A Cairns hospitality group found a head chef overseas, drafted a contract, and lodged a 482 nomination citing the Far North Queensland DAMA. The nomination went nowhere. The business had never been endorsed by the Cairns Chamber of Commerce and held no labour agreement. So the nomination had nothing to sit under. Three months and a nomination charge later, the group started again from the first step.
Short answer: Under the FNQ DAMA, Cairns Chamber of Commerce endorsement comes first and a labour agreement second. Only then can you nominate. Budget $330 per 482 nomination plus a Skilling Australians Fund levy of $1,200 or $1,800 for each year of sponsorship.
This guide sets out the order of operations for Cairns employers and what the Chamber wants to see. It then covers the visas the agreement supports and the 2026-27 costs.
Two agreements, one door
The FNQ DAMA works through a pair of linked instruments. First, there is a head deed between the Commonwealth and the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, which the Government appoints as the Designated Area Representative. That deed runs for five years and sets the occupation schedule and the concessions available in the region.
Second, each business signs its own labour agreement with Home Affairs under that deed. The labour agreement generally runs for five years as well. In short, the deed opens the door and your labour agreement lets you walk through it. Neither one is a visa, and neither one nominates a worker on its own.
The order of operations
- Step 1Map the roles you cannot fill locally and gather recruitment evidence.
- Step 2Apply to the Cairns Chamber of Commerce for endorsement of your business and the requested occupations and concessions.
- Step 3With endorsement in hand, request a labour agreement from Home Affairs.
- Step 4Once the agreement is signed, lodge nominations for each worker under its terms.
- Step 5Each worker lodges the visa application that matches the nomination.
Because endorsement and the labour agreement each take time, the hiring plan should be built around the approval dates rather than the other way round. Employers who sign contracts with start dates before step 4 is complete usually end up renegotiating them.
What the Chamber looks for
The Chamber reviews each request against genuine local need. In practice, that means proof that you advertised the role, who applied, and why the local candidates did not fit. It also checks that the occupation and concessions you request sit within the FNQ schedule. Weak recruitment evidence is the most common reason endorsement slows down, so treat those records as central rather than as an afterthought.
Which visas the FNQ DAMA supports
The Skills in Demand visa in its labour agreement stream is the usual first step. It brings the worker to Cairns on a temporary basis under the concessions in your agreement. Most employers start here because it is the fastest route to a worker on the floor.
The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa is a provisional regional visa with its own permanent pathway. Under a labour agreement it suits roles where you want a longer initial commitment and the worker wants a clear route to the 191 later.
The Employer Nomination Scheme visa in its labour agreement stream is the permanent stage. It usually follows a qualifying period of work with you under the DAMA. The concessions on age, English and salary can carry across where the schedule allows.
What it costs a Cairns employer in 2026-27
Sponsorship under a labour agreement carries the same government charges as mainstream sponsorship, with one difference. Because the labour agreement itself is your sponsorship approval, you do not also need standard business sponsorship. The two employer charges below apply to each 482 nomination.
The Skilling Australians Fund levy is paid for each year of the nomination period, up front, and cannot be passed to the worker. The worker pays a separate visa application charge of $4,015 for the 482. For the permanent 186 stage, the nomination charge rises to $540 and the levy becomes a one-off $3,000 or $5,000.
Salary is the other number to check. The mainstream floor is the Core Skills Income Threshold of $79,423. However, the FNQ deed can include a salary concession for listed occupations, so confirm the exact position for each role before you make an offer. Even with a concession, the pay must match what a local worker would earn.
Mistakes we see from Cairns employers
Does the DAMA remove my sponsorship obligations?
No. It adjusts eligibility criteria for the worker, not your duties as a sponsor. You must still pay the nominated salary, keep records, notify changes and cooperate with monitoring. Our employers page sets these obligations out in full.
Can I nominate an occupation that is not on the FNQ schedule?
Not under the DAMA. The schedule is the whole point of the agreement. For an occupation outside it, the mainstream 482 or a company-specific labour agreement are the alternatives, and both use different rules.
Timing is the third recurring problem. The Chamber and the Department each take their own time. Consequently, a role that needs filling in three months should have started endorsement last quarter. Early planning lets you align contracts with real approval dates.
Where to start
Begin with the roles, not the visa. List the positions you have genuinely tried to fill and pull together the advertising and interview records. Then match each role to a line of the FNQ schedule. Then approach the Chamber. Our contact page is the fastest way to have that first file reviewed before it goes in.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need standard business sponsorship as well as a labour agreement?
No. The labour agreement is itself the sponsorship approval for nominations lodged under it. A business that already holds standard business sponsorship for mainstream nominations can hold both, and each nomination is lodged under one or the other.
How long does the labour agreement last?
Individual labour agreements under the FNQ deed generally run for five years, in line with the head deed. Nominations can only be lodged while the agreement is in force, so the expiry date should be diarised from day one.
Can a worker already in Cairns on another visa be nominated?
Often, yes. A worker on a student, working holiday or mainstream 482 visa can be nominated once your labour agreement is signed. Their current visa must allow a further application onshore. Their occupation must sit on the schedule.
Is the levy refunded if the visa is refused?
Refunds are limited. The levy is generally refundable where the nomination is approved but the visa is refused on health or character grounds. It is also refundable where the worker does not arrive. A refused nomination does not attract a refund of the nomination charge.
What concessions does the FNQ deed offer?
The deed can include concessions on age, English and salary for listed occupations. Each is set per occupation and can change when the deed is renewed. Confirm the current terms with the Chamber before relying on any concession.
Figures verified against Home Affairs visa pricing as at 1 July 2026.
This article is general information about Australian migration law as at 2 September 2026. It is not legal advice. The FNQ schedule and government charges change, so obtain advice on your business before acting.