Northern Territory DAMA

The Northern Territory is an attractive destination for many tourists due to its iconic locations including Uluru and Kakadu National Park, its Indigenous art and cultures, the saltwater crocodiles, and its one-million-dollar barramundi fishing prize.

But for migrants, the opportunity to apply for the Nothern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) is the biggest attraction, offering the prize of Australian Permanent Residency.

If you're exploring visa pathways to live and work in Australia—especially if you're aged between 45 and 55—the Northern Territory DAMA (NT DAMA) might be your best route to permanent residency.

In this blog, we will talk about the Northern Territory DAMA, which is a powerful migration option for skilled and semi-skilled workers.

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What is the Northern Territory DAMA?

The Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement, or Northern Territory DAMA, is a formal labour agreement between the Australian Government and the Northern Territory Government. It enables local employers to sponsor overseas workers to fill critical labour shortages under more flexible rules than standard employer-sponsored visas.
The entire Northern Territory is covered under one DAMA, which makes the process more streamlined.

Important update on the Northern Territory DAMA program

The agreement between the Northern Territory and Australian government for the NT DAMA II program expired on 13 December 2024.
A new Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement (Northern Territory DAMA III) was executed between the Northern Territory and Australian governments on 19 March 2025.
The online application portal is open for new endorsement applications under NT DAMA III.

Why is NT DAMA Important?

There are significant workforce shortages across industries like:

Health and aged care
Agriculture and farming
Hospitality and tourism
Building and construction
Transport and logistics
Engineering and community services

The NT DAMA helps regional employers hire international talent when suitable candidates cannot be sourced locally.
So, the NT DAMA can help employers fill staff shortages.

Northern Territory Dama

NT additional occupations not in ANZSCO

The NT DAMA is unique in that it provides access to some occupations not in the ANZSCO. These are:

• Bar attendant (supervisor)
• Civil construction site supervisor
• Cook (specialist ethnic cuisine)
• Electrical motor repairer or winder
• High access maintenance and cleaning technician
• Hospitality worker
• Skilled horticultural worker
• Waiter (supervisor)

So, this is good if you work in one of those occupations in the Northern Territory.
You can check the NT DAMA occupation list on the NT DAMA website to see if your occupation is on the list.

Who Can Apply Under NT DAMA?

To be eligible for a DAMA visa in the Northern Territory, you must:

Work in an eligible occupation on the NT DAMA III occupation list
Have a valid job offer from a Northern Territory employer
Meet the required skills and qualifications (with concessions available)
Meet the English and salary requirements, which are more flexible under DAMA

Visa Options Under the NT DAMA

The NT DAMA provides access to several employer-sponsored visa pathways:

Up to 4-year Skills in Demand 482 visa – with a PR pathway through the DAMA 186 visa
5-year Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) 494 visa with a PR pathway through the 191 visa
Permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa (for those eligible for the permanent residence pathway).

The NT DAMA occupations list may be reviewed and updated annually by agreement between the NT Government and the Australian Government.
The annual review is informed by:

The NT Skilled Occupations Priority List, which is used as a base from which the NT DAMA occupations list is developed
Other labour market information including submissions received from industry peak bodies