Western Australia DAMA: Perth and Regional WA Occupations, Concessions and Steps

What the WA DAMA is

Migration Services, in the Department of Training and Workforce Development, is the Designated Area Representative (DAR) for the WA DAMA. Home Affairs lists the agreement as "Western Australia" among the 13 DAMAs in place (page last updated 7 October 2026). Migration Services says the WA DAMA "was established in July 2024 in response to strong demand from employers to fill jobs in key areas of WA".

An endorsed business negotiates its own labour agreement with Home Affairs. Migration Services says a labour agreement "is generally in effect for five years" and uses the labour agreement stream of three visas: the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) and the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186). Every occupation on the current list is available for all three.

Where an occupation is available under a Home Affairs Industry Labour Agreement, Migration Services can consider it for endorsement only if the worker will be employed in a different industry from the one that agreement covers.

Metropolitan Perth and regional WA

The WA DAMA splits the state into two categories by the postcode of the business:

• Category 2, Metropolitan Perth: postcodes 6000 to 6038, 6050 to 6083, 6090 to 6182, 6208 to 6211, 6214, and 6556 to 6558.
• Category 3, Regional WA: every other postcode in Western Australia.

Migration Services says 50% of places are allocated to each category. For a business based in metropolitan Perth it adds that "the DAR must be satisfied that the requested number of skilled migrants does not exceed the 50% ratio set by Home Affairs", and the organisation chart must show how many Australian citizens or permanent residents and how many skilled migrants the business employs.

The two categories have different lists and rules. Migration Services says the Perth list "Focuses on higher skill levels (Skill Levels 1 to 3)" and includes some semi-skilled (skill level 4) and non-ANZSCO occupations, while the regional list is broader and "provides a shorter pathway to permanent residency and lesser work experience requirements compared to Metropolitan Perth".

Regional DAMAs come first

If a business is in one of the four regional DAMA areas and its occupation is on that DAMA's list, it applies to the regional DAR, not Migration Services. Only if the occupation isn't available under the regional DAMA can it apply to Migration Services under the WA DAMA. Migration Services' eligibility document defines the regional areas by local government area:

• Goldfields (DAR: City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder): the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Shires of Coolgardie, Dundas, Esperance, Laverton, Leonora, Menzies and Ravensthorpe.
• Kimberley (DAR: East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Home Affairs lists it as East Kimberley): the Shires of Wyndham East Kimberley, Broome, Halls Creek and Derby-West Kimberley.
• Pilbara (DAR: Regional Development Australia Pilbara): the City of Karratha, the Town of Port Hedland and the Shire of East Pilbara.
• South West (DAR: Shire of Dardanup): the Cities of Bunbury and Busselton and the Shires of Augusta-Margaret River, Boyup Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Capel, Collie, Dardanup, Donnybrook-Balingup, Harvey, Manjimup and Nannup.

The Goldfields DAMA has a fixed end date for now. On 3 July 2026 Migration Services reported that the Commonwealth had confirmed an extension of the Goldfields DAMA "to 31 December 2026". Home Affairs links each regional DAMA to its DAR's website, which explains how to access it.

The occupation list

Migration Services publishes the WA DAMA occupation list as a search filter with a CSV download. As downloaded on 31 October 2026, it has 358 occupations, all available in regional WA, and 271 of them are also available in metropolitan Perth. No occupation is available in Perth only.

By skill level, the Perth list has 154 occupations at skill level 1, 44 at level 2, 65 at level 3 and 8 at level 4. The regional list has 173, 54, 84 and 47. The eight skill level 4 occupations open in Perth are Aged or Disabled Carer, Driller, Grader Operator, Paving Plant Operator, Personal Care Assistant, Prison Officer, Process Technician and Truck Driver (General).

Eight are non-ANZSCO occupations with the code 070499: Decarbonisation Advisor, Directional Driller, Electrolyser Technician, Fuel Cell Technician, Hydrogen Process Operators, Process Technician and Wind Blade Technician (Perth and regional), and Civil Construction Supervisor (regional only).

Some familiar occupations on both lists: Chef (351311), Cook (351411), the registered nurse occupations (254412 to 254499), Electrician (General) (341111), Carpenter (331212), Diesel Motor Mechanic (321212), Civil Engineer (233211), Primary School Teacher (241213) and Child Care Worker (421111). Examples available in regional WA only: Butcher or Smallgoods Maker (351211), Teachers' Aide (422116), Tyre Fitter (899415) and Mechanical Engineering Draftsperson (312511).

Concessions

Migration Services lists these concessions, as read on 31 October 2026:

• Work experience. At least one year of relevant full-time (or part-time pro rata) experience for the 482; at least two years for the 494 or 186 where the worker will live and work in regional WA; at least three years for the 494 or 186 in metropolitan Perth.
• Age. "Increased age limit for visa applicants from 45 to 55 years."
• English. No concession for skill level 1 and 2 occupations. For skill level 3 and 4 occupations: IELTS 5.0 or equivalent with no minimum band score for the 482 and 494, and IELTS 5.0 or equivalent with no band below 4.0 for the 186. Migration Services warns that English concessions "may not be approved for client-facing occupations, those with workplace health and safety concerns, or where registration and licensing require higher English language proficiency".
• A shorter path to the 186. For a worker the business already employs on a 482 or 494, the 186 can be requested once the worker has lived and worked in metropolitan Perth for three years, or in regional WA for two. The occupation must be on the WA DAMA list and connected to the worker's WA experience, and the job must be full-time for at least two years. This pathway is open only to workers whose original nomination came from a WA DAMA endorsement, and labour market testing isn't required for it.

Migration Services' list of concessions doesn't include a lower income threshold. It asks for evidence that the worker's salary will be no less than the TSMIT or CSIT, which it gives as $79,423 a year from July 2026, the same figure Home Affairs sets for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026.

The steps, in order

1. The business checks eligibility. It first checks whether a regional DAMA covers its area and occupation, then the WA DAMA list for its category, then the eligibility criteria and conditions.
2. The business creates a Migration WA Portal profile and registers on the Skilled Migrant Employment Register (SMER). Registration is a condition of endorsement even if the business has already found its worker. Migration Services describes SMER as "a free initiative helping employers connect with migrants who want to join the workforce and build a life in Western Australia".
3. The business identifies the worker and confirms they meet the skills, qualifications and experience the list requires, and any licensing or registration requirement.
4. The business tests the labour market, for a 482 or 494 (rules below).
5. The business, or an Authorised Migration Representative it nominates in the portal, submits the endorsement application. It has 60 calendar days to submit once it starts. There is currently no fee. Migration Services gives a current processing time of 20 working days for "decision ready" applications, meaning complete ones.
6. Migration Services decides. If it approves, it sends a letter of endorsement to the business and to Home Affairs, valid for 12 months from the date of issue. If it declines, the business can request a review within 28 calendar days; the review considers only what was in the original application.
7. The business applies to Home Affairs for a labour agreement, submitting the endorsement within its validity period. Home Affairs is "responsible for the assessment and granting of all Labour Agreements and visas".
8. The business nominates the worker, and the worker applies for the visa, both with Home Affairs.

Migration Services notes that submitting the documents it lists "does not guarantee that your application will be approved", that it may withdraw an application or a letter of endorsement at any time, and that it allocates places with regard to "equity of access to allocated places", the mix of occupations and a reasonable spread of employers.

Labour market testing and other conditions

Labour market testing is required only for 482 and 494 endorsements. The advertising must be in English, published within the 12 months before the nomination is lodged, and open for applications for at least four weeks (28 consecutive days). Advertisements in general classifieds or on social media aren't accepted; LinkedIn is, as long as the advertisement isn't restricted to LinkedIn members. A Perth business needs at least two separate advertisements. A regional business also needs at least two, and at least one of them must have national reach. Each advertisement must give the job title or description, the skills and experience required, the location, the salary and the name of the business or its recruitment agency.

Other conditions Migration Services sets:

• fly-in fly-out positions between regions can't be considered, and work at secondary locations outside the primary region shouldn't exceed 30% of work time;
• the business must give each worker settlement information before they start, release them to attend employment law information sessions at no cost to the worker, and submit a Data Release form signed by the worker;
• the business must provide annual reports for the term of its labour agreement and tell Migration Services the outcome of any labour agreement or visa application linked to the endorsement.

Migration Services checks documents, including by contacting employers directly, and may report false or misleading information to Home Affairs.

What hasn't been published

Migration Services' pages don't give an end date for the WA DAMA itself. They say only that Migration Services "cannot endorse a position beyond the term of the WA DAMA", and that the program, the occupation lists and the criteria may change at any time, including to align with directions from Home Affairs. Home Affairs says it "is currently supporting the transition to state and territory-led DAMAs". Check the occupation filter and the eligibility document on the day you apply.

For workers, and getting help

Workers don't apply for the WA DAMA. A WA business is endorsed and then nominates them, and the visa decision is Home Affairs'. Migration Services runs the Skilled Migrant Employment Register to help employers connect with skilled migrants looking for work in WA. Migratio doesn't find jobs or connect workers with employers.

For a business, Migration Services lets an Authorised Migration Representative complete the endorsement application, and says a business may also engage one for the labour agreement and visa steps. You can compare registered migration agents in Perth and across Western Australia on Migratio, with each agent's consultation fee shown before you book, whether you run the business or are the worker it wants to nominate.

Does the WA DAMA cover Perth?

Yes. Migration Services says the WA DAMA covers the whole of Western Australia, including metropolitan Perth. Perth (Category 2) is postcodes 6000 to 6038, 6050 to 6083, 6090 to 6182, 6208 to 6211, 6214 and 6556 to 6558, and 271 of the 358 occupations on the list downloaded on 31 October 2026 are open there.

What is the WA DAMA age limit?

Migration Services lists an increased age limit of 55, up from 45.

What English score does the WA DAMA accept?

There is no English concession for skill level 1 and 2 occupations. For skill level 3 and 4 occupations, the concession is IELTS 5.0 or equivalent with no minimum band score for the 482 and 494, and IELTS 5.0 with no band below 4.0 for the 186. It may not be approved for client-facing jobs, jobs with workplace health and safety concerns, or where registration or licensing needs a higher level.

How long does WA DAMA endorsement take, and what does it cost?

Migration Services gives a current processing time of 20 working days for complete ("decision ready") applications and charges no endorsement fee at present. Home Affairs' fees apply to the nomination and the visa application.

Can I apply for the WA DAMA myself?

No. A WA business applies to Migration Services for endorsement, then to Home Affairs for a labour agreement, and then nominates the worker, who applies for the visa.

When does the Goldfields DAMA end?

On 3 July 2026 Migration Services reported that the Commonwealth had confirmed an extension of the Goldfields DAMA to 31 December 2026. Its DAR is the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Is the WA DAMA the same as the Pilbara or South West DAMA?

No. Those are regional DAMAs with their own DARs and lists. A business in a regional DAMA area applies to that DAMA first if its occupation is on that list, and to the WA DAMA only if it isn't.