South Australia DAMA Occupation List 2026

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
   

What Are Non-ANZSCO Occupations on the SA DAMA List?

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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Salary (TSMIT) Concession

Home Affairs raised the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) to AUD 79,423 on 1 July 2026. The Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT) rose to the same figure.

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The SA DAMA allows a 10% concession for eligible occupations. That sets the DAMA salary floor at AUD 71,480.70.

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DAMA applications still in the pipeline on 1 July 2026 must also meet the new threshold. Employers who ran Labour Market Testing before that date should check their advertised salary against it.

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Read more on the Core Skills Income Threshold.

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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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Work Experience Concession

Some occupations need less work experience than the standard skilled visa pathways. According to the Employer/DAMA FAQs, DAMA nominees for subclass 482 and 494 generally need one to two years of relevant experience.

Check the exact requirement for your occupation on the official list.

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Which Visas Can You Get Through the SA DAMA?

The SA DAMA supports three employer-sponsored visas, plus a permanent pathway from the 494:

• Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand visa: a temporary employer-sponsored work visa.

• Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa: a provisional visa for regional employer-sponsored workers.

• Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme visa: a permanent visa.

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How Does the SA DAMA Lead to Permanent Residence?

You have two permanent residence routes:

• 482 to 186: SA DAMA 482 holders can apply for subclass 186 after two years. The state cut this from three years in its June 2025 variation. See our guide to 482 visa to permanent residency.

• 494 to 191: 494 holders can move to the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) subclass 191 visa once they meet its income and residence requirements. See our guide to 494 visa to PR.

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Can You Use the SA DAMA If Your Occupation Has an Industry Labour Agreement?

Only in limited cases. Since 1 July 2025, employers cannot use the SA DAMA for occupations covered by an Industry Labour Agreement (ILA) in that ILA's industry.

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The SA DAMA can still apply if your employer will employ you in a different industry from the one the ILA covers.

Aged care is one example. Aged care providers now use the Aged Care Industry Labour Agreement or the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme instead of the DAMA.

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Browse current agreements in our Labour Agreement Company List.

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How Does SA DAMA Endorsement Work?

Your employer applies for endorsement to Skilled and Business Migration, part of the South Australian Department of State Development.

Key points from the official Employer/DAMA FAQs:

• No state fee: South Australia charges nothing for DAMA endorsement. Home Affairs nomination and visa charges still apply.

• Labour Market Testing: your employer must advertise the role in Australia and keep evidence before nominating you.

• 12-month validity: each endorsement lasts 12 months. Employers who need more workers in a later year must request a variation.

• One variation a year: from 2026, Home Affairs supports only one labour agreement variation each year. It does not accept requests in the first six months after an agreement is signed.

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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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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the SA DAMA occupation list?

The SA DAMA occupation list is the official list of occupations eligible for endorsement under South Australia's Designated Area Migration Agreement. It is for employers — not individual visa applicants — and sets out which occupations can be sponsored under the DAMA, the geographic availability of each occupation, and any concessions that apply to standard visa requirements.

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Is the SA DAMA still available?

Yes. Both South Australian DAMAs run until 31 January 2027, after a four-month extension announced on 21 September 2026.

Terms and conditions stay the same. South Australia is negotiating a new five-year statewide DAMA and will announce transition arrangements once talks finish.

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How many occupations are on the SA DAMA occupation list?

The list contains 374 occupations across both agreements.

The Adelaide City agreement covers 57 occupations. The South Australian Regional Workforce agreement covers 317. Both include ANZSCO and non-ANZSCO occupations.

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What is the difference between the Adelaide City DAMA and the South Australian DAMA?

The Adelaide City Agreement covers the Greater Adelaide metropolitan region and focuses on the defence, space, and advanced manufacturing and technology industries, with 57 occupations available. The South Australian Agreement covers the entire state — including regional and outer regional areas — across a broader range of industries, with 317 occupations available.

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What is the minimum salary under the SA DAMA?

The SA DAMA salary floor is AUD 71,480.70 for occupations with the TSMIT concession. This equals 90% of the AUD 79,423 TSMIT that took effect on 1 July 2026.

Occupations without the concession must meet the full threshold.

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What English score do you need for the SA DAMA?

It depends on your visa and job location.

Subclass 482 and 494 nominees need IELTS 5.0 overall, with 4.0 in each band. In outer regional SA, some roles accept IELTS 4.5 overall, with 4.0 in each band. Subclass 186 nominees need IELTS 5.0 overall, with 4.5 in each band.

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What is the age limit under the SA DAMA?

You must be under 55 when your employer lodges a subclass 494 or subclass 186 nomination.

Subclass 482 has no age limit for the visa itself. You need to be under 55 to move from the 482 to the 186.

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What concessions are available under the SA DAMA?

Concessions available under the SA DAMA include English language concessions (Types 1, 2, and 3 with different IELTS thresholds depending on visa subclass and location), a TSMIT concession for select occupations, and an age concession that sets a maximum age of 55 at the time of the sponsor's nomination for subclass 494 and subclass 186 visas.

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Can I use the SA DAMA if my occupation is covered by an Industry Labour Agreement?

If your occupation is available under an existing Industry Labour Agreement (ILA), it can only be approved under the DAMA if the overseas worker will be employed in an industry different to the one covered by the ILA. Employers must confirm this before proceeding with a DAMA endorsement.

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What is a non-ANZSCO occupation on the DAMA list?

A non-ANZSCO occupation is one that falls outside the standard Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations. On the SA DAMA occupation list, all non-ANZSCO occupations are assigned the code 070499. DAMA occupation profiles are available for these occupations and set out the required skill level and job duties.

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What visa subclasses does the SA DAMA support?

The SA DAMA supports sponsorship under the Skills in Demand visa (subclass 482), the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494), and provides a pathway to the Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) for permanent residency.

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What are the English requirements under the SA DAMA?

English requirements under the SA DAMA depend on the visa subclass and the location of employment. For subclass 482 and 494 in most of South Australia, the concession requires an overall IELTS score of 5.0 with a minimum of 4.0 in each band (Type 1). For outer regional South Australia only, the threshold is lowered to an overall IELTS score of 4.5 with a minimum of 4.0 per band (Type 2). For the subclass 186 ENS visa, the requirement is an overall IELTS score of 5.0 with a minimum of 4.5 per band (Type 3).

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Does South Australia charge a fee for DAMA endorsement?

No. South Australia charges no fee for DAMA endorsement.

Home Affairs nomination charges and visa application charges still apply.

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Related Migration Pathways

• SA Skilled Occupation List — for skilled workers seeking South Australian state nomination under the subclass 190 or subclass 491 visa programs

• Subclass 482 — Skills in Demand visa: the primary temporary employer-sponsored visa available under the SA DAMA

• Subclass 494 — Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa: a temporary employer-sponsored visa for regional South Australia available under the SA DAMA

• Subclass 186 — Employer Nomination Scheme visa: a permanent residence pathway accessible after holding a qualifying temporary DAMA-sponsored visa, subject to age requirements

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Sources

• SA DAMA Occupation List — migration.sa.gov.au

• Occupation Lists overview — migration.sa.gov.au

• DAMA concessions — Move to South Australia

• Extension for Designated Area Migration Agreements, 21 September 2026 — Move to South Australia

• Extension for Designated Area Migration Agreements, 25 June 2026 — Move to South Australia

• DAMAs Extension, 30 June 2025 — Move to South Australia

• Increase to the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold — Move to South Australia

• Employer/DAMA FAQs — Move to South Australia

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