What Is the Subclass 887 Visa?

The Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887) is a permanent visa for eligible holders of specified regional provisional visas who have met the required regional residence and work conditions.

It can provide eligible applicants with permanent residence in Australia, allowing them to settle permanently after completing the applicable requirements.

Because subclass 887 is a legacy pathway, eligibility depends heavily on the particular provisional visa previously held and the circumstances of the applicant.

Who May Be Eligible for Subclass 887?

Subclass 887 may be relevant to eligible holders of certain legacy regional visas, including:

• Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 489)
• Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa (Subclass 475)
• Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa (Subclass 487)

Other historical circumstances may also be relevant depending on the applicant's visa history and the applicable legislation.

The Department of Home Affairs confirms that subclass 489 is closed to new applications, while eligible existing visa holders can continue to access relevant pathways.

Regional Residence Requirement

A key part of the subclass 887 pathway is demonstrating that you have lived in an eligible regional or designated area of Australia for the required period while holding an eligible provisional visa.

The exact regional residence requirements depend on the visa pathway and the rules applicable to your circumstances.

For certain subclass 489 holders, the Department provides a specific postcode list for applicants using the subsequent subclass 887 pathway.

Applicants should carefully check their previous addresses, dates of residence and visa history before claiming eligibility.

Regional Work Requirement

Eligible applicants may also need to demonstrate that they completed the required period of work in a designated regional area while holding the relevant provisional visa.

Evidence may include:

• Employment contracts
• Payslips
• Tax records
• Superannuation records
• Employer letters
• Bank statements
• Australian Taxation Office records
• Other evidence establishing employment and location

The evidence should clearly demonstrate that the work satisfies the requirements applying to the particular subclass 887 pathway.

Important: Subclass 887 Is a Legacy Pathway

The subclass 887 should not be presented as the standard permanent residence pathway for people who are currently considering a new regional skilled visa.

Australia's current regional skilled migration program includes:

• Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa
• Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa
• Subclass 191 – Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa

The Department states that holders of skilled regional provisional visas can potentially progress to permanent residence through subclass 191 after satisfying the relevant regional residence and other requirements.

Therefore, applicants should determine whether they are dealing with a legacy subclass 887 case or a current subclass 191 pathway.

Subclass 887 Eligibility Requirements

The precise requirements depend on the applicant's previous visa and circumstances, but an eligible applicant may need to satisfy requirements relating to:

1. Eligible Previous Visa

You must have held an eligible regional provisional visa relevant to the subclass 887 pathway.

2. Regional Residence

You must have lived in the required designated regional area for the applicable period.

3. Regional Employment

You must satisfy the applicable work requirement, including requirements relating to the location and nature of employment.

4. Health Requirements

You must satisfy the applicable Australian health requirements.

The Department may request medical examinations depending on your circumstances.

5. Character Requirements

Applicants must meet Australia's character requirements and may need to provide police certificates or other evidence requested by the Department.

6. Visa Conditions

Applicants must have complied with the conditions attached to their previous visa and any other applicable immigration requirements.

Subclass 887 Application Process

Step 1: Check Your Previous Visa

Confirm the exact regional provisional visa you held and review its grant dates, conditions and regional requirements.

Step 2: Review Your Regional Residence

Check your Australian residential history and confirm that the relevant addresses fall within the designated areas applicable to your pathway.

Step 3: Review Your Work History

Collect evidence demonstrating your eligible employment and confirm that the work satisfies the applicable subclass 887 requirements.

Step 4: Prepare Supporting Documents

Documents may include:

• Passport and identity documents
• Previous Australian visa information
• Residential evidence
• Employment records
• Payslips
• Tax records
• Bank statements
• Superannuation evidence
• Police certificates
• Health examination information
• Family documents
• Other evidence requested by the Department

Step 5: Lodge the Application

Eligible applicants should follow the current Department of Home Affairs process for lodging their subclass 887 application.

Step 6: Respond to Department Requests

The Department may request additional evidence, health examinations, character documents or other information during processing.

Responding accurately and within the required timeframe is important.

Step 7: Visa Decision

The Department assesses the application against the applicable legislation and visa criteria.

If the requirements are satisfied, the subclass 887 can provide permanent residence in Australia.

Subclass 887 Visa Benefits

As a permanent visa, subclass 887 can provide eligible visa holders with permanent residence rights.

Depending on eligibility and applicable conditions, a permanent resident can generally:

• Live permanently in Australia
• Work in Australia
• Study in Australia
• Include eligible family members where permitted
• Access Medicare where eligible
• Travel internationally during the applicable travel facility
• Potentially apply for Australian citizenship once eligible

Permanent residence does not automatically provide Australian citizenship. Citizenship requires a separate application and satisfaction of the relevant Australian citizenship requirements.

Subclass 887 and Australian Citizenship

Once you become an Australian permanent resident, you may eventually be eligible to apply for Australian citizenship if you satisfy the applicable residence, character and other requirements.

Citizenship is a separate process from the subclass 887 visa application.

Subclass 887 vs Subclass 191

It is important to distinguish the two pathways:

The Department's current regional migration information identifies subclass 191 as the permanent residence pathway for eligible holders of current skilled regional provisional visas.

Subclass 887 Processing

Processing times can vary according to the application, supporting evidence, Department workload and applicable processing priorities.

The Department currently includes subclass 887 within its skilled visa processing priorities under Ministerial Direction 119, which came into effect on 25 July 2026.

Applicants should not rely on a guaranteed processing timeframe.

Providing a complete application and responding promptly to Department requests can help avoid unnecessary delays.

Common Subclass 887 Issues

Legacy regional applications can become complicated when applicants have:

• Changed addresses during the qualifying period
• Worked at multiple locations
• Changed employers
• Worked across different regional areas
• Taken periods of leave
• Held multiple visas
• Had changes in family circumstances
• Incomplete employment records
• Difficulty proving historical residence
• Uncertainty about whether a particular postcode was eligible

Careful review of historical residence and employment evidence can be particularly important for legacy subclass 887 applications.

Current Regional Migration Options

If you do not hold an eligible legacy visa and are considering regional migration to Australia today, subclass 887 may not be the appropriate pathway.

Current regional options can include:

• Skilled Work Regional Visa (Subclass 491)
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional Visa (Subclass 494)
• Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191)

The appropriate pathway depends on your occupation, skills, employer, state or territory nomination, regional location and individual circumstances.

Why Choose The Visa?

The subclass 887 pathway can be difficult to assess because it involves legacy visa rules, historical residence requirements and previous employment records.

At The Visa, we can help eligible applicants review their previous regional visa, residence history, employment evidence and potential permanent residence pathway.

We can assist with:

• Subclass 887 eligibility assessment
• Regional residence history review
• Employment evidence review
• Previous visa assessment
• Supporting document preparation
• Application strategy
• Current regional pathway assessment
• Subclass 191 pathway guidance for eligible current regional visa holders

Already holding a regional provisional visa or have questions about subclass 887? Contact The Visa to assess your eligibility and determine whether the legacy 887 pathway or a current regional pathway may apply to your circumstances.

Subclass 887 is a legacy visa pathway. Australian migration requirements, processing priorities and regional visa arrangements can change. Always check the latest Department of Home Affairs requirements before lodging an application.