Two South Australian employers called us in the same week. One runs a packing shed at Nuriootpa, postcode 5355. The other runs a workshop at Elizabeth, postcode 5112. Both wanted the same kind of worker. However, only one of them could nominate under the occupation they had picked. The difference was the postcode, not the business. So check your address before you check the occupation list.
Two agreements, two different maps
South Australia runs two Designated Area Migration Agreements. Skilled and Business Migration signs both, as the Designated Area Representative, or DAR.
The Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement Agreement covers Greater Adelaide. Its list carries 57 occupation entries. It aims at defence, space, advanced manufacturing and technology.
The South Australian Regional Workforce Agreement reaches the whole state. Its list carries 322 entries. Consequently most employers end up on the regional agreement, including many inside Adelaide.
Importantly, the two agreements use different maps. Greater Adelaide under the City agreement stretches out to postcodes such as 5253, 5372 and 5400. The regional agreement, meanwhile, splits the state into three postcode tiers. For background, read our explainer on what a DAMA is and who signs it.
Three tiers, and one asterisk
The DAR publishes the tiers as postcode tables rather than suburb names. Adelaide Metropolitan runs from 5000 to 5098, plus 5950 and 5960. Inner Regional covers areas such as the Adelaide Hills, the Fleurieu Peninsula, Gawler, the Barossa and Murray Bridge. Outer Regional takes the rest of the state, from Port Lincoln to Mount Gambier.
Then comes the asterisk. The DAR stars metropolitan postcodes in the 5110 to 5174 range. Those starred postcodes open only for selected agribusiness occupations.
That is why the two callers got different answers. Nuriootpa at 5355 sits in Inner Regional, so the packing shed reaches any occupation available inner and outer regional. Elizabeth at 5112 sits in the starred band, so the workshop reaches agribusiness roles only.
Where the 322 occupations actually run
Availability sits on every entry of the regional list. We counted the entries on 12 September 2026.
| Availability shown on the entry | Entries |
|---|---|
| Whole of South Australia | 240 |
| Inner and outer regional, plus selected Adelaide metropolitan postcodes | 59 |
| Inner and outer regional South Australia | 11 |
| Outer regional South Australia | 11 |
| Adelaide metropolitan and inner regional South Australia | 1 |
| Total on the South Australian Agreement | 322 |
Read that table before you read the concessions. Roughly three quarters of the list runs statewide. The remaining 82 entries, however, turn on where your premises sit.
The DAR charges nothing, Home Affairs still does
Skilled and Business Migration charges no application fee. Endorsement costs nothing, a variation costs nothing, and entering the labour agreement costs nothing. Few DAMAs work that way, as our note on the Orana DAMA and its non-refundable fee shows.
Commonwealth charges still apply in full.
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| DAR endorsement or variation | Nil |
| Sponsorship application | $420 |
| 482 nomination | $330 |
| 186 nomination | $540 |
| SAF levy, 482 | $1,200 or $1,800 per year |
| SAF levy, 186 or 494 | $3,000 or $5,000 once |
Turnover decides which levy figure applies. Moreover, you cannot pass the levy or the nomination charge to the worker.
Concessions attach to the occupation, not the business
Of the 322 regional entries, 110 carry a salary concession. A reduced threshold means 90 per cent of TSMIT or CSIT. Home Affairs set both at $79,423 for nominations lodged between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027. The reduced figure therefore lands near $71,481. The annual market salary rate still applies on top of it.
English concessions run wider. On our count, 197 entries allow IELTS 5.0 overall with 4.0 bands for the 482 and 494. Another 56 drop to 4.5 overall, but only for specified semi-skilled roles in outer regional South Australia. For the 186, 201 entries allow 5.0 overall with 4.5 bands. Meanwhile 121 entries carry no English concession at all.
Licensing overrides the concession where registration demands stronger English. Age, by contrast, reads the same across the list. Nominees must be under 55 at nomination for the 494 and the 186. Our guide to DAMA concessions and the permanent pathway works through the timing.
Skills assessment matters too. The DAR assesses skills itself on 134 entries, mostly the non-ANZSCO roles coded 070499.
The rules that catch employers later
An endorsement letter lasts 12 months from approval. Furthermore, a business can be endorsed only once in any 12 month period for each agreement.
The online application carries its own clock. The portal deletes an application that sits unsubmitted for 14 days. Submitting then locks it, and the DAR refuses requests to unlock a lodged application.
Variations run on separate limits. The DAR supports one variation in each year of an agreement. It accepts none in the first six months after a new agreement is executed.
The subclass 186 needs the most planning. You cannot include it in the first labour agreement request. Instead you request it later by variation. For endorsements granted on or after 27 June 2025, the nominee must first hold the 482 for two years. Earlier endorsements require three years. Employers can now flag year three to five nomination numbers in the first endorsement application.
Finally, three hard stops. Self sponsorship is not supported. An Industry Labour Agreement takes priority inside its own sector. Also, no review rights exist if the DAR declines to endorse you. Our employer page explains how we build these files.
What the DAR expects in the file
The checklist is specific. Expect an accountant’s letter covering 12 months of lawful trading and financial capacity. Expect the lease for the registered business address, or council rates where the business owns the premises. Expect a profit and loss report, two recent business activity statements, an organisational chart and the employment contract.
Labour market testing sits alongside all of that. The DAR asks for at least two advertisements published in the last 12 months. Each must run 28 days on a platform with national reach. Where the base salary sits under $96,400, the advertisement must also show the salary or salary range. Evidence is then needed again at nomination.
Frequently asked questions
What does the asterisk next to my Adelaide postcode mean?
It limits you. Starred metropolitan postcodes in the 5110 to 5174 range open only for selected agribusiness occupations. Other occupations on that list are not available at a starred address.
Can I include a 186 nomination in my first SA DAMA application?
No. The DAR requires a variation request close to the year the nominee becomes eligible. You can, however, indicate expected numbers for years three to five when you first apply.
How long does an SA DAMA endorsement letter stay valid?
Twelve months from the date of approval. After that, an employer needing further occupations or places submits a variation request.
How many variations can my business request each year?
One in each year of the labour agreement. The DAR accepts no variation request in the first six months after a new agreement is executed. So plan the second year early.
What labour market testing does the SA DAR expect to see?
Two job advertisements from the last 12 months, each running 28 days on a platform with national reach. Where the base salary is under $96,400, the advertisement must state the salary or salary range.
This article is general information only and it is current at 12 September 2026. It is not legal advice and it does not consider your circumstances. South Australian DAMA terms, postcode tables and occupation lists are reviewed and they change. Please confirm current terms with the Designated Area Representative. Seek tailored advice before you act.