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Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement

Sponsor Skilled and Semi-Skilled Workers Anywhere in the NT

If your Northern Territory business is facing a skills shortage it cannot fill locally, NT DAMA III gives you access to a substantially expanded occupation list and concessions on standard visa requirements, territory-wide, with no charge for the Territory Government endorsement itself. At Australian Migration Lawyers, we guide NT employers through the DAMA process, from endorsement through to visa grant.

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Overview

A New, Broader Agreement Territory-Wide

NT DAMA III was executed between the Northern Territory and Australian governments on 19 March 2025, a five-year labour agreement applying to the whole of the Northern Territory. It replaces NT DAMA II and significantly expands the occupation list to 325 occupations across skill levels 1 to 5, tailored to current and emerging labour shortages across the Territory.

Businesses that already hold a labour agreement under NT DAMA II can continue lodging nomination applications within their existing approved ceilings, these continue to be assessed as before. A business that needs additional positions, or wants to access new occupations or concessions available only under NT DAMA III, needs to apply for a new NT DAMA III endorsement through the online portal.

Who Administers This DAMA

The Designated Area Representative (DAR) for the Northern Territory DAMA is the Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations, which administers the program through its MigrationNT unit. MigrationNT assesses employer endorsement applications on the Territory's behalf before the Department of Home Affairs considers a labour agreement request. The two approvals are separate, and endorsement does not guarantee that Home Affairs will approve the subsequent labour agreement or visa.

Fixed price

There are no hidden costs for our services. Our fees are clearly set out in a fee agreement.

Deal directly with a lawyer

From the first same-day response to the granting of your Australian visa, you’ll have direct access to a lawyer.

Clear communication

Our experienced lawyers will give you regular updates and clear explanations of visa pathways.

Satisfaction guaranteed

We offer a client satisfaction guarantee in relation to our visa application services.

Installments available

3 - 6 months installment options available on some visa types.

Eligibility for Employers

To be endorsed by MigrationNT for the NT DAMA, a business needs to satisfy the department that it:

Is genuinely operating in the Territory, not simply registered there

Has tried in good faith to fill the role locally before looking overseas, and can point to that effort if asked

Has a real, ongoing need for the position, one that standing Home Affairs sponsorship obligations will continue to apply to for the life of the agreement

Can reasonably forecast its workforce needs across the full five-year term, since the number of endorsed positions can only be increased later where a strong business case shows the need wasn't foreseeable at initial application

Can produce evidence of labour market testing for every occupation, at both endorsement and nomination stages, advertising on at least two platforms for a minimum of 28 days each, with at least one platform of national reach

Eligibility for Skilled Workers

To be sponsored under the NT DAMA, a worker generally needs:

A genuine, full-time job offer from a business that holds, or is actively seeking, DAR endorsement for this DAMA

An occupation listed on the current NT DAMA occupation list, which assigns each occupation a category (A to P) setting out its specific qualifications and experience requirements

Skills, qualifications, and experience matching that category's requirements

English language test results meeting the standard visa requirement, or the concession available for the specific occupation, since English and age requirements vary by occupation

Health and character clearances

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Occupation List and Concessions

NT DAMA III covers 325 occupations across skill levels 1 to 5, spanning sectors including healthcare, hospitality, construction, and trades. Note that if an industry labour agreement already covers your occupation, you cannot use the NT DAMA for that same occupation, check the Department of Home Affairs website for current industry labour agreements first. The current, full occupation list with category assignments is maintained by MigrationNT and should be checked directly before relying on any occupation eligibility.

Age and English Language Concessions

Age and English language requirements vary by individual occupation and category under the NT DAMA, rather than applying as a single flat concession across the whole agreement. Check the specific occupation's category requirements on the current NT DAMA occupations list before relying on any figure.

Salary Concession

A salary threshold concession of 15 per cent below the standard Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) is available for all eligible occupations under NT DAMA III. Up to 10 percentage points of that 15 per cent concession can be made up of non-monetary benefits.

Based on the current CSIT of $79,423 for nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027, a 15 per cent reduction works out to approximately $67,510.

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DAR Endorsement

The Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations confirms there is no charge for MigrationNT endorsement, skills verification for selected occupations, or the resulting labour agreement with the Department of Home Affairs. Fees still apply, and change over time, for the nomination application, the worker's visa application, and the Skilling Australians Fund levy, all paid to the Australian Government rather than the Northern Territory Government.

Applications are made through the NT DAMA online portal.

How the Process Works for This DAMA

1

Step 1: Check Eligibility and Forecast Workforce Needs

The employer confirms eligibility and determines how many overseas workers it will need to nominate across which occupations over the five-year agreement period, based on genuine workforce need.

2

Step 2: DAR Endorsement

The employer applies to MigrationNT through the NT DAMA online portal, with evidence of business operations, genuine need, and labour market testing. There is no charge for this step.

3

Step 3: Labour Agreement and Nomination

Once endorsed, the employer enters into a five-year labour agreement with the Department of Home Affairs, then nominates specific positions and workers within its approved ceiling.

4

Step 4: Visa Application

The worker lodges a Subclass 482, 494, or 186 visa application against the approved nomination.

5

Ongoing Variations

If a business needs additional occupations, new concessions, or more positions than initially approved, it must apply to MigrationNT for subsequent endorsement (a deed of variation), supported by a business case explaining why the need wasn't foreseeable at initial application.

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Pathway to Permanent Residency

Workers sponsored under the NT DAMA on a Subclass 494 visa have an independent pathway to permanent residency after 3 years, through the Subclass 191 (Permanent Residence Skilled Regional) visa, subject to meeting the income threshold at the time of application. This is the standard federal timeframe.

Workers on a Subclass 482 visa under this DAMA can be nominated for the Subclass 186 (Employer Nomination Scheme) visa once they meet the relevant age, experience, and salary settings for their occupation category.

The NT Government is explicit that permanent residency is never guaranteed under the NT DAMA, workers must independently meet the eligibility requirements at the time they apply.

Talk to Our Migration Lawyers About the NT DAMA

If your Northern Territory business has a genuine skills shortage it cannot fill locally, our migration lawyers can confirm whether NT DAMA III applies to you and guide you through endorsement, labour agreement, and visa stages.

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Ask about our No Visa, No Fee options. T's and C's apply.

Australian Migration Lawyers

Award-winning Immigration Lawyers

Our office brings nationally recognised immigration law expertise directly to the clients. Every award listed below was earned through independent assessment, including peer review, client feedback, and workplace audits. When you work with our immigration lawyers, you are working with a firm whose quality has been verified from the outside.

2027

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Best Lawyers

Best Law Firms Australia

Australian Migration Lawyers is ranked in the 2027 Best Law Firms - Australia edition by Best Lawyers. Firm rankings are determined through client feedback, peer nominations, and overall market reputation. Inclusion confirms the firm delivers top-tier legal services in immigration law at a national level.

2027

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Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers in Australia™ Immigration Law

Perry Q. Wood is recognised in the 2027 Best Lawyers in Australia™ edition for Immigration Law. This ranking is awarded exclusively through confidential peer review by senior lawyers in the same practice area. It is the leading global legal directory benchmark.

2026

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Doyle's Guide

Leading Immigration Law

Perry Q. Wood is ranked as a Leading Immigration Lawyer in Victoria in Doyle's Guide 2026. Four consecutive years of inclusion in Doyle's Guide establishes a verified, long-term record of excellence and peer recognition in Australian immigration law.

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Don (Susantha) Katugampala

Saemeh Ghasemi Australian Migration Lawyer

Oliver Thomas Christensen

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Gerard Gupit Australian Legal Executive

Hayley Kim Australian Legal Executive

Australian Legal Executive

We have experience working with LGBTIQ+ visas across Australia

Frequently Asked Questions

It is the current Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement, executed 19 March 2025, a five-year labour agreement covering the whole Territory with an expanded list of 325 eligible occupations.

The Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations administers the NT DAMA through its MigrationNT unit.

No. The Northern Territory Government confirms there is no charge for endorsement, skills verification for selected occupations, or the resulting labour agreement. Fees still apply for the nomination application, visa application, and Skilling Australians Fund levy, paid to the Australian Government.

Yes. Businesses with an existing NT DAMA II agreement can continue lodging nomination applications within their approved ceilings. A new NT DAMA III endorsement is only needed to access additional positions or newly available occupations and concessions.

No. The Northern Territory Government states plainly that permanent residency is never guaranteed, workers must independently meet the eligibility requirements for the relevant permanent visa at the time they apply.

No. The NT DAMA is entirely employer-driven. A worker cannot apply independently and needs a genuine job offer from a business that holds, or is seeking, MigrationNT endorsement.

This page provides general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn't take into account your individual circumstances. If your situation is time-sensitive, we'd encourage you to book a consultation with our team as soon as possible to get advice specific to you.

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Important Information Regarding the Use of the Term 'Partner'

We are an incorporated legal practice which is a corporation for the purposes of the Corporations Act 2001. The use of the title ‘Partner’ by a lawyer in this practice is used to denote seniority and does not and is not intended to signify that the practice is contracting otherwise than as a corporation. For the avoidance of doubt, any such title does not and is not intended to signify that a partnership within the definition of the Partnership Act exists at law.