Yes, it can be. A DAMA is not a visa, but it gives your employer a way to sponsor you on a visa that may lead to permanent residency (PR). PR is not automatic, though. You must keep meeting the rules for several years.
What a DAMA actually does
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a deal between a state government and the Australian Government.
It lets endorsed employers hire overseas workers for jobs they cannot fill locally. Some rules are relaxed, such as the occupation list and certain age or English requirements.
The visa you get under it is what counts for PR.
The two main routes to PR
There are two common routes. Which one you take depends on the visa your employer nominates you for.
| Starting visa | Type | PR visa it can lead to |
|---|---|---|
| Subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) | Temporary | Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) |
| Subclass 494 (Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional) | Provisional | Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence, Skilled Regional) |
Route 1: 482 to 186
You start on a temporary 482 visa and work for your sponsor.
After a set period working for that employer under the DAMA, your employer may nominate you for the 186. The South Australian Government says this is generally at least two years.
The 186 is a permanent visa.
Route 2: 494 to 191
You start on a five-year provisional 494 visa.
After you have lived and worked in a designated regional area for the required time, you may apply for the 191. It is also a permanent visa.
Check the current time and income requirements for the 191 on the Home Affairs website. They can change.
What can stop you getting PR
- Leaving your sponsor. Your visa is tied to your employer, so changing jobs can end your pathway.
- The DAMA ending. Agreements are extended or renewed in time-limited periods. Your nomination and visa conditions depend on the rules in place when you apply.
- Your job leaving the list. The occupation must be eligible when you apply for the next visa.
- Not meeting visa criteria. Age, English, skills, work experience and health and character checks still apply, with concessions for some occupations.
- Your employer losing approval. If the employer’s sponsorship or labour agreement ends, so can your route.
A simple way to plan
Check three things before you accept a DAMA job: your occupation, where the job is based, and whether your employer is endorsed.
Then ask which PR visa you are working towards, and write down the dates. Planning this early is far easier than fixing it in your last year.
Conclusion
A DAMA can lead to PR, but only if you take the right visa, stay with your sponsor and meet each requirement on time. Get your plan checked before you commit to a job offer or lodge anything.
A registered immigration agent Adelaide employers and workers trust can check your occupation, explain which DAMA applies and map your route to PR. They cannot guarantee a result, because only the Department of Home Affairs decides visas.
Disclaimer: This is general information. Rules and agreement terms change. Check current details with the Department of Home Affairs and Move to South Australia.
