A Darwin hospitality group budgeted a chef at $67,510. The Northern Territory agreement allowed that figure. Then the market salary evidence came back at $72,000. So the business paid $72,000, because the higher amount governs. The concession had never set the wage.
Short answer: The NT DAMA lets you nominate at 85 per cent of the income threshold. That is $67,510 from 1 July 2026. However, you still pay the annual market salary rate whenever it sits higher. MigrationNT charges nothing to endorse your business.
The two scenarios MigrationNT publishes
MigrationNT sits inside the Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations. It acts as the Designated Area Representative, or DAR, for the Territory. Helpfully, it publishes two worked scenarios on its concessions page. We checked them on 9 September 2026.
| Scenario | Concessional floor | NT market salary rate | What you must pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market rate above the floor | $67,510 | $70,000 | $70,000 |
| Market rate below the floor | $67,510 | $65,000 | $67,510 |
So read the pattern rather than the numbers. The concession lowers the statutory floor only. Meanwhile, the market rate test stays exactly where it was. Therefore you pay whichever figure is higher for that role in that location.
Home Affairs set the Core Skills Income Threshold and the TSMIT at $79,423. That figure runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. The Territory concession takes it to $67,510 for occupations where the local rate falls below the threshold.
What can make up the concessional figure
First, the reduced amount must be guaranteed annual earnings. Importantly, compulsory superannuation does not count towards it.
Non-monetary benefits can count for up to 10 per cent, or $6,751. However, MigrationNT applies five conditions to them.
- The benefit supports the living costs of the overseas worker.
- The worker would otherwise have paid that cost themselves.
- The benefit is quantifiable.
- Australians in similar positions receive the same terms.
- The employment contract guarantees the benefit.
Accommodation packages fail most often on the last two points. So put the benefit in the contract before you rely on it.
Read your occupation row before anything else
The NT DAMA covers 325 occupations across the subclass 482, 494 and 186 programs. That makes it the broadest agreement in the country. Even so, the concessions do not apply across the board.
Instead, the DAR’s table sets them row by row. Each occupation carries a category from A to P, which fixes the qualifications and experience needed. Then two further columns tell you whether an English concession and an age concession apply. Plenty of rows say no.
In addition, eight occupations sit outside ANZSCO under code 070499. They include bar attendant (supervisor), civil construction site supervisor, cook (specialist ethnic cuisine) and hospitality worker. For those roles, the worker must match the published occupation description rather than an ANZSCO entry.
Age and English move only where the row allows
The 494 and the 186 normally need applicants under 45. Under the Territory agreement, however, that limit lifts. Skill level 1 to 4 occupations run to under 55. Skill level 5 occupations run to under 50.
Meanwhile, English concessions work the same way. Where the row carries one, the 482 and 494 need IELTS 4.5 overall with 4.0 in each band. The 186 needs 5.0 overall with 4.0 bands. Meanwhile, occupations without a concession still need IELTS 6.0 for the 186. Our guide to DAMA age, English and salary concessions explains how far each one reaches.
What the Territory route costs
The DAR charges nothing at its own stages. Consequently, the NT agreement carries no regional access fee at all.
| Stage | Charged by | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Endorsement to access the NT DAMA | MigrationNT | No charge |
| Skills verification for selected occupations | MigrationNT | No charge |
| Labour agreement request | Home Affairs | No charge |
| Sponsorship approval | Home Affairs | $420 |
| Subclass 482 nomination | Home Affairs | $330 |
| Subclass 186 nomination | Home Affairs | $540 |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy, subclass 482 | Home Affairs | $1,200 or $1,800 per year |
| Skilling Australians Fund levy, permanent and regional | Home Affairs | $3,000 or $5,000 one off |
The levy scales with turnover, at the $10 million mark. Also, the business carries it by law. Our note on the costs you cannot pass to a worker sets out what recovery attempts cost employers.
Your old agreement may not carry you
NT DAMA II expired on 13 December 2024. Then the two governments executed NT DAMA III on 19 March 2025. The online portal now takes endorsement applications under that third agreement.
Businesses holding a NT DAMA II labour agreement can still nominate inside their approved ceilings. However, extra places need a fresh endorsement. So do new occupations and new concessions.
The permanent stage is stricter again. To nominate for the 186, you need a current endorsement. You also need a labour agreement under the current NT DAMA. An older agreement will not carry that nomination.
The advertising evidence the DAR wants
MigrationNT sets a clear labour market testing standard in its checklist. First, provide at least two job advertisements published within the last 12 months. Second, run each one for 28 consecutive days.
One advertisement must appear on the NT Government’s free WorkerConnect platform. The other must sit on a platform of national reach. In addition, keep screenshots from the start and end of each campaign, plus receipts showing the duration.
Meanwhile, content matters as much as duration. Each advertisement must name the employer or recruitment agency. It must also state the title, description, location and required skills. Finally, it must state the salary or salary range where the annual base salary sits below $96,400.
Six steps, and the ceiling you set once
In practice, the process runs in six stages. You apply online to MigrationNT for endorsement, with twelve categories of supporting documents. Those include a business case, job descriptions and a recent organisation chart. They also include audited financials and an accountant’s letter.
Next, you request a labour agreement through ImmiAccount. It runs five years from the signing date. It also names your occupations, your numbers and your concessions.
Then you identify a worker and give them the settlement package. After that, you obtain a MigrationNT skills assessment where the occupation requires one. Finally, you lodge the nomination and the worker lodges the visa application.
Therefore set your numbers carefully at the start. The DAR endorses a ceiling for the whole five years. Increases require a strong business case explaining why you could not foresee the demand. Our Far North Queensland guide shows how differently another DAR runs the same stage.
Where permanent residence sits
Two routes exist, and they place very different loads on the employer. However, only one of them needs your sponsorship. A 494 holder may become eligible for the subclass 191 after three years with an endorsed employer. Employers do not sponsor that step. Our 494 visa page covers the provisional stage.
Alternatively, you can nominate a worker for the 186. That worker needs two years of full-time work in the Territory within the previous three years. The nominated occupation must connect to that experience. Meanwhile, the job you offer must be full time and ongoing for at least two years.
DAMA terms are reviewed annually and they do change. Please confirm current terms with MigrationNT before you commit to a hire.
Frequently asked questions
Does the NT DAMA concession replace the market salary rate?
No. The concession lowers the statutory income threshold to $67,510 from 1 July 2026. However, the annual market salary rate still applies, so you pay the higher of the two figures.
Can non-monetary benefits count towards the concessional salary?
Yes, up to 10 per cent of the concessional figure, or $6,751. The benefit must support living costs, be quantifiable and match what Australians receive. It must also be guaranteed in the employment contract.
What advertising does MigrationNT accept as labour market testing?
At least two advertisements published within the last 12 months, each running 28 consecutive days. One must appear on WorkerConnect and the other on a platform of national reach, with evidence of the duration.
Can we increase our approved worker numbers during the five years?
Only on a strong business case. The DAR endorses your ceiling for the life of the five year labour agreement. You must explain why the additional demand was not foreseeable at application.
Which age limits apply to the 494 and 186 under the NT DAMA?
Under 55 for skill level 1 to 4 occupations and under 50 for skill level 5 occupations. The standard programs otherwise require applicants under 45, so check your occupation row first.
This article is general information only and current at 9 September 2026. It is not legal advice and it does not consider your circumstances. NT DAMA terms and Commonwealth charges change, so please confirm current terms with MigrationNT and seek tailored advice.