Concessions vary from DAMA agreement and by occupation and can include:

  • Work Experience
  • Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT)
  • English language 
  • Permanent Residence Pathway and Age

It is important to check your occupation for available concessions.

For many occupations on the Combined List of Eligible Skilled Occupations concessions may be available to the work experience normally required of these visa subclasses. Please check the occupation list for eligibility.

Employers can access the TSMIT concession for eligible occupations.

Reduced TSMIT means 90% of TSMIT and the following concession types are available.

Earnings include guaranteed overtime, where consistent within industry practice and within National Employment Standards.

The business must show that TSMIT concessions will not undermine Overseas Worker’s ability to support themselves or lead to exploitation.

  Type 1 Type 2 Type 3
Monetary Earnings At least Reduced TSMIT At least Reduced TSMIT less non-monetary earnings (other) At least Reduced TSMIT less non-monetary earnings (food & board)
Non-monetary earnings (food & board) Nil Nil Cannot exceed published SA homestay rates
Non-monetary earnings (other) Nil No more than 10% of Reduced TSMIT Nil
Total Annual Earnings At least Reduced TSMIT At least Reduced TSMIT At least Reduced TSMIT

Under the DAMA, nominees (visa applicants) can access the English concession for eligible occupations.

SESR (494) and TSS (482) concession:

  • IELTS score of 5.0 overall (or equivalent), and minimum of IELTS score 4.0 (or equivalent) for individual bands, for specified occupations, or
  • IELTS score 4.5 overall (or equivalent), and minimum of IELTS score 4.0 (or equivalent) for individual bands, for specified semiskilled occupations for positions in outer regional South Australia.


ENS (186) concession:

  • IELTS score 5.0 overall (or equivalent), and minimum of IELTS score 4.5 (or equivalent) for individual bands, where specified in the DAMA occupation list.


IELTS means the International English Language Testing System or the equivalent in another accepted English language test.

Other accepted English language tests are:

  • Occupational English Test (OET)
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT)
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic test (home version not acceptable)
  • Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test


Note: Concession not available if registration or licensing requires a higher level of English.

For workers on a Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) subclass 482 visa, a permanent residence pathway may be available through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Subclass 186 visa program.

While the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) subclass 482 visa does not have an age limit, the permanent ENS visa (subclass 186) requires applicants to meet the age requirement at the time of nomination. Under DAMA, many occupations are eligible for age concession for ENS visa (subclass 186). For these occupations, the visa applicant must not have turned 55 years of age at time of ENS visa nomination.

For workers on a Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) subclass 494 visa, an age concession may be granted for selected occupations. The visa applicant must not have turned 55 years of age at time of SESR visa nomination.

For SESR visa holders, a permanent residence pathway may be available through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) subclass 191 visa. Refer to the Department of Home Affairs website.

Check the occupation list to see if your occupation is eligible for permanent pathway and associated age concession. 

To apply for ENS (186 subclass) nomination endorsement and age concession requests, the employer will need to submit a Variation Request— see ‘How to Apply’.

Further information about the requirements in relation to an ENS visa nomination is available on the Department of Home Affairs website.