A new Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement (NT DAMA III) commenced on 19 March 2025.
Applications for endorsement by employers in the NT to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers for positions that cannot be filled by local workers under NT DAMA III are now open.
Under the NT DAMA, once endorsed by MigrationNT, Northern Territory employers can sponsor eligible foreign workers under the NT DAMA for a four-year Subclass 482 Skills In Demand (SID) visa under the Labour Agreement stream, which provides a pathway to permanent residency via a Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa after two years.
Alternatively, employers in the Northern Territory may sponsor eligible workers for a five-year Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa under the Labour Agreement stream, with an independent pathway to permanent residency after three years via a Subclass 191 Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) visa.
For migrants who have already lived and worked in their nominated occupation for 2 years in the Northern Territory, they may be able to be sponsored for a Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visa in the Labour Agreement stream as well.
Here is what you need to know about the new NT DAMA.
Employers that have an existing endorsement by MigrationNT (under the previous iteration of the NT DAMA, the NT DAMA II) and have existing ceilings available to sponsor workers under that agreement, can continue to make nomination applications to the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA).
Businesses with an NT DAMA II labour agreement that require more ceilings and/or occupations must apply for endorsement under the new NT DAMA III labour agreement.
The list of eligible occupations has significantly expanded, with 325 occupations across a range of industries and skill levels able to be nominated under NT DAMA III.
Each occupation has specific skill and experience requirements that must be met to be eligible for nomination.
Employers can apply for endorsement for a bulk ceiling of occupations for the 5-year duration of their labour agreement, allowing businesses to plan forward for their foreseeable need for positions to be nominated under the NT DAMA.
A subsequent endorsement (Deed of Variation) application is required if the employer fully uses up the ceiling within the 5-year period. This will only be approved if it can be demonstrated that the increased need could not have been foreseen at the time of making the initial endorsement application.
The NT DAMA provides again concessions for age, English and salary.
The age concession for skill levels 1-4 is 55 years, and 50 years for skill level 5 occupations.
The DAMA specifies occupations that have English language concessions.
Employers are not required to apply for age or English concessions (they will be automatically applied).
Employers must demonstrate that sponsored workers will be paid no less than equivalent Australian citizens/permanent residents (market salary).
A salary threshold concession of 15% of the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) is available for all occupations, (which equates to $62,177), and up to 10% ($6,217) can be made up of certain types of non-monetary benefits.
Overseas workers must be paid at least the market salary or the concessional CSIT of $62,177, whichever is greater. It should be noted that it is expected that the CSIT will be indexed on 1 July 2025 and increase to $76,515.
Evidence of labour market testing must be provided for all occupations when applying for endorsement under the NT DAMA III, and at the time of lodging a nomination application.
Advertisements must be published on at least 2 platforms for at least 28 days each with the prescribed information, with at least one platform being of national reach.
For endorsement requests made from 1 July 2025, one of the advertising platforms must be the NT Government’s WorkerConnect, in addition to an advertisement of national reach.
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Contact us to book a no-obligation consultation to find out more about your eligibility for sponsorship under the NT DAMA III, or if you are an employer in the NT, to find out more about how you can sponsor workers under the NT DAMA III.
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In conclusion, we note that the above discussion provides an overview of the new NT DAMA III, for both employers and for potential visa applicants whom they are seeking to nominate.
Australia’s migration laws are complex, and each case is different. We recommend that you seek professional advice before you proceed with applying for a labour agreement under the NT DAMA III, or you are an overseas worker who is seeking employer sponsorship under the NT DAMA, as being fully informed about the process and requirements that apply will give you the best chance of achieving a successful outcome on your application, and thus lessen the chance that it will be refused. A migration professional can help you to do this.
For up-to-date advice on how to sponsor overseas workers under the NT DAMA III, book your confidential consultation with our NT specialist Anke Nagel or any of our experienced migration agents in Adelaide. PAX Migration Australia is a leading immigration advice service based in Adelaide.
