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Darwin, NT, Australia

LifeinAus

Migration agents serving Darwin

Reviewed by a registered migration agent · MARN 1795282
Updated

Darwin is in Category 3 — “regional centres and other regional areas” — because Home Affairs classes every Northern Territory postcode that way. That gives Darwin the broadest regional settings of any capital: the 491 and 494 apply, the NT DAMA covers the whole Territory, and graduates who studied and lived in a Category 3 area may be eligible for an additional two years on a second Temporary Graduate visa. NT nomination for 2026–27 opened on 21 August 2026.

Darwin at a glance · checked 5 October 2026

State nomination
NT Government visa nomination (MigrationNT)
2026–27 status
Open since 21 August 2026 (onshore and selected offshore streams)
Regional for visas?
Yes — Category 3 (all NT postcodes)
DAMA
Yes — NT DAMA III covers the whole Territory
Our service
Remote by phone and video · based in Sydney, serving all of Australia

State nomination in the Northern Territory

The NT Government says it has received its full 2026–27 allocation (it has not published the numbers) and opened applications on 21 August 2026 for all onshore and selected offshore streams. There are five streams: Onshore NT Graduates, Onshore NT Residents, Offshore NT Priority Occupation, Offshore Job Offer and Offshore Family. MigrationNT says it does not prioritise applicants by points score.

NT nomination comes with firm commitments. You agree to live and work in the NT in your nominated, or a closely related, occupation for at least three years from visa grant. Applicants currently living interstate are not eligible; onshore employment generally has to be full-time with an NT employer that has traded in the NT for at least 12 months; and the NT publishes guidance on the net assets you should have to settle (for example AU$35,000 for a single applicant). For the 190, onshore applicants must show a greater connection to the NT than to any other state or territory.

Official program page: NT Government visa nomination (MigrationNT). Nomination is decided by the state or territory, and meeting the criteria does not guarantee an invitation or a visa.

Is Darwin “regional” for visa purposes?

Category 3 — Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas. Home Affairs sorts every Australian postcode into three categories. Category 2 and 3 areas are “designated regional areas”, where the 491 and 494 visas apply and which lead to the 191 permanent visa.

Yes — Darwin is Category 3, the most “regional” classification. Every NT postcode is Category 3, so 491 and 494 holders can live and work in Darwin, and both visas can lead to the 191.

Within the Territory, the NT’s own nomination criteria sometimes distinguish Greater Darwin (the City of Darwin, the City of Palmerston and Litchfield) from the rest of the NT — for example, in exceptional circumstances graduates employed outside Greater Darwin may be considered. Check the stream criteria for your situation.

Employer sponsorship in Darwin

Darwin employers can use the 482, 186 and 494, and, once endorsed, the NT DAMA. Our employer guides explain the standard sponsorship steps. We advise and lodge; we don’t find workers or sponsors.

Is there a DAMA in Darwin?

NT DAMA III, executed on 19 March 2025, applies to the whole of the NT, including Darwin. Employers first apply to MigrationNT for endorsement, then enter a five-year labour agreement with Home Affairs. It lists 325 occupations and supports the 482, 494 and 186 visas, with concessions available on English, age and the Core Skills Income Threshold for eligible occupations.

Individuals can’t apply under the DAMA themselves: they need an NT employer to sponsor them.

How we work with clients in Darwin

We work with Darwin clients by phone and video from Sydney, allowing for the time difference, and documents are shared and lodged online. NT nomination involves more evidence of employment and commitment to the Territory than most states, so we spend time early on checking that your employment and residence history meets the stream you are applying under.

Registered migration agents are regulated federally, so our registration (MARN 1795282) covers advice and lodgement in Darwin and anywhere else in Australia. Every case is assessed on its own facts; we can’t promise an invitation, nomination or visa outcome.

Visas most relevant in Darwin

Also see partner visas, student visas and our free tools.

Darwin migration FAQs

Is Darwin regional for migration?

Yes. Home Affairs classes every Northern Territory postcode, including Darwin, as Category 3 (regional centres and other regional areas). The 491 and 494 apply, and graduates who studied and lived in a Category 3 area may be eligible for an additional two years on a second Temporary Graduate visa.

Is NT nomination open in 2026–27?

Yes. The NT Government said it had received its full 2026–27 allocation and opened applications on 21 August 2026 for all onshore and selected offshore streams. It did not publish the allocation numbers.

Can I use the NT DAMA without an employer?

No. Individuals cannot apply under the NT DAMA directly. An NT business must be endorsed by MigrationNT, enter a labour agreement with Home Affairs and then nominate you under the 482, 494 or 186.

Do I have to stay in the NT after nomination?

Yes. A condition of NT Government nomination is that you agree to live and work in the NT in your nominated or a closely related occupation for at least three years after your visa is granted.

Sources

Last checked: . Program settings change during the year, so confirm the current position on the official pages below before acting.

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