Two Goldfields dates fall on 31 December 2026. First, the Goldfields DAMA itself runs until then, after a six month extension from Home Affairs. Second, the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder charges no endorsement fee until the same day. So if you plan to sponsor a worker in Kalgoorlie, Esperance or Leonora, work back from that date now.
Below we set out the clocks that decide whether a 2026 application is realistic. We checked every term on the Designated Area Representative’s own site on 17 September 2026.
The decision in front of you
You have two options. You can start labour market testing this month and aim for endorsement before Christmas. Alternatively, you can wait and see whether the agreement is extended again.
Waiting carries a real risk. Nobody outside Home Affairs can say today what happens after 31 December. The agreement has been extended several times since it began in March 2019. However, a past extension does not promise another one.
Starting now costs you little at the DAR stage. Moreover, your advertising stays usable for 12 months before nomination.
Clock one: 28 days of advertising
Every Goldfields application starts with labour market testing. You need evidence at three points: DAR endorsement, the labour agreement request and nomination.
The DAR asks for at least two genuine advertisements in English. Each must run for at least 28 days. One must sit on a platform with national reach, such as Seek or Workforce Australia. The other may run locally inside the designated area.
Each advertisement also needs specific content:
- the position title and a description of the role
- the skills or experience required
- your business name, or the recruitment agency’s name
- the statement “full-time contract including living and working in the Goldfields DAMA region”
In addition, some advertisements need a salary range, so check the DAR’s current wording. Keep dated copies, because you will lodge them more than once.
Importantly, the same evidence can serve all three stages. The advertising must still have run within 12 months before you lodge the nomination.
Clock two: 10 working days at the council
Once testing ends, you email the endorsement request to the DAR. That package includes the request form, the Sponsor’s Checklist evidence and your advertisements. If a registered migration agent acts for you, add a signed Form 956.
The DAR aims to decide a complete application within 10 working days. Incomplete files come back with questions, so build the file properly the first time.
The council also tests the business itself. You must be a registered Australian entity with a physical office in one of the eight local government areas. You must also have operated there actively and lawfully for at least 12 months. Finally, you need signed financial statements for the most recent financial year, plus a declaration of any adverse information.
A worked timeline
Consider a Boulder diesel workshop that wants a motor mechanic. It posts both advertisements on 21 September. They close on 19 October, after 28 full days.
The owner lodges the endorsement request on 20 October. At 10 working days, a complete file would be decided around 3 November. That leaves roughly eight weeks of the free window to spare.
Now move the start to late November instead. The advertising closes after Christmas, and the endorsement request lands in January. By then, the fee waiver and the published agreement end date have both passed.
| Step | Clock | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Labour market testing | 2 advertisements, 28 days each | Goldfields DAR |
| DAR endorsement decision | Aim of 10 working days, complete file | Goldfields DAR |
| Endorsement letter valid | 12 months | Goldfields DAR |
| Nominate after labour agreement approval | 12 months | Home Affairs |
| DAR endorsement fee | Nil, 1 July to 31 December 2026 | City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder |
| Agreement end date | 31 December 2026 | Home Affairs extension |
Clocks three and four: after endorsement
An endorsement letter stays valid for 12 months. During that time, you request your labour agreement through ImmiAccount. The DAR steps out at this point, and Home Affairs processes the rest.
After Home Affairs approves the labour agreement, you have 12 months to nominate a worker. Furthermore, labour agreements generally run five years. Your endorsed occupations and position numbers, however, last only one year. Additional workers or occupations then need a Deed of Variation, endorsed by the DAR again.
What the Goldfields list can concede
Before you advertise, confirm the occupation sits on the list. The DAR describes about 145 eligible occupations. Twenty of them arrived in April 2024, including cook, scaffolder, truck driver and motor mechanic. Six further roles sit outside ANZSCO, such as rope access technician and waiter supervisor.
Concessions attach to individual occupations, not to your business. Check each one against the DAR’s tables:
- Salary: some occupations carry a reduced income threshold. The standard figure is AUD79,423 from 1 July 2026, and eligible roles get a 10 per cent concession.
- English: for listed occupations, the 482 and 494 accept IELTS 5.0 overall with no minimum band. The 186 needs IELTS 5.0 overall with no band below 4.0.
- Age: the 186 and 494 limit rises to 55 for skill levels 1 to 4. For skill level 5, it rises to 50.
Two limits still apply. Licensing or registration can demand higher English than the concession. In addition, you must explain in writing why lower English suits the role and how you will manage safety.
The residence rule that sinks mining rosters
Sponsored workers must live and work inside the Goldfields DAMA region. Consequently, fly in fly out and drive in drive out roles are not eligible at all. If your roster flies a worker in from Perth, the DAMA is the wrong tool.
The eight areas are Kalgoorlie-Boulder plus the Shires of Coolgardie, Dundas, Esperance, Laverton, Leonora, Menzies and Ravensthorpe. Outside those areas, our note on how the five WA DAMAs fit together explains which body to approach.
The Commonwealth costs do not pause
The free endorsement covers the council stage only. Home Affairs charges still apply at nomination and visa stage.
| Charge (2026-27) | 482 | 186 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary visa application charge | AUD4,015 | AUD6,140 |
| Nomination charge | AUD330 | AUD540 |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy | AUD1,200 or AUD1,800 per year | AUD3,000 or AUD5,000 |
The levy depends on your business turnover. Our employer sponsorship page sets out the wider process. Similarly, our guide to DAMA concessions and permanent residence covers the path beyond the first visa.
Frequently asked questions
If the Goldfields DAMA is not extended, what happens to an application in progress?
Home Affairs has not published an answer. The agreement has been extended several times, but that is not a promise. Seek advice before you commit to a timeline that runs past 31 December 2026.
Can we reuse advertisements we ran earlier this year?
Yes, if they met the DAR’s content rules. The same evidence can serve every stage, provided the advertising ran within 12 months before you lodge the nomination.
Our business opened in Esperance eight months ago. Can we apply?
Not yet. The DAR requires 12 months of active and lawful operation from a physical office inside the region.
Do we need a migration agent to apply for endorsement?
No. An agent is optional. If a registered migration agent assists you, the DAR asks for a signed Form 956 with the request.
Does the fee waiver cover Home Affairs charges?
No. The waiver covers the council’s endorsement fee only. Nomination charges, visa application charges and the Skilling Australians Fund levy still apply.
This article is general information only, current at 17 September 2026. It is not legal advice and does not address your circumstances. DAMA terms, extensions and Commonwealth charges change, so seek tailored advice before you act.