Before you spend a dollar on the Pilbara DAMA, answer one question. Will your overseas worker live in Karratha, Port Hedland or the Shire of East Pilbara? If the role runs on a fly in fly out roster, the answer is no. In that case, the agreement cannot help you, whatever the occupation.
That residence rule shapes the whole agreement. It also drives a second rule. Permanent residence is earned in town over three years, not granted on arrival. Below we set out both rules, then the fee, the concessions and the paperwork. We checked every term on RDA Pilbara’s own site on 18 September 2026.
Rule one: the worker lives where the work is
The designated area covers three local government areas. They are the City of Karratha, the Town of Port Hedland and the Shire of East Pilbara. Your business must operate inside one of them.
Every sponsored worker must also live and work inside those three areas. Consequently, fly in fly out and drive in drive out positions are excluded.
The DAR adds four further threshold questions. First, you must have operated lawfully in the area for at least 12 months. Second, you need a genuine need for each occupation. Third, pay and conditions must at least match what an Australian worker receives in the Pilbara. Finally, the DAR looks for financial viability and no history of failing employees.
If you clear all five, you can apply for endorsement. However, RDA Pilbara is under no obligation to endorse you.
Rule two: permanent residence is earned in town
Every Pilbara DAMA occupation carries a permanent residence pathway. It runs through the subclass 494 and the subclass 186. Crucially, though, there is no direct entry to the 186.
Instead, the worker must complete at least three years of full time work first. Full time here means at least 38 hours a week. That work must be in the nominated occupation, or a closely related one on the DAMA list. Throughout those three years, the worker must hold a 482 or 457 visa, or a related bridging visa. They must also have worked in the Pilbara designated area the whole time.
Then you make a forward commitment. You must intend to employ the worker full time for two more years after grant. Moreover, the contract cannot expressly rule out extending the employment.
The three years need not be with one employer. However, the DAR notes that continuity in the final period may still matter. So plan retention from day one, not in year three.
What the $350 buys
RDA Pilbara charges a processing fee of $350 plus GST for each position. The fee is non refundable. First, you email the Request for Endorsement form and your evidence to the DAR. It then invoices you, and assessment starts only once you pay.
After that, several time limits apply. Note each one in your diary.
| Stage | Time limit, checked 18 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Initial DAR feedback | Within 5 business days of lodgement, where required |
| Endorsement application stays open | 3 months from lodgement, to supply extra information |
| Business endorsement | Valid for 12 months |
| Endorsed occupations and position numbers | Valid for one year only |
| Labour agreement request to Home Affairs | No charge; lodged through ImmiAccount |
| Nominating after the agreement is approved | Within 12 months |
| Labour agreement term | Usually 5 years |
The three month window deserves attention. Requests for more information eat into that period. Therefore work through the DAR’s checklist before you send anything.
The concessions, and the case each one needs
Concessions are not automatic. You must give a business case for each occupation and for each concession you seek. In addition, not every occupation carries every concession.
| Concession | Pilbara DAMA position, checked 18 September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Income threshold | Up to 10 per cent below TSMIT or CSIT, available for most skill level 3 to 5 occupations |
| Non-monetary earnings | Type 2 only: phone, vehicle, food and board, capped at $4,851 a year |
| English (482 and 494) | IELTS 5.0 overall, no minimum band |
| English (186) | IELTS 5.0 overall, no band below 4.0 |
| Age (494 and 186) | 55 for skill levels 1 to 4; 50 for skill level 5 |
| Occupations | 146 on the DAR’s list |
Now the salary maths. Both TSMIT and CSIT sit at $79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026. On our arithmetic, a 10 per cent concession gives a floor of about $71,481.
That floor is not the wage, however. You must still pay the annual market salary rate for the role in the Pilbara. Furthermore, the DAR wants evidence that your offer matches local market rates. Registration and licensing rules also override the English concession.
For listed skilled occupations, experience rules ease too. The 482 needs one year where the qualification was gained in Australia. Similarly, the 494 needs two years. Experience must fall within the last five years.
Advertising: local and national, within six months
You must first try to hire Australians. The DAR wants evidence of both local and national recruitment over the last six months. A local option might be your website or Facebook page. A national option might be Seek, Indeed or CareerOne.
If you advertised correctly but found every applicant unsuitable, you have still met the requirement. Home Affairs sets the detailed standard for duration and content.
A worked example: two carers in Karratha
Suppose an aged care provider in Karratha wants two carers on 482 visas. Both will live in Karratha. The provider has traded there for three years.
First, the DAR fee is $700 plus GST for two positions. Next come Commonwealth charges. Sponsorship costs $420, and each 482 nomination costs $330. The 482 visa charge starts from $4,015 per applicant.
The Skilling Australians Fund levy also applies. For a 482, it is $1,200 or $1,800 a year, depending on turnover. Consequently, the levy alone can exceed the DAR fee within the first year.
If the carers later move to a 186, the nomination costs $540. The 186 visa charge starts from $6,140. Remember, though, that step comes only after three years in town.
Where this fits
The Pilbara is one of five DAMAs touching Western Australia. Our note on which WA DAMA to check first explains the order. If you are new to the structure, read what a DAMA actually is. For older workers, see how DAMA concessions reopen permanent residence. Our employer sponsorship page covers the mainstream routes.
Frequently asked questions
Can our worker live in Newman?
Yes. Newman sits inside the Shire of East Pilbara, which the agreement covers. The worker must both live and work inside the designated area.
We already employ a worker on another visa. Can we move them onto the DAMA?
Possibly. The DAR says current employees on other visas may be eligible. The role must still be full time and match an occupation on the list.
Every applicant we interviewed was unsuitable. Have we failed labour market testing?
No. If you advertised locally and nationally within six months, you have met the requirement. Keep records of the applicants and why each was unsuitable.
Can a sponsored worker study while on the DAMA?
Yes, with a limit. The worker cannot be studying towards the qualification for their sponsored role. Study for a different qualification, such as a night course, is acceptable.
Can a worker apply for the Pilbara DAMA without an employer?
No. The Pilbara DAMA is employer sponsored only. A worker needs a Pilbara employer willing to seek endorsement and sponsor them.
This article is general information only, current at 18 September 2026. It is not legal advice and does not address your circumstances. DAMA terms and Commonwealth charges change, so seek tailored advice before you act.