FNQ DAMA: How Cairns Employers Sponsor Overseas Workers Under the Far North Queensland DAMA

Cairns employers often exhaust the local market before a role is filled. The Far North Queensland DAMA gives them another lawful option. So this guide sets out its published terms.

FNQ DAMA terms checked on 25 September 2026. DAMA terms are reviewed each year. Therefore, always confirm the current position with the Cairns Chamber of Commerce before you act.

Where the FNQ DAMA applies

The Cairns Chamber of Commerce is the Designated Area Representative, or DAR. Since 22 March 2025, local government areas alone define the area. So postcodes no longer count.

Eleven areas qualify. They start with Cairns Regional Council, Douglas Shire and Mareeba Shire. Next come Tablelands Regional Council and the Cassowary Coast. Further north and west sit Cook, Croydon, Etheridge and Torres Shires. Finally, the list adds the Northern Peninsula Area and Weipa.

Your business must operate there, and the position must sit there too. Twelve months of local trading is normally expected. However, the DAR can consider exceptional circumstances.

For the national picture, read our pillar guide on what a DAMA is. For the agreement next door, see our Townsville DAMA guide.

The FNQ DAMA at a glance

What the occupation list shows

The current list is version 7.7, updated on 23 July 2026. We counted 226 entries on it on 25 September 2026. It spans skill levels 1 to 5, not just 1 to 3. Moreover, ANZSCO caveats do not apply.

Sixteen entries are local roles that ANZSCO does not recognise. The DAR codes them 070499. They include Night Auditor and Northern Rock Lobster Fisherman. As a result, the list reaches the marine economy.

The concessions, and the exact figures

Salary

Reduced TSMIT or CSIT means 90 per cent of the threshold. Home Affairs set that threshold at AUD79,423 for nominations lodged from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. So ninety per cent is about AUD71,481.

Only skill level 3 to 5 occupations can access it. So that is 103 of the 226 entries.

Two types apply. Under Type 1, monetary and total earnings both reach the reduced figure. Under Type 2, food and board can count instead. That benefit is capped at 10 per cent. However, total earnings must then reach the full threshold.

English

The English concession sits on 58 of the 226 entries. For the 482 and the 494, it allows an average IELTS 5.0 with no component minimum. For the 186, no component may fall below 4.0.

OET, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge CAE also count. However, licensing rules can still demand more. The DAR expects you to address workplace health and safety.

Age

Age concessions apply to the 494 and 186 only. The worker must not have turned 55 for skill levels 1 to 4. For level 5, the limit is 50. Meanwhile, the 482 has no age requirement.

Skills and experience

Occupations fall into Groups 1 to 10. Group 1 roles sit on a standard occupation list too. There, one year of relevant experience can suffice for the 482 and 494. That applies where the AQF qualification was gained in Australia. Otherwise two years applies.

Experience must fall within the last five years. Moreover, Groups 3 to 10 always require a skills assessment.

What the FNQ DAMA costs

The DAR charges AUD885 per position for Chamber members. Meanwhile, non members pay AUD985. Payment falls due in full at lodgement. Rollovers and minor variations cost AUD275.

One saving is worth planning for. You can request an ENS 186 position alongside its matching 482 position. That ENS fee then drops by half.

Commonwealth charges follow. Sponsorship costs AUD420, a 482 nomination AUD330 and a 186 nomination AUD540. In addition, the Skilling Australians Fund levy adds AUD1,200 or AUD1,800 per year on a 482. For the 186 and 494 it is a one-off AUD3,000 or AUD5,000.

Your worker also pays the visa charge. That starts at AUD4,015 for the 482 and AUD6,140 for the 186 and 494. Our Skills in Demand visa guide covers the 482.

The four steps

First, you seek endorsement from the Chamber for one or more positions. The DAR usually assesses a complete request in under ten business days. Second, you request a labour agreement through ImmiAccount, which carries no government fee.

Third, you nominate the workers. Fourth, they apply for their visas. Notably, you need no worker identified for the first two steps.

Agreements run up to five years and can be varied. Since 30 July 2026, the DAR can endorse across all five years at once. Meanwhile, the head agreement itself runs to 3 April 2027.

Labour market testing

Far North Queensland is a Category 3 location. Two advertisements are therefore required for each position. One must have national reach, while the other may be local.

Testing is not a legislative requirement for the 186. Even so, the DAR and Home Affairs may still ask for it.

The permanent residence pathway

Every occupation on the FNQ list may carry a permanent pathway. A 482 holder may access the 186 after two years in a related role. Meanwhile, they must live and work in the area.

The 494 leads instead to the subclass 191, generally after three years. That step needs no further endorsement.

Victorian employers can compare terms in our Victorian DAMA overview. Concessions differ between regions.

Frequently asked questions

Which areas does the FNQ DAMA cover?

Eleven local government areas are covered. They include Cairns, Douglas, Mareeba, the Tablelands and the Cassowary Coast. Then the area runs north and west to Cook, Croydon, Etheridge and Torres. Weipa also counts.

How many occupations are on the FNQ DAMA list?

We counted 226 entries on list version 7.7 on 25 September 2026. Sixteen are local roles that ANZSCO does not recognise. Always work from the current list.

What salary concession does the FNQ DAMA allow?

Concessional occupations may access 90 per cent of the income threshold. Only skill level 3 to 5 roles qualify, which is 103 of 226 entries. The market salary rate still governs where it is higher.

What does the Cairns Chamber charge for endorsement?

The fee is AUD885 per position for members and AUD985 for non members. Rollovers and minor variations cost AUD275. So confirm the current rate with the DAR before you lodge.

Does the FNQ DAMA lead to permanent residence?

Every occupation may carry a permanent pathway. The 186 route generally needs two years of prior work in the region. The 494 route then leads to the subclass 191 after three years.

Sam Kanjo, Migration Lawyer, Skyline Migration Lawyers, Melbourne.

Talk to us about the FNQ DAMA

We help employers prepare endorsement requests and labour agreements. Call Skyline Migration Lawyers on 03 8108 8748. Or email info@skylinemigrationlawyers.com.au.

This article is general information only. It is not legal advice and it does not guarantee any outcome. DAMA terms change, so please seek advice tailored to your business before you act.