Designated Area Migration Agreement
South Australia DAMA
South Australia DAMA: regional and metropolitan SA employers can sponsor overseas workers with extended occupation lists and English and age concessions.
Endorsing Authority
Skilled and Business Migration, South Australian Department of State Development
English Concession
IELTS 5.0 overall with 4.0 in each band for 482 and 494 (4.5 overall for specified outer regional semi-skilled occupations); 5.0 with 4.5 each band for 186
Age Concession
Under 55 at nomination for the 494 and 186 visas on listed occupations
Salary Concession
10% reduction to TSMIT retained
Key industries in the South Australia
Industries Covered
Agribusiness, health and social services, hospitality and tourism, construction, manufacturing, defence, space and technology
Occupation Note
South Australia holds two DAMAs, the South Australian Regional Workforce Agreement and the Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement Agreement, with more than 320 occupations across the combined list. In 2025 the state announced an extension of both to 30 June 2026 while a new five year statewide DAMA is negotiated; confirm the current status before relying on it.
The endorsement process
Skilled and Business Migration endorses employers under both South Australian agreements and also acts as skills assessing authority for certain occupations. Labour market testing evidence is required at endorsement and again at nomination, and from 2026 the Department of Home Affairs supports only one variation per agreement year and none in the first six months.
How the South Australia DAMA works
South Australia has two DAMAs listed by the Department of Home Affairs: the South Australian Regional Workforce Agreement covering the whole state and the Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement Agreement for Adelaide’s defence, space, technology and advanced manufacturing industries. Both are administered by Skilled and Business Migration in the Department of State Development, which endorses employers, acts as skills assessing authority for certain occupations and reviews activity with the Department of Home Affairs. The combined occupation list states where in South Australia each occupation is available and which concessions attach to it.
In 2025 the state government announced it had extended both agreements to 30 June 2026 and plans to negotiate a new five year statewide DAMA with the Commonwealth in 2025 to 2026. It has retained the age concession of up to 55, a 10% reduction to the TSMIT, and English and work experience concessions, and has shortened the permanent residence pathway so that a subclass 482 holder may be nominated for the subclass 186 visa after two years (applications endorsed on or after 27 June 2025). From 1 July 2025 an occupation also available under an Industry Labour Agreement cannot be used under the South Australian DAMAs.
The English concessions for the subclass 482 and 494 visas are IELTS 5.0 overall with at least 4.0 in each band, or 4.5 overall for specified semi-skilled occupations in outer regional South Australia; for the subclass 186 the concession is 5.0 overall with at least 4.5 in each band, and none applies where registration or licensing demands more. The employer FAQ confirms that labour market testing evidence is required at endorsement and at nomination and that, from 2026, the Department of Home Affairs supports one variation per agreement year and none in the first six months of a new agreement.
Visa Plan Lawyers and the South Australia DAMA
Visa Plan Lawyers advises South Australian employers on which of the two agreements applies to their location and occupation, prepares the Skilled and Business Migration endorsement and, where needed, the DAR skills assessment request, and lodges the labour agreement and nominations.
Reviewed by Visa Plan Lawyers · Last updated: April 2026 · DAMA information sourced from the Department of Home Affairs. DAMA terms, occupation lists, and concessions are subject to change. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Contact Visa Plan for advice specific to your circumstances.