Accessing the FNQ DAMA 

SUBSCRIBE FOR FNQ DAMA UPDATES

Accessing the FNQ DAMA to address your skills shortages - step by step

Step 1 - Seek endorsement for one or more occupations/positions

Employers need to be endorsed by the Cairns Chamber of Commerce to access the FNQ DAMA. The request can be made for a single occupation/position or multiple occupations/positions. A request for endorsement is usually assessed in under 10 business days if coherent, well-presented and complete. Incomplete or poorly articulated requests will take longer. As part of the endorsement, the Cairns Chamber of Commerce is able to 'value add' with local knowledge that may assist the Department of Home Affairs in assessing steps 2-4. An endorsement fee applies per position sought. For details about how to request endorsement and the endorsement fee, see below. 

Step 2 - Request a Labour Agreement (valid for 5 years) 

Once endorsed, the employer is then able to submit an online request for a FNQ DAMA Labour Agreement through the Department of Home Affairs' ImmiAccount system. The Labour Agreement will stipulate the number of approved occupations and positions, as well as the FNQ DAMA concessions to standard skilled migration criteria. The Labour Agreement is valid for up to five years and can be varied during its lifetime based on business need, such as to have further occupations, positions, or concessions added. There are no government fees to request a Labour Agreement. When endorsing an employer, the Cairns Chamber of Commerce provides the employer or their agent an instruction guide on how to submit a FNQ DAMA Labour Agreement request in ImmiAccount.

Note that steps 1 and 2 above are about the business need for the occupation/s and position/s being sought. Prospective overseas worker/s may or may not have been identified at these steps. This allows for forward planning. The following two steps are about the individual overseas worker/s.

Step 3 - Nominate individual overseas worker/s

Employers can then nominate the overseas worker or workers up to the occupation/position number limits specified in their Labour Agreement, with access to the FNQ DAMA concessions covered by the agreement. Nominations are made under the Labour Agreement Stream, that links with the concessions in the employer Labour Agreement. The overseas worker's immediate family may be included in the nomination. The nomination incurs the standard government charges (see SID 482 or SESR 494 or ENS 186 for the relevant government fees and charges, being sure to refer to the 'Labour Agreement Stream' in each case).

Step 4 - Overseas worker/s apply for visa

Once a nomination is approved the overseas worker can apply for their visa. The temporary visa is valid for up to four or five years. Once the overseas worker has been with the employer in FNQ for at least three years*, they may have access to a permanent visa under the FNQ DAMA. Refer to the FNQ DAMA Information Guide (below) for details.   

* In certain circumstances, time spent in FNQ on previous visas in the same or a similar occupation may be taken into account.  

The following diagram summarises the above four steps and the parties responsible for each.  

Requesting endorsement from the Cairns Chamber of Commerce to access the FNQ DAMA (resources updated 22 March 2025)

You will need...

FNQ DAMA Occupation and Concessions List

FNQ DAMA Information-Guide

FNQ DAMA Endorsement Submission Guide

FNQ DAMA Request for Endorsement Form

FNQ DAMA Business Declaration

Chamber Credit Card Authorisation Form

Useful
DAMA Labour Market Testing (FNQ - Cat 3 Region)

You may need...

• FNQ DAMA Salary Concessions Summary 
• FNQ DAMA Domestic Recuitment Effort Summary
• FNQ DAMA Job Descriptions for non-ANZSCO Occupations (for the purposes of the FNQ DAMA these occupations have all been given the ANZSCO code 070499): 
• Farm Supervisor
• Farm Inspector
• Cafe or Restaurant Supervisor
• Bar Attendent (Supervisor)
• Waiter (Supervisor)
• Housekeeping Supervisor
• Night Auditor
• Brewer
• Diving Instructor (Tourism or Photography)
• Marine Environment Interpreter
• Marine Diesel Mechanic
• Marine Electrician
• Swimming Pool Technician
• Welding Specialist Supervisor
• Welding Technologist
• Northern Rock Lobster Fisherman
• Home Tutor

Request for Endorsement fee

The FNQ DAMA request for endorsement fee is payable in full at time of requesting endorsement: 

• $885 – per position sought (Cairns Chamber of Commerce members*)
• $985 – per position sought (non-members)
• $275 - per position - 'roll over' of unused positions from previous year of existing agreement
• $275 - per occupation - minor variations to existing occupations/positions in current year (adding cocnessions/change of visa type) 

*Membership must be current and be annual membership or held for at least 12 months as at date of seeking endorsement.

** 'Rollover' refers to endorsement of unused positions from one year of an employer labour agreement to the next (conditions apply). 'Used' refers to whether a nomination has been lodged. 

All enquiries about the FNQ DAMA may be directed to email/dama)(cairnschamber.com.au

Department of Home Affairs - useful links:

Labour Market Testing
DAMA Factsheet - Labour Market Testing (September 2021)
Salary Requirements
Skills in Demand (SID 482) Visa
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR 494) Visa
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS 186) Visa
Skilled Regional (191) Visa