Covid-19 Bulletin
The Cairns Chamber of Commerce is continuing to receive and assess requests for endorsement under the Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement (FNQ DAMA) during Covid-19 restrictions. The same service standards apply. All requests for endorsement during this period should address the impact of Covid-19 on the sponsoring business and the ongoing/longre-term need to fill position/s in short supply. If in doubt, contact the Chamber at
About the Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement
The Chamber welcomes all FNQ DAMA enquiries from businesses and their agents. Please email with your queries.
For individual overseas workers, please note the FNQ DAMA is an employer-sponsored visa program and individual workers cannot apply for a visa independently. As such, we are only able to respond to enquiries from businesses and their agents.
The Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement (FNQ DAMA) allows Far North Queensland (FNQ) employers to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers for positions they are unable to fill with local workers. The FNQ DAMA is tailored to address current and emerging labour market shortages and local terms and conditions of employment. The FNQ DAMA utilises the labour agreement stream of the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482). Businesses approved for a labour agreement with the Department of Home Affairs can nominate overseas workers under the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS subclass 482) visa program - many of the occupations also have access to apply for a permanent visa pathway after three years. Employers must first be endorsed by the Designated Area Representative (DAR) before submitting a DAMA Labour Agreement request with the Department of Home Affairs.
The key elements of FNQ DAMA are:
- pathways to permanent residency for holders of TSS visas granted under the FNQ DAMA in select occupations
- a broad range of occupations that reflect FNQ skilled and semi-skilled shortages, with no caveats to apply
- English language concessions for some occupations
- salary concessions that reflect FNQ market rates, ensuring that worker terms and conditions of employment are not eroded
- concessions relating to qualifications and experience for some occupations
- a range of risk and integrity actions to ensure that the rights of both employees and employers are protected
- a five year agreement to reduce red tape.
Businesses can access the FNQ DAMA if they are actively operating within the Cairns, Port Douglas, Atherton, Mareeba or Cassowary Coast local government areas and:
- are viable and have been operating for at least 12 months
- have no history of not meeting its obligations to employees
- are looking to employ overseas workers to fill full-time positions with duties that align with one of the occupations on the FNQ DAMA list
- can demonstrate they cannot fill the position locally with Australian citizens or permanent residents
- can provide terms and conditions of employment to overseas workers that are in accordance with those offered to Australian workers employed in the region.
