Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement
The FNQ DAMA is a skilled migration program that is tailored to the needs of our Far North Queensland region (FNQ). The FNQ DAMA differs in many ways from standard skilled migration pathways, providing more flexibility and certainty for both employers and workers. The key differences are*:
The FNQ DAMA operates under a Labour Agreement framework. This means that employers can seek one occupation/position or multiple occupations and positions in a single agreement. It also means that prospective workers do not necessarily need to have been identified at time of applying, allowing for future planning. Individuals can then be nominated against the occupations and numbers of positions in the Labour Agreement. A Labour Agreement is generally valid for five years and can be varied at any time (such as adding further occupations/positions).
As with all skilled migration, the priority is employment for Australians first. However, the FNQ DAMA provides a tailored and accessible option for employers seeking to fill one or multiple occupations and positions where they are genuinely unable to fill the position from the Australian labour market.
For full details and how to access the program, click here.
Which employers can access the FNQ DAMA?
To access a FNQ DAMA Labour Agreement, employers must first be endorsed by the Cairns Chamber of Commerce as the Designated Area Representative (DAR). Employers can access the FNQ DAMA if they*:
For full details and how to access the program, click here.
All enquiries about the FNQ DAMA may be directed to
Note: * This is a summary only - do not make business decisions based on this summary.
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Minister approves FNQ DAMA variations - effective 30 March 2022 - (posted 31 March 2022)
On 30 March 2022 the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke, signed a Deed of Variation giving effect to a range of variations that serve to enhance the FNQ DAMA, ensuring it remains fit for purpose in the changing economic climate. The variations included:
*The variations include transitional arrangements to ensure Overseas Workers in any occupations removed will remain eligible for a permanent visa pathway under the FNQ DAMA.
A new FNQ DAMA Occupation and Concessions List and FNQ DAMA Information Guide have been uploaded in the Accessing the FNQ DAMA page of this website.
The Minister and the Federal Member for Leichhardt the Hon Warren Entsch MP issued a joint media release on 31 March 2022 announcing the FNQ DAMA variations.
FNQ DAMA Request for Endorsement fee change from 1 May 2022 - (posted 1 March 2022)
On 1 May 2022 there will be an increase in the Request for Endorsement fee to $885 for Cairns Chamber of Commerce members, and $985 for non-members. This fee continues to be per position sought. The change has been necessary due to the high costs of managing the FNQ DAMA including labour market analyses and variations due to the ever-changing labour market. The results of the latest Deed of Variation are expected shortly, that will see further enhancements to the FNQ DAMA.
FNQ DAMA Deed of Variation request - (7 February 2022)
On Monday 7 February the Cairns Chamber of Commerce submitted a Deed of Variation request to the Department of Home Affairs for consideration by the Minister for Immigration. The request seeks updates to the occupation list in response to a January 2022 labour market survey and analysis, as well as some enhancements to existing concessions. The outcome of the variation request will be posted on this page. If you wish to be informed automatically, please subscribe for FNQ DAMA updates.
FNQ DAMA Media Release - (19 January 2022)*
Click here for the latest FNQ DAMA Media Release.
FNQ DAMA important update - (1 September 2021)*
As of 1 September 2021, more lenient Labour Market Testing requirements apply to the FNQ DAMA than to non-DAMA programs, at time of requesting the Labour Agreement and also when lodging any nominations associated with that Labour Agreement. These more lenient requirements are detailed here. These will be reflected in all FNQ DAMA Labour Agreements signed on or after 1 September 2021, regardless of when the Labour Agreement was requested from the Department of Home Affairs. As with any FNQ DAMA updates, holders of existing FNQ DAMA Labour Agreements can request that these changes be varied in their existing agreement.
FNQ DAMA important update - (11 August 2021)*
An additional variation has been added to the FNQ DAMA as of 11 August 2021. An age concession is now available for the SESR 494 pathway, in addition to the existing age concession for the TSS482/ENS186 pathway. For details, refer to the FNQ DAMA Occupation List and the FNQ DAMA Information Guide in the next page.
Note: * These updates are a summary only - do not make business decisions based on these summaries.