Last Updated: 28 May 2026

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The South Australia DAMA occupation list is the starting point for any South Australian employer considering sponsoring an overseas worker under the Designated Area Migration Agreement. Before lodging an endorsement application, employers must confirm that the relevant occupation is listed on the SA DAMA occupation list and understand whether concessions apply.

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This page explains how the DAMA occupation list works, what each agreement covers, and what concessions may be available. The full list is displayed below via the official South Australian government tool.

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Looking for state nomination as a skilled worker instead? See the SA Skilled Occupation List for occupations eligible under the subclass 190 and subclass 491 visa programs.

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What Is the SA DAMA Occupation List?

The SA DAMA occupation list sets out the occupations eligible for endorsement under the Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) in South Australia. It is published and maintained by the South Australian government.

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The list is for employers — not individual visa applicants. It outlines:

• Which occupations are eligible for DAMA endorsement

• Which DAMA agreement applies — the Adelaide City Agreement or the South Australian Agreement

• The geographic availability of each occupation

• The skills, qualifications, and work experience requirements for each occupation

• Whether concessions to standard requirements apply, including reduced English, salary, or age requirements

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Definition: A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and a designated area authority that enables local employers to sponsor overseas workers in occupations that may not be available under standard visa programs. Concessions to standard visa requirements may be available under a DAMA where the standard requirements cannot be met.

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The Two South Australian DAMAs

South Australia has two separate DAMA arrangements. Each covers different industries, regions, and occupations.

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Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement DAMA

The Adelaide City Agreement has been designed to address skills shortages across the Greater Adelaide metropolitan region. It is specifically for South Australian local employers sponsoring overseas workers in the defence, space, and advanced manufacturing and technology industries.

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The purpose of this agreement is to enable employers in these industries to access and retain a highly-skilled workforce.

Occupations covered:

• 57 unique occupations across 8 categories

• 48 ANZSCO occupations and 9 non-ANZSCO occupations

• Categories include: Non-ANZSCO Occupations, Chief Executives and General Managers, Specialist Managers, Arts & Media Professionals, Business and Human Resource Professionals, Design, Engineering, Science & Transport Professionals, ICT Professionals, Engineering and ICT Technicians

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Geographic availability: Greater Adelaide only

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South Australian Regional Workforce DAMA

The South Australian Agreement has been designed to address skills shortages across the entire state of South Australia, including regional and outer regional areas.

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Occupations covered:

• 317 unique occupations across 28 categories

• 281 ANZSCO occupations and 41 non-ANZSCO occupations

• Categories include: Non-ANZSCO Occupations, Farmers and Farm Managers, Health Professionals, Design and Engineering Professionals, ICT Professionals, Skilled Animal and Horticultural Workers, Construction Trades Workers, Automotive and Engineering Trades Workers, Farm and Garden Workers, and more

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Geographic availability: Occupations are available across different geographic zones depending on the occupation, including:

• Whole of South Australia

• Inner and Outer regional South Australia

• Outer regional South Australia only

• Adelaide metropolitan and inner regional South Australia

• Inner and outer regional South Australia and selected Adelaide metropolitan postcodes
   

Non-ANZSCO Occupations

Some occupations on the SA DAMA occupation list fall outside the standard Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). These non-ANZSCO occupations are assigned the 6-digit code 070499.

DAMA occupation profiles are available for all non-ANZSCO occupations and set out the skill level and job duties required for each role. The Adelaide City Agreement includes 9 non-ANZSCO occupations; the South Australian Agreement includes 41 non-ANZSCO occupations.

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Concessions Available Under the SA DAMA

The SA DAMA occupation list indicates whether concessions apply to each occupation. Concessions allow employers to sponsor overseas workers who may not meet the standard visa requirements.

 

The following types of concessions are available under the SA DAMA:

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English Language Concessions

Three types of English concessions apply across different visa subclasses and geographic zones:

• English Concession Type 1 — applies to the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482/SID) and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494/SESR): overall IELTS score of 5.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 4.0 in each individual band

• English Concession Type 2 — applies to the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482/SID) and subclass 494 (SESR) for outer regional South Australia only: overall IELTS score of 4.5 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 4.0 in each individual band

• English Concession Type 3 — applies to the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186/ENS): overall IELTS score of 5.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 4.5 in each individual band

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TSMIT Concession

A Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) concession is available for select occupations on the SA DAMA occupation list. This concession is noted on a per-occupation basis in the list.

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Age Concession and Permanent Residence Pathway

An age concession applies across all 379 rows in the SA DAMA occupation list. The following age requirements apply:

• Subclass 494 (SESR): The applicant must be under 55 years of age at the time of the approved sponsor's nomination

• Subclass 482 (SID/TSS): There is no age limit for the subclass 482 visa itself; however, to transition to permanent residency via the subclass 186 (ENS) visa, the applicant must be under 55 years of age when applying

• Subclass 186 (ENS): The applicant must be under 55 years of age at the time of the approved sponsor's nomination

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Visa Subclasses Supported by the SA DAMA

The SA DAMA supports sponsorship under the following visa subclasses:

• Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand visa (SID): formerly the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa; the primary employer-sponsored temporary work visa available under the DAMA

• Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (SESR): a temporary visa for employer-sponsored workers in regional Australia

• Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme visa (ENS): a permanent visa pathway available after holding a qualifying temporary visa

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Important: Industry Labour Agreements

Where a nominated occupation is available under an existing Industry Labour Agreement (ILA), the occupation can only be approved under the DAMA if the overseas worker will be employed in an industry that is different to the industry covered by the relevant ILA.

Employers must verify this before proceeding with a DAMA endorsement application.

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How to Use the SA DAMA Occupation List

Use the search and filter options in the official list below to:

• Search for your occupation by name or ANZSCO code

• Filter by DAMA agreement — Adelaide City or South Australian

• Check the geographic availability of the occupation

• Review skills and work experience requirements

• Identify which concessions apply to the occupation

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