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Dama Visa

DAMA, or Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA), is a legal agreement between the Australian Government and other regions or territories. This type of visa offers more flexibility and freedom compared to other visas. Its purpose is to bring more international workers to a country where there is a high demand for jobs that locals cannot fulfil.

It is also known as a labour agreement because it enables employers to hire more skilled and semi-skilled workers to do the job.

If you want to use your skills to work in Australia, you must note that you cannot directly apply for a DAMA visa. This means you first need to get an invite or sponsorship from the Australian government, and only then can you move forward.

Interested to learn more? Get in touch with Endeavour Education & Migration, the best consultants in Adelaide now!

Currently Active DAMAs

Since the DAMA visa is an agreement between the Australian government and employers in regional Australia, the following visa categories come under this program:

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Subclass 494)
Temporary Skill Shortage visa (Subclass 482)
Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)

There are currently 12 DAMA agreements as of now, which are:

Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement, SA: Skilled & Business Migration
East Kimberley, WA: East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Far North Queensland, QLD: Cairns Chamber of Commerce,
Goulburn Valley, VIC: Goulburn Valley
Great South Coast, VIC: Warrnambool City Council
Northern Territory, NT: Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement
Orana, NSW: Regional Development Australia – Orana, NSW
Pilbara, WA: RDA Pilbara
South Australia Regional, SA: Skilled & Business Migration
South West, WA: Shire of Dardanup
The Goldfields, WA: City of Kalgoorlie Boulder;
Townsville, QLD: Townsville Enterprise Limited

Eligibility Requirements for the DAMA Visa

Employers in specific regional areas may sponsor skilled and semi-skilled foreign workers to fill positions they cannot fill with local candidates using the DAMA visa. However, the applicants must first meet the eligibility requirements, which are:

1. To be sponsored under the DAMA framework, you need a job offer from an employer approved by DAMA located in a designated regional area.

2. You must also meet the specific occupation requirements, which means it must be listed on the particular DAMA occupation list, and you must meet the qualifications and experience requirements for that job.

3. You may be required to undergo a skill assessment test to confirm that your skills and experience align with Australian standards.

4. You must meet the English language proficiency test by achieving a specified score.

5. The applicant must be under 45 before applying for the DAMA visa.

6. By undergoing various medical tests and employee background checks, you ensure the Australian government that you are eligible to enter the country.

7. You must have genuine intentions of living and working under the DAMA visa.

8. Depending on your location and job, specific DAMA agreements may have additional requirements. These could include labour market testing, salary requirements, and other stipulations.

How to apply for the DAMA Visa?

To apply for this visa application, you must go through the following steps which are:

1. First, you need to understand that the DAMA visa is not something, you can apply for like other Australian visas. You must first get sponsorship from the employer who operates in the DAMA locations.

2. After getting the employer's sponsorship, you must start gathering your documents to complete the application form.

3. Then, check to see if you meet all the eligibility requirements mentioned above so that your application is not rejected.

4. Your employer must apply for a labour agreement within the DAMA framework, proving that local workers cannot fill the position and meet other requirements. Regional authorities must endorse the nomination application.

5. After accepting your employee’s nomination, you can apply for your visa online on the Department of Home Affairs website. Make sure to pay the visa application fee and upload the necessary documents.

6. The processing time for DAMA visa applications can be unpredictable, so it is essential to keep in contact with your employer and monitor the status of your application online.

Required Documents

To ensure your visa application form does not get rejected, you must submit all your documents in high quality and with English translations, if they are originally in some other language. Here is the list of the documents you need to submit:

Application fee
Photograph
Proof of identity
Bank statements
Qualification proof
Proof of employment
English language test form

How can the experts at EEMS help you?

The experts at EEMS will smoothly navigate your visa application form. Our skilled staff guarantees adherence to all regulations, provides tailored guidance, and helps with paperwork.

We offer full support to improve your chances of success, from locating a DAMA-approved job to getting your visa application ready. By navigating the DAMA visa's difficulties quickly and efficiently through EEMS, you may secure your road to living and working in Australia's remote areas.

Reach out to us right now to begin your journey now!

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