Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887)
Not everyone needs the newer 191. Holders of older provisional regional visas may still qualify for the Skilled Regional Visa 887, a simpler route to regional PR with no income test required at all, even now.
Overview
The Subclass 887 is a permanent visa for people who have lived and worked in specified regional areas of Australia while holding an eligible provisional visa. Once granted, it gives you the right to live, work and study anywhere in Australia permanently, along with Medicare access and a pathway to citizenship. Because the older provisional visas that feed into it have closed to new applicants, the pool of eligible 887 applicants is finite and shrinking, so anyone who qualifies should not sit on it.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an 887 you generally must:
- Hold or have held an eligible regional provisional visa, such as the Subclass 489, 495, 496, 475 or 487, or a bridging visa granted after applying for one of these.
- Have held a skilled visa for a total of at least two years before you apply.
- Have lived in a specified regional area of Australia for at least two years.
- Have worked full-time, meaning at least 35 hours a week, in a specified regional area for at least one year. This can be across more than one job and does not have to be continuous.
- Have complied with all the conditions attached to your provisional visa, and meet health and character requirements.
Documents
The 887 stands or falls on evidence. The Department wants objective proof that you genuinely lived and worked in a specified regional area, not just a statutory declaration saying so.
- Your provisional visa grant notice and passport.
- Proof of regional residence for at least two years, such as leases or mortgage documents, utility bills, bank statements and, if relevant, children’s school enrolment records.
- Proof of full-time work for at least one year in a regional area, such as payslips, employment contracts and references.
- Evidence you complied with your visa conditions throughout.
- Health and character documents, and details of any family members included.
Talk to Bullseye Consultant
If you hold an older regional provisional visa and have met your two-year and one-year requirements, do not wait. Bullseye Consultant will help you assemble the evidence and lodge the 887.
Benefits
Once granted, the 887 removes the regional restrictions that applied to your provisional visa. You can live and work anywhere in Australia, include eligible family members, access Medicare, and move toward citizenship once you meet the residence rules. Because it is a permanent visa, it also gives your family long-term certainty after years on a provisional footing.
Processing time
Processing times for the 887 vary with the Department’s workload and, above all, with the quality of your evidence. A file with clear, dated proof of residence and full-time work is far less likely to be delayed by requests for more information. If your provisional visa expires while the 887 is being decided, a bridging visa generally keeps you lawful during processing.
Frequently Asked Questions about Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887)
I hold a 491. Should I apply for the 887?
No. The 887 is for older provisional visas such as the 489, 475, 487, 495 and 496. If you hold a 491 or 494, your permanent pathway is the Subclass 191.
Is there a points test for the 887?
No. The 887 has no points test and no new skills assessment. Eligibility is based on your regional residence, your full-time work, and compliance with your provisional visa conditions.
How much work do I need to show?
At least one year of full-time work, which is a minimum of 35 hours a week, in a specified regional area. It can be spread across more than one job and does not have to be continuous.
How long do I need to have lived in a regional area?
At least two years in a specified regional area while holding your eligible provisional visa. The exact areas that qualify depend on your provisional visa, so check the designated postcodes for your visa.
What evidence does the Department accept?
Objective documents rather than statutory declarations alone. Leases, utility bills, bank statements, payslips, employment records and school enrolments all help build a clear picture of your regional residence and work.
Can I include my family?
Yes. You can include your partner and dependent children, who must meet health and character requirements, even if some were not on your original provisional visa.
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