Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887)
The Skilled Regional visa is a permanent residence pathway for eligible provisional skilled visa holders who have lived and worked in specified regional areas of Australia and complied with their visa conditions.
Subclass 887 is mainly a legacy regional pathway. Standard applicants generally need at least two years of eligible regional residence and at least 12 months of full-time regional work. Limited COVID-19 concessions apply only where their specific legal criteria are met.
What is the Subclass 887 Visa?
Subclass 887 allows qualifying holders of certain older regional provisional skilled visas to become Australian permanent residents. The primary applicant must demonstrate the required eligible visa history, residence and employment in the area connected with their original state nomination or family sponsorship.
Once granted, holders can remain in Australia permanently, work and study without the former regional provisional restrictions, enrol in Medicare subject to eligibility, sponsor eligible relatives and pursue Australian citizenship if they later qualify.
Key eligibility requirements
Eligible visa history
Eligible provisional visas include Subclasses 489, 495, 496, 475 and 487. Certain Bridging Visa A or Bridging Visa B holders may also qualify after making a valid application for a specified eligible provisional visa. The person meeting the primary Subclass 887 criteria generally must have held an eligible provisional visa for a total of two years before applying.
How the Subclass 887 process works
Review your eligible visa history
Confirm the subclass, grant basis and total period for which you or your partner held the qualifying regional provisional visa.
Calculate eligible regional residence
Map your residential addresses against the specified area applying to the original state nomination or family sponsorship pathway.
Verify full-time regional work
Confirm at least 12 months of qualifying work at 35 hours per week. Concurrent part-time roles may be combined where the rules and evidence support the claim.
Collect supporting evidence
Prepare residence, employment, tax, identity, family, English and character documents covering the claimed periods.
Lodge the permanent visa application
Submit through ImmiAccount with accurate evidence and respond promptly if the Department requests further information.
Regional residence requirement
Standard applicants must have lived for a total of at least two years in the relevant specified area while holding one or more eligible visas. The applicable geography depends on whether the earlier visa was based on state or territory nomination or eligible family sponsorship. Evidence may include leases, utility bills, property documents, official correspondence and study records.
Regional employment requirement
Standard applicants must generally have completed at least 12 months of full-time work in the relevant specified area while holding an eligible visa. Full-time means at least 35 hours per week. Work may be in the nominated occupation or another occupation, and concurrent part-time employment may be combined if it meets the weekly hours and evidence requirements.
Benefits of the Subclass 887 Visa
- Live in Australia permanently as a permanent resident.
- Work and study anywhere in Australia.
- Enrol in Medicare, subject to applicable eligibility rules.
- Include eligible family members holding qualifying visas.
- Sponsor eligible relatives for Australian permanent residence.
- Travel to and from Australia for five years from visa grant.
- Apply for Australian citizenship later if eligible.
Documents commonly required
Evidence may include passports, eligible visa records, rental agreements and utility bills, employment references stating duties and weekly hours, payslips, bank salary credits, ATO Notices of Assessment, superannuation records, contracts, identity and relationship documents, police certificates and functional English evidence where applicable.
How Echoes Global Education can assist
Our migration team can review your eligible visa history, calculate residence and employment periods, assess area eligibility, identify documentary gaps and assist with preparing a well-organised Subclass 887 application based on your individual circumstances.