The Aristos Group

Migration

The jobs Australia is so keen for migrants to fill that they’re offering permanent residency

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The jobs Australia is so keen for migrants to fill that they're offering permanent residency

Key Points:

  • 79,600 spaces are available for the Skilled Migration scheme in 2020-2021
  • 17 occupations have been prioritised in the health, construction and IT sectors 
  • This includes nurses, doctors, midwives, software engineers and programmers 

Skilled workers are in such short supply in Australia the federal government is offering qualified migrants permanent residency. 

A total of 17 occupations have been identified on the federal government’s priority migration skilled occupation list to help Australia recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.  Immigration authorities will prioritise workers in the healthcare, construction and information technology industries.  The list includes nurses, doctors, midwives, psychiatrists, software engineers, computer programmers and mechanical engineers. 

Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge said the changes would strike the right balance for Australia’s economic recovery.  “Our priority is getting Australians back into work but we also need key health workers to help fight the virus and skilled migrants who are going to be job multipliers, to help the economy recover” Mr Tudge said. 

The occupations were selected out of more than 200 on the Department of Home Affairs Skills List granting residency under the Skilled Migration Scheme.  The skilled migration program is offering 79,600 places for 2020-2021.  The scheme falls under the 189 Skilled Independent Visa and allows workers to apply for permanent residency after three years.  The skilled stream is considered the most desirable way to gain immigration to Australia.  

Alternative pathways to migration involve gaining sponsorship from an employer or government authorities.  The skilled work regional visa, known as the subclass 491 visa, offers a short term stay for migrants willing to work in regional Australia.  They must remain in the area for up to five years, but may apply for permanent residency after three years if they have met the income requirements.  Migrants can also gain permanent residency through the 186, 482 and 494 visas which require sponsorship through an employer. 

The federal government also offers highly talented specialists a chance to gain permanent residency through the Global Talent Independent Program.  The program targets specialists across seven industries: ag-tech, med-tech, space, fin-tech, energy and mining technology, cyber security, and data science.  The scheme is the fastest way to gain permanent residency in Australia.  Migrants applying through this program must show they area capable of earning a salary above the income threshold of $153,600 each year.  They must also have their application supported by an Australian specialist working in their field. 

The 17 Priority Occupations For 2020 – 2021 are:

The following 17 occupations were identified as priorities to help bolster the nation’s economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic:

  • Chief Executive or Managing Director 
  • Construction Project Manager  
  • Mechanical Engineer 
  • General Practitioner 
  • Resident Medical Officer
  • Psychiatrist 
  • Medical Practitioner nec 
  • Midwife 
  • Registered Nurse (Aged Care) 
  • Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency) 
  • Registered Nurse (Medical) 
  • Registered Nurse (Mental Health) 
  • Registered Nurse (Perioperative) 
  • Registered Nurses nec 
  • Developer Programmer 
  • Software Engineer 
  • Maintenance Planner 

We recommend you position yourself early for the opportunities that will avail themselves as we come out of these unprecedented times so Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

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COVID-19 Border Exemptions For Skilled Workers Being Introduced In Australia – Emphasis on Healthcare, Construction and Software Professionals.

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COVID-19 Border Exemptions For Skilled Workers Being Introduced In Australia - Emphasis on Healthcare, Construction and Software Professionals.

Healthcare, Construction and Software Professionals wanting work in Australia will be given exemptions to bypass tough border restrictions as part of a new Skilled Migration Plan to offset slowing population growth, create jobs and help the economy recover from the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic recession.

Significant opportunities are available after the federal government has given a swathe of Healthcare, Construction and Technology Professionals top priority status for migration due to a local skills shortage.

Most of the 17 jobs on the new list of workers that businesses will be able to sponsor from overseas relate to the Healthcare Industry, including Registered Nurses, General Practitioners, Psychiatrists and Midwives, but Chief Executives, Construction Managers, Mechanical and Software Engineers also make the list.

Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge, who is also acting Immigration Minister, said the list was an immediate priority for Australia’s recovery.

“If a person fits that category they will get an exemption to come through the borders,” Mr Tudge said.

 

Jobs on Australia’s priority list are:

  • General practitioner
  • Resident medical officer
  • Psychiatrist
  • Medical practitioners not elsewhere classified
  • Registered nurses – aged care, critical care and emergency, medical, mental health, midwife, peri-operative and not elsewhere classified
  • Chief executive or managing director
  • Construction project manager
  • Mechanical engineer
  • Developer programmer
  • Software engineer
  • Maintenance planner

There have been international travel restrictions on all non-residents and non-citizens arriving in Australia without exemptions since March 20 due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic.  These travel restrictions are forecast to remain in place until mid 2021. This announcement means the professions included on the list get to jump the queue by getting a minimum of a 9 month time benefit.

Mr Tudge said “Immigration is actually part of the answer of kick starting the economy because some people are job-creating individuals. This could include significant investors, entrepreneurs who create businesses or workers with highly specialised skills needed by businesses.”

“Migration has been obviously an important driver of population growth. That alone is a significant economic driver. But migration has also helped our participation rate and our productivity rate because we bring in young and skilled people.”

“It’s a very significant part of Australia’s economic and social success. Australia is an immigrant nation and we will return to being an immigrant nation.”

All people arriving in Australia, including skilled workers on this list, are required to spend 14 days in quarantine.  The occupations were chosen after careful analysis of recent changes to the internet vacancy index, changes in employment, and longer-term stability in the labour market for individual occupations.

 

Right now is a great time to assess your own situation and we suggest you consider a new life adventure in Australia.  If you are looking to position yourself for great opportunities and first mover advantage then Contact us for a confidential discussion and/or refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.  This is an opportunity not to be missed in these uncertain times.

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Australian Visa Changes And The Implications For Skilled Migrants And Students

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Australian Visa Changes And The Implications For Skilled Migrants And Students

So far this year we have witnessed significant immigration policy changes enforced by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Impacted cohorts include skilled migrants, international students, partners and aged parents seeking to visit or to permanently migrate.

As we move forward in this state of uncertainty and into the new financial year, further major changes to be introduced that are likely to impact both existing and prospective visa holders include:

  • Critical sector occupations will get priority under state nomination programs.
  • Onshore visa applicants, including international students are likely to have an “edge” over offshore applicants.
  • Offshore visa applicants are to remain “worst-affected” by processing delays bought about as a result of workplace restrictions due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic.

So here is the situation:

  • All jurisdictions usually adjust their occupation lists to accommodate the next year’s allocations of places for visas at the start of the financial year.
  • This year changes would be more significant to accommodate Australia’s response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic.

Here is a State by State snapshot:

Victoria:  

  • The state government will start accepting new applications for the Skilled Nominated (Permanent) visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) in the financial year 2020-2021, subject to an announcement.
  • Like the rest of Australia, Victoria is also facing multiple challenges owing to the COVID-19 induced health and financial crisis.
  • Priority will be given to occupations in sectors critical to the Coronavirus response, such as medicine, infrastructure, tradies, etc, over other occupations.
  • “It seems apparent that applicants possessing critical skills will be given priority in the new financial year. Out of which those onshore are likely to receive priority processing.

New South Wales:

  • In a significant development for visa hopefuls, NSW opened its Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491) – applications for which closed on June 26, 2020.
  • The state relaxed the 12-month living and removed the working requirement paving another pathway for skilled migrants planning to work and live in the state.

South Australia:

  • The state has said it will reopen its nomination application system for 190/491 in early August, subject to an announcement.

Western Australia:

  • The WA government made changes to their occupation list on 16 June 2020, removing Registered Nurse (Mental Health) (254422) and adding Nuclear Medicine Technologist (251213) and Physicist (234914) – with the specialisation of Medical Physicist.

Queensland:

  • Business and Skilled Migration Queensland (BSMQ) has also closed its state nomination program. The state is now awaiting advice from the Department of Home Affairs with regards to its nomination allocation for the financial year 2020-21.

Northern Territory:

  • The NT program remains closed to offshore applicants at this stage. New eligibility requirements for all nominations will apply as of 1 July 2020.
  • International students living in the territory will have a clear edge over other applicants in the new financial year.
  • Student visa holders who live in the designated areas and those who keep upscaling their skill sets which are in high demand in the territory have higher chances to be considered for the permanent residency visa nomination.

Australian Capital Territory:

  • Only 81 invitations were issued for subclass 190 in the latest round on June 3, as compared 485 in the previous round. Whereas, no invitations were issued for subclass 491 owing to “sufficient applications in the queue,” as per information available on the state website.
  • The next invitation round is due on or before 15 July, subject to an announcement.

Tasmania:

  • Tasmania has allowed some flexibility for some applicants affected by COVID-19 who are trying to meet the requirements for state nomination.
  • As of 20 March 2020, 491 applications have been temporarily restricted until further notice to occupations listed in the ‘high demand’ section of the Tasmanian Skilled Occupation List (TSOL).

In-demand occupations:

  • Occupations critical to the country’s response to the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic and economic recovery will remain in high demand.
  • Health professionals are now getting priority which was evident from an increase in visa invitations for 189, 190, 491categories.
  • Accounting and IT graduates in Australia could also benefit due to lesser competition owing to a significant anticipated decline in offshore applications in FY 20-21. Also, state nominations under 491 could be a blessing for graduates who are unable to secure an invite under the highly competitive subclass 189 or 190 streams. 

Onshore vs offshore:

  • This year is expected to yield better outcomes for onshore international students and skilled migrants, particularly those who are living in the regional areas across the country.
  • 2019 saw an increased push towards regional areas and this financial year is going to be no exception. But FY 20-21 is expected to be far more beneficial for visa hopefuls currently in Australia as opposed to those who remain stranded outside the country due to border closures.
  • The federal government’s focus is towards protecting the interests of Australians and temporary migrants who remain in the country.
  • “It is a great time for temporary visa holders who are currently in Australia and have their skillset ready to lodge their visa applications in designated regional areas where their occupations are in high demand.

Impact on international students:

  • Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the federal government is working with the states and territories on plans to allow some international students to return on a pilot basis.
  • In a powerful ultimatum to all jurisdictions, the prime minister reiterated that the states and territories eager to allow international students back into the country will first have to fulfil the prerequisites laid down by the national cabinet.

Processing times:

  • International lockdowns to contain the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic have triggered visa processing issues across the globe, leading to ‘significant’ processing delays due unavailability of key assessment services and the consequent inability of applicants to meet visa criteria.
  • Visas continue to be processed during the coronavirus pandemic, though some applications may take longer as international shutdowns have made it difficult to source supplementary information like health and criminal history checks.
  • Offshore applicants – be it for partners, students, parents, skilled migrants, or visitors – they will continue to feel the pinch until all source countries find a way to contain the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic.

Net overseas migration trends:

  • With international border closures expected to be in place until next year, the federal government expects net overseas migration to fall to just 35,000 in 2020-21 – but it needs to be between 160,000 and 220,000 to maintain GDP per capita growth.
  • This means the total number of migrants who will make Australia home this financial year, both temporary and permanent, will be far lower than it has been in a long time, as was reflected in the visa grants which fell dramatically in the past few months.
  • Migration agents claim a post-pandemic Australia will find it difficult to recover in the absence of a large number of migrants.
  • Migrants contribute to Australia’s economic growth, population, productivity and also make a significant contribution to the country’s social and cultural fabric.

Visa fees and charges:

  • Australian visa charges increase each year on 1 July in line with the consumer price index (CPI). This increase is normally around 3 to 4 per cent.
  • There is no clarity on whether visa cost will increase this year, given the unprecedented circumstances.

Certainty embedded into the Uncertainties:

Although we are in uncertain times and this is likely to continue into the future, there are certainties embedded into what is occurring.  The longer the uncertainty continues:

  • The higher the demand for a skilled workforce in Australia.
  • The more likely current barriers will be removed to attract skilled migrants.
  • Australia will have to fill the migration void suffered due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic.
  • Employers will be vying for the best candidates.
  • Greater and better opportunities will become available for skilled migrants.

So where to from here:

Right now is a great time to assess your own situation and we suggest you consider a new life adventure in Australia.  If you consider that is for you, or someone you know, then now is a great time for forward looking individuals to position themselves for first mover advantage for when the certainty kicks in and the opportunities abound.  

In the first instance Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

Australian General Skilled Migration Invitations Closed Indefinitely

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Visa options for South Africans wanting to migrate to Australia

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There are some good options, but navigating the system is complex and can be frustrating

We will explore some of the ways you can gain permanent residency and citizenship for you and your family in Australia.  But be warned it can be difficult to know where to start and which visa to apply for.

There are generally three visa streams available for South Africans that want to migrate to Australia:

  • the family stream
  • the work stream and
  • the business or investment stream

These streams have many different visa subclasses for specific immigration situations.  It’s not a one size fits all approach.  The best advice is to get advice from someone who knows how to navigate the process and provide the best advice.  So here we go.

Family stream

If your family member is an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you could join them on a family-stream permanent residence visa. Here are two common visa categories in this stream:

Partner visas

These visas allow partners and spouses of Australian citizens and permanent residents to live in Australia permanently.  They’re separated into two categories for applying from within Australia (subclasses 820 and 801) and for applying from outside Australia (subclasses 309 and 100).  Each category has a temporary and a permanent visa, but you apply for both at the same time.

 

Parent visas

There several different subclasses of parent visas covering the spectrum of temporary and permanent stay in the country. The permanent options require you to pass the balance of family test, meaning that more than half of your children need to be Australian citizens or permanent residents.

One visa that doesn’t hinge on this requirement and has relatively low processing times compared to permanent visas is the Sponsored Parent (Temporary) visa (subclass 870). This allows parents of Australian citizens or permanent residents to visit for up to five years at a time, but unfortunately won’t lead to permanent residence.  There’s also the option of applying for one of the permanent visas and staying in Australia on a bridging visa while you wait for approval.

 

 

Work stream

If you’re looking to live and work in Australia permanently, you can do so with a work visa.

 

Employer-sponsored visas

This category of visas allows an Australian employer to sponsor you to work in the country. The Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) requires you to have an occupation on the list of eligible skilled occupations.  There’s also a Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) for jobs on the skilled shortage list. This can potentially lead to permanent residence.

 

Skilled visas

The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) is a popular route that lets you live and work anywhere in Australia. You don’t need job offer for this visa – eligibility works on a points system. If you can get enough points based on age, work experience and education level, you can apply.

If you fall short of the requirements of the independent visa, you may still be eligible for the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190). You’ll need a nomination from an Australian state or territory, which you can get by having an occupation in demand for that region.

A third option for recent engineering graduates is the Skilled—Recognised Graduate visa (subclass 476). You’ll need to be under 31 and have completed your engineering degree within the past two years.

 

 

Business or investment stream

Setting up a business or investing in Australia is an excellent way to gain permanent residency if you have the means to do so.  The Business Talent visa (subclass 132) is perfect for business owners, investors or property developers looking to gain permanent residency in Australia. A popular route is to form or join a property development company in the country to qualify.

Other options include the Business Innovation and Investment visas (subclasses 188 and 888). There are various streams that fall under this category, depending on if you’re investing a large sum or you’re an entrepreneur.

 

Other options

If you don’t qualify for any of the various permanent residence visas on offer in the family, work or business visa streams, there are some other ways to qualify for permanent residency. These include the new skilled regional temporary visa, or the Distinguished Talent visa (subclass 491 and 858).

The Distinguished Talent visa is granted in the case of internationally recognised, exceptional and outstanding achievement in eligible fields, including the arts, academia, research, sport or a profession.

 

The path to an Australian passport

Once you’ve been in Australia for a while, you may be eligible to become an Australian citizen if you meet all the requirements.  You must have spent four years in Australia on a valid visa and have held permanent residency for 12 months before applying. There’s also a “good character” assessment and a citizenship test with an English language requirement. This route is called citizenship by conferral.

If your parent is or was an Australian citizen and you weren’t born in the country, you can gain citizenship by descent.

We work closely with competent visa lawyers and other value chain partners so Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

The 10 Best Places To Live In Australia | Study, Job Opportunities

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Why Australia Is The Next Place To Expand Your Business

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Australia's Dynamic Industries

The Australian Government welcomes foreign investment. As the Australian Government’s investment promotion agency, Austrade works to inform investors about growth opportunities in five areas which play to our strengths, jointly agreed by Australian and State and Territory Governments:

  • Agribusiness and food
  • Major infrastructure
  • Tourism infrastructure
  • Resources and energy
  • Advanced manufacturing, services and technology

Within advanced manufacturing, services and technology, Austrade focuses on highlighting growth opportunities for investment in Australian medical and materials sciences and technologies, and digital technologies.

Australia has achieved significant global success in the energy and resources, agribusiness, education, tourism and financial services industries.

The country is also developing and commercialising new disruptive technologies in a range of sectors, including agriculture, education, financial services and healthcare.

Australia is renowned for its resources sector, upon which Asia continues to rely to help fuel its industrialisation. Australian agricultural commodities and premium food are in high demand worldwide, as are its tourism, education, wealth management, healthcare and professional services.

Australia is:

  • the world’s largest producer of gold, iron ore and uranium
  • a major global producer of agricultural commodities
  • a leader in investment management, with the sixth largest pool of funds under management in the world
  • the world’s third most popular destination for students
  • the seventh largest international tourism market.

GLOBALLY SUCCESSFUL IN FIVE KEY INDUSTRIES

Australia is a major producer of in-demand agricultural commodities, premium food and natural resources. The nation is a leading destination for international tourists and students in tertiary education. It also has large, expanding, sophisticated financial markets, including the world’s sixth largest pool of managed fund assets.

A LEADER IN NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Australia’s transition to a services-based economy is driving the development of new technologies in agriculture, education, financial services and health, among other sectors. This includes the use of blockchain in finance, immersive simulation technologies in education, robotics in medical procedures and the Internet of Things in agriculture.

ABUNDANT RESERVES OF MINERAL AND ENERGY RESOURCES

Australia’s natural resources continue to be a vital contributor to the nation’s wealth. It has the world’s largest resources of iron ore, gold, lead, zinc, nickel, rutile and zircon, as well as the second largest bauxite, cobalt, silver and copper reserves. Australia also has the world’s largest uranium reserves and the second largest brown coal deposits, enabling it to play an important role in supplying the world’s energy needs.

Why Australia is the next place to expand your business

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Australia Holds World Record For Longest Period Of Growth Among Developed Economies

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Austrade estimates that Australia holds the record for the longest period of recession-free growth for a developed economy

According to the latest National Accounts figures recently released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australia holds the record for the longest period of recession-free growth for a developed economy.

The latest outcome is a positive sign that Australia’s economy is maintaining the solid momentum and has entered its 28th year of uninterrupted annual economic growth.

Australia is the only country in the developed world with a period of uninterrupted economic growth of this length, based on the typically recognised definition of an economic recession being a decline in GDP for two or more consecutive quarters.

All 34 member countries in the Organisation for Economic Co operation and Development (OECD) have experienced at least one period of two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth since 1991. Many of these economies experienced two episodes of negative growth during that period – one in 2001 following the collapse of the ‘dot.com bubble’, and one during the 2008 global financial crisis (GFC).

The period since 1991 is the longest growth phase Australia has recorded for at least the past 50 years. It has seen the economy register an average growth rate of 3.2% per annum.

The next longest period, during which Australia’s economic year-ended growth remained positive was between 1961 and 1971. In the 1970s and 1980s, Australia’s growth phases lasted only seven or eight years before another recession hit.

On a quarter-to-quarter basis national accounts figures represented the 104th positive growth rate since the economy started to recover in Q3 1991, following the two consecutive negative growth rates in Q1 and Q2 1991.

By Austrade’s count, Australia’s consecutive quarters of positive growth have now exceeded all OECD member countries including the Netherlands (96 quarters between Q1 1982 to Q2 2008), Ireland (78 between Q3 1986 and Q1 2007), South Korea (77 since the Asian Financial Crisis in 1998) and Canada (68 between Q2 1991 and Q3 2008).

Australia’s economic resilience over the past two decades has been the envy of many countries. Australia sailed through the Asian economic crisis of 1997–98, prospered through the US stock market bust and recession of 2001 and continued to grow through the GFC of 2008–09.

Australia has managed to deliver a solid economic performance relative to other developed economies, while adjusting to the end of its mining boom of the 2000s.

The nation is expected to realise an average annual real GDP growth of 2.7% between 2019 and 2023, according to the IMF’s World Economic Outlook October 2018. The latest average growth rate over the next five years is the highest among major advanced economies and up from an average growth rate of 2.6% between 2014 and 2018.

Contact us for a confidential discussion and refer family, friends and colleagues and be rewarded.

Australia's GDP growth is 'unmatched by any other developed nation'

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The Post-Brexit Points-Based Immigration System

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The first details are emerging of the Government’s post-Brexit points-based immigration system

The first details are emerging of the Government’s post-Brexit points-based immigration system, set to be introduced from January 2021.

As far as economic migration is concerned, there will be 3 categories of visa under the new points-based system:

  • Exceptional talent/contribution
  • Skilled worker
  • Sector-specific rules-based

 

The “Exceptional talent/contribution” category

The “Exceptional talent/contribution” category will be available to:

  • Migrants who have received awards in a qualifying field or otherwise been endorsed as a recognised leader or an emerging leader in their field
  • Sponsored entrepreneurs setting up a new business in the UK
  • Investors who want to invest in the UK. There will be no requirement to have a job offer and the category will lead to indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

The “Exceptional talent/contribution” category will include the fast-track visa route for top scientists announced by the Government in August 2019. Designed to attract elite researchers and specialists in science, engineering and technology, this sub-category of the exceptional talent route will not require an offer of employment and will provide an accelerated path to settlement after 3 years. Set criteria will confer automatic endorsement and there will be no cap on numbers.

 

The ‘Skilled worker’ category

The ‘Skilled worker’ category will, post-Brexit, apply to both non-EU and EU nationals. Employer sponsorship will remain a key requirement for the vast majority of migrants, meaning that they will need both a job offer and to score points. However, the sponsorship process for skilled workers will be streamlined to reduce the time it takes to bring in a migrants to meet labour demands. This category will also lead to indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) will advise annually on whether caps or incentives are required based on whether there are shortages or an excess of migration via the skilled worker category.

Some special types of skilled worker visas, such as the NHS visa, will also receive fast-track entry and reduced fees. Qualified doctors, nurses and Allied Health Professionals coming to fulfil acute job shortages in the NHS will be awarded extra points. There will be no cap on the number of qualified applicants who can migrate to the UK with an NHS Visa.

 

The “Sector-specific rules-based” category

The third category, the “sector-specific rules-based” category, will be made up of specific temporary schemes such as for low-skilled labour.

Designed to fill specific labour shortages, these schemes will be revised on an ongoing basis based on expert advice from the MAC. The rules for each scheme will vary but they will all be time-limited and will not provide a path to settlement.

One example of a “sector-specific rules-based” category is the Seasonal Agricultural Workers’ scheme. The Government has pledged to raise the cap for the next year of this pilot scheme from 2,500 to 10,000 places in 2020-21.

Youth mobility and short term visits (i.e. touring and work assignments) will also fall within the “sector-specific rules-based” category.

 

Will the UK be open for business?

The Government’s plans have already been criticised by business groups including the British Chambers of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses for their lack of clarity on how the proposed points-based system will actually work. Among their concerns are that firms do not currently know who they will be able to hire next year and recruitment decisions could effectively be left to bureaucrats rather than businesses.

Australian Style Points Based Immigration' Explained

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BIG Opportunities Available In Australia With Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA)

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So What Are Australian Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA)

A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and a regional, state or territory authority. It provides access to more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration program. DAMAs operate under an agreement-based framework, providing flexibility for regions to respond to their unique economic and labour market conditions.

A DAMA is a two-tier framework covering a defined regional area. The first tier is an overarching five-year deed of agreement (head agreement) with the region’s representative. The second tier comprises individual labour agreements with employers under the settings of the head agreement for that region.

DAMA labour agreements are between the Australian Government and endorsed employers operating within the relevant region. They are:

  • generally in effect for five years and
  • use the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) and Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) visa programs.

Employers must seek and gain endorsement from the Designated Area Representative before lodging a labour agreement request.

Under the DAMA framework, employers in designated areas experiencing skills and labour shortages can sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers. Individuals cannot directly access a DAMA. Individuals need to be sponsored:

  • by an employer operating in a designated region.
  • for an occupation that is specified in the head agreement.

Employers must demonstrate a genuine attempt to recruit Australians prior to getting access to a DAMA.

Australia currently has seven DAMAs in place in the below regions.  The links provide detailed information including the occupations included in the agreement.

Checkout the above links and if you are interested in any or all of the DAMA’s then contact us for a confidential discussion.

If you know anyone who may be interested then refer them and be rewarded.

Northern Immigration Australia - ABC News NT - Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) II

Designated Area Migration Agreement - DAMA

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