Skilled Regional Visa / Subclass 887

Skilled Visas

    What is a Skilled Regional Visa?

    The skilled regional (subclass 887) visa is a permanent visa for individuals currently holding a temporary visa who have lived and worked in designated regional areas of Australia for at least 2 years, with a minimum of 1 year of employment experience. This visa serves as a pathway to Permanent Residency and can only be applied for while the applicant is in Australia. The main purpose of this visa is to provide opportunities for General Skilled Migration visa holders to apply for a permanent residency visa. It is designed to support the development and growth of regional areas of Australia, by attracting skilled workers to live and work in these areas. The visa holder will be able to live, work and study in Australia on a permanent basis, and also apply for Australian citizenship.

    Benefits of Subclass 887 Visa
    • The skilled regional (subclass 887) visa allows the holder to stay in Australia permanently.
    • The visa holder has the ability to work and study in Australia indefinitely.
    • The visa holder is able to enroll in Australia’s public health care scheme, Medicare.
    • Family members and relatives can be sponsored by the 887 visa holder to come to Australia.
    • The visa holder is permitted to travel to and from Australia for a period of 5 years.
    • Eligible visa holders may become an Australian citizen.
    Requirements for Subclass 887 Visa
    • The applicant must be in Australia to apply for the visa.
    • The applicant must have lived in a regional area of Australia for a minimum of 2 years or have lived in a designated area of Australia if sponsored by a family member.
    • The applicant must have at least 12 months of full-time work experience (minimum 35 hours a week) in a relevant field.
    • The applicant must meet the health and character requirements set by the Australian government.
    • Applicant must have held one of the following visas for a minimum of up to two years before lodging the application:
    • Skilled Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 489)
    • Skilled Independent Regional (Provisional) Visa (subclass 495)
    • Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa (subclass 475)
    • Skilled Regional Sponsored (subclass 487)
    • Bridging visa A, or B