•

Hiring Through a DAMA Employers May Need to Allow More Time

Riverwood Migration

August 23, 2026

Share this article:

Thank you! Your submission has been received!

Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Your Most Trustworthy Migration Partner.
‍Just A Click Away.

Book a Consultation

Employers planning to sponsor overseas workers through a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) may need to build more time into their recruitment plans.

According to information provided by the Department of Home Affairs at the MIA stakeholder meeting on 6 August 2026, processing for new DAMA labour agreement requests has increased from around 50 days to approximately 100 days, following a significant increase in demand.

What This Means for Employers

A DAMA can give eligible regional employers access to a broader range of occupations and, depending on the agreement, concessions to certain visa requirements.

DAMA labour agreements may support pathways through the:

Subclass 482 Skills in Demand visa
Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa
Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa

However, the DAMA process involves several stages. Employers generally need to obtain endorsement from the relevant Designated Area Representative (DAR) before progressing with a DAMA labour agreement request and subsequent nomination and visa stages.

What Has Changed

Information provided at the August stakeholder meeting indicated that:

New DAMA labour agreement requests: around 100 days, up from approximately 50 days

DAMA variations: around 40 days, with processing remaining relatively stable

The Department also indicated that demand had increased significantly over the previous 12 months and that it was considering process improvements.

These figures should be treated as indicative processing information rather than guaranteed timeframes.

Planning to Hire Through a DAMA?

For employers, longer processing at the labour agreement stage can affect when a sponsored worker can realistically start.

If you are considering DAMA sponsorship, it is worth reviewing your occupation eligibility, regional endorsement requirements, available concessions and sponsorship timeline early, rather than waiting until you urgently need the position filled.

Need help assessing whether a DAMA could work for your business? Speak with our migration team before starting the process.

The content of this article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration law is complex and subject to change. The information provided may not reflect the most current legal developments. For advice specific to your circumstances, please consult a registered Australian migration lawyer. For full terms governing use of this website and its content, please refer to our Website Terms and Conditions.

Speak with a Riverwood Migration Lawyer

As a regulated Australian migration law practice, Riverwood Migration provides precise, personalised advice on visa strategy, compliance, and application preparation. Speak with our expert legal team. Book a consultation to discuss your circumstances.