skilled & Business Migration can provide information and guidance to assist you with the Request for Endorsement Application process. Following endorsement we will provide you with information guides on how to apply for the DAMA Labour Agreement process.

Employers or nominees who need assistance with whole or part of the migration application process, including the Labour Agreement, nomination and/or visa application should consider engaging a registered migration agent. If you decide you want professional help, use an agent registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (MARA).

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Why South Australia

Temporary Skill Shortage Visa - Subclass 482

Who can access the South Australian DAMA?

Employer Endorsement Criteria

Before you apply

How to apply