Northern Territory DAMA 2026 Guide: Occupations, Salary Concessions, and PR Pathway (482 / 494 / 186)

Northern Territory’s Designated Area Migration Agreement (NT DAMA) is one of Australia’s most practical employer-sponsored pathways for people who can secure a genuine job in the NT-especially in occupations that are hard to fill locally.

Under NT DAMA, overseas workers can be nominated for 325 occupations through these visa programs:

• Skills in Demand (subclass 482) (4 years)
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) (5 years)
• Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) (permanent, for eligible PR pathway)

Disclaimer: NT DAMA settings (occupations, concessions and requirements) are region-specific and may be reviewed and updated over time. This article summarises the current NT DAMA framework and published NT Government guidance to help applicants plan correctly-without treating it as a guarantee of approval.

Aussizz Group has helped 200,000+ applicants move closer to their Australian Dreams-and this guide is written to help applicants understand the NT DAMA occupation list, the salary rules and concessions, and the most common PR pathways linked to NT DAMA sponsorship.

What is NT DAMA?

NT DAMA is an employer-led arrangement. That means:

Individuals don’t “apply for DAMA” directly. An NT employer must be endorsed under NT DAMA and sponsor a worker under an approved occupation.

NT DAMA has an occupation list with English concessions, age concessions, and qualification/experience categories assigned to occupations.

The list can be reviewed and updated annually by agreement between the NT Government and Australian Government.

If an occupation is covered by an Industry Labour Agreement, NT DAMA generally can’t be used for that occupation.

NT DAMA occupations in 2026: what types of jobs are included?

NT DAMA includes 325 occupations across skill levels and industries.

Instead of listing hundreds of roles, it’s more useful to look at occupation clusters that consistently appear on the list:

NT also includes “non-ANZSCO” occupations

NT DAMA is notable for allowing some occupations outside ANZSCO, assigned code 070499

English rules under NT DAMA: standard vs concession

NT DAMA publishes an English concession framework and also flags per-occupation whether a concession applies.

If a concession applies, NT states the minimum English evidence can be:

For Skills in Demand (482) / SESR (494): IELTS overall 4.5 (or equivalent) with minimum 4.0 in each band

For ENS (186): IELTS overall 5.0 (or equivalent) with minimum 4.0 in each band

If a nominated occupation is not eligible for an English concession, NT’s PR pathway guidance notes higher English is required (for ENS pathway, IELTS 6 or equivalent is referenced).

Practical takeaway:
English is not “one rule for everyone” under NT DAMA. It depends on occupation and pathway.

Salary rules in NT DAMA 2026: market salary + CSIT concession explained clearly

This is where most employers and applicants get stuck-so here’s the clearest way to think about it.

Rule 1: Market salary rate always matters

NT states that all workers under NT DAMA must be employed under Australian conditions and paid no less than the market salary for an equivalent skilled and experienced Australian worker doing the same job.

Rule 2: Income threshold applies, but NT offers a concession when market salary is lower

NT explains that for employer-sponsored programs like NT DAMA, the identified market salary must be at least the Core Skills Income Threshold (CSIT), which is indexed annually. NT notes that from 1 July 2025 CSIT is $76,515.

NT DAMA offers a CSIT concession for all occupations where the NT market rate is below CSIT. If a concession is sought, the employer must pay at least:

85% of CSIT (NT gives the example: from 1 July 2025 this is $65,037) or

the market salary rate, whichever is higher.

NT also allows certain non-monetary benefits to count up to 10% of the concessional CSIT (example: up to $6,503), but only if the benefits are quantifiable, support living costs, are consistent with local employment conditions, and are guaranteed in the contract.

Two examples NT itself provides (very useful)

If the concession is $65,037 but market salary is $68,000 → pay at least $68,000

If the concession is $65,037 but market salary is $60,000 → pay at least $65,037 in monetary salary

Practical takeaway:
NT DAMA doesn’t mean “lower salary.” It means a structured concession-while still requiring market salary fairness.

Qualification and experience rules: the part most people underestimate

NT DAMA doesn’t treat all occupations the same. Occupations are grouped into categories A to P, each with its own qualification and experience requirements.

Key points NT publishes that applicants should take seriously:

Work experience claimed must be relevant, at the appropriate skill level, and undertaken within the last 5 years from lodgement date.

Requirements vary depending on whether the employer sponsors under 482, 494, or 186, and the occupation category.

NT notes that a skills assessment is not required to support ENS (186) under NT DAMA, but Home Affairs may request one during processing.

This is why DAMA strategy is not just “get the job offer.”

It’s match occupation → match visa stream → meet the right category requirements.

PR pathway under NT DAMA: two main routes

NT publishes two practical PR pathways under NT DAMA.

Pathway 1: 494 → 191 (regional PR)

NT states that workers sponsored under subclass 494 may become eligible for PR via subclass 191 after working with an NT DAMA endorsed employer for 3 years.

NT also notes that employers do not need to sponsor the worker for the 191 pathway.

Pathway 2: 186 (ENS) via NT DAMA endorsement

NT explains that temporary visa holders who have worked in an eligible occupation in the NT for 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) within the last 3 years immediately before nomination can be sponsored by NT employers for PR through ENS (subclass 186) under NT DAMA.

NT also publishes key eligibility settings for this PR route, including:

Occupation must be on the current NT DAMA occupation list

Age: under 55 for skill level 1–4 occupations; under 50 for skill level 5 occupations

English must meet either concession requirements (if available) or higher minimums where no concession applies

Ongoing employment must be full-time and offered for at least 2 years (with possibility of extension)

NT DAMA can support PR-but the “PR pathway” depends on your visa stream and employment continuity in the NT.

The selection signals NT employers care about (and why many applications fail)

Even before visa processing, most NT DAMA outcomes depend on whether the employer can confidently sponsor under the rules. The patterns are consistent:

1) The occupation must be clearly eligible (and defensible)

NT lists whether a role has English concession, age concession, and which category requirements apply. If a role is on the list but the applicant’s experience doesn’t match the skill level, it becomes hard for the employer to proceed.

2) Salary must be compliant (market rate + threshold logic)

If the offered salary cannot satisfy market salary and threshold/concession rules, the nomination becomes risky.

3) Evidence readiness matters more than people expect

Because NT uses qualification/experience categories and recency rules (last 5 years), applicants who don’t have clean evidence often lose time-especially after they’ve already found an employer.

4) PR intent changes the “best visa” choice

Some applicants jump into a 482 without mapping the PR pathway timing. Others select a pathway without understanding the work-duration requirements. NT’s PR page makes those timelines clear: 3 years for 494→191, and 2 years in NT for 186 nomination eligibility (subject to conditions).

FAQs

Q1. Is NT DAMA still active in 2026?

Yes-NT Government continues to publish the NT DAMA occupation list, concessions, and PR pathway guidance, including 325 eligible occupations and current concession settings.

Q2. How many occupations are on the NT DAMA list?

NT publishes 325 occupations eligible for sponsorship under NT DAMA.

Q3. Which visas can NT employers sponsor under NT DAMA?

NT states sponsorship can occur through subclass 482, subclass 494, and subclass 186 (where eligible for PR pathway).

Q4. Does NT DAMA have an English concession?

Yes. NT sets concession English scores for eligible occupations (e.g., IELTS 4.5 overall for 482/494 and IELTS 5.0 overall for ENS, with minimum band 4.0).

Q5. What is the NT DAMA salary concession in 2026?

NT states CSIT is indexed annually and gives the current figure $76,515 from 1 July 2025. If a concession is sought, employers must pay at least 85% of CSIT ($65,037 from 1 July 2025) or the market salary rate, whichever is higher.

Q6. Can housing or other benefits be included in salary for NT DAMA?

NT allows non-monetary benefits up to 10% of the concessional CSIT if they meet strict conditions and are guaranteed in the contract.

Q7. Can NT DAMA lead to PR?

Yes. NT outlines PR via 494→191 after 3 years with an NT DAMA endorsed employer, and PR via ENS 186 if eligibility criteria are met (including 2 years’ work in NT within the required timeframe).

Q8. Are there non-ANZSCO occupations in NT DAMA?

Yes. NT lists certain non-ANZSCO occupations under code 070499, such as bar attendant supervisor and civil construction site supervisor.

Book a consultation with Aussizz Group

NT DAMA can be a powerful pathway-but only when the occupation, English settings, salary compliance and PR plan fit together cleanly.

Aussizz Group has helped 200,000+ applicants move closer to their Australian Dreams. If you want to build an NT DAMA plan that an employer can actually use, book a consultation to review:

which NT DAMA occupations fit your background

whether you qualify under 482 vs 494 vs PR strategy

how to structure salary correctly under market rate + CSIT concession rules

what evidence you need for your category (A–P) requirements

Book a consultation with Aussizz Group and turn your NT DAMA interest into an employer-ready migration pathway.