Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887): Legacy Pathway for 489 Holders
The Subclass 887 Skilled Regional visa is a legacy permanent residence visa for holders of the now-closed Subclass 489 (Skilled Regional Provisional), Subclass 475, or Subclass 487 visas. No new 887 applications can be lodged unless you already held one of these provisional visas. The Department is still processing remaining 887 applications. If you held a 489 visa and met the 2-year regional living and 1-year regional working requirements, the 887 grants permanent residence.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Visa subclass | 887 |
| Status | Legacy — new applications limited to existing 489/475/487 holders |
| Cost | $415 (primary applicant) |
| Regional residence | 2 years minimum |
| Regional work | 1 year full-time (or equivalent) |
| Processing time | 6–18 months |
| Replaced by | Subclass 191 (for 491/494 holders) |
Who Can Still Apply?
The 887 is available only to holders of:
- Subclass 489 (Skilled Regional Provisional) — granted before 16 November 2019
- Subclass 475 (Skilled Regional Sponsored) — the predecessor to the 489
- Subclass 487 (Skilled Regional Sponsored) — an earlier version
If you held one of these visas and haven't yet applied for the 887, you may still be eligible. However, your provisional visa must have been valid, and you must have met the regional residence and work requirements during the visa period.
The 489 was replaced by the Subclass 491 on 16 November 2019. The 491's permanent pathway is through the Subclass 191, not the 887.
Requirements
2 Years Regional Residence
You must have lived in a designated regional area for at least 2 years while holding your 489/475/487 visa.
The regional area definition for the 887 is based on the older classification, which designated areas outside Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, and Newcastle as regional. Note that this definition differs slightly from the current 491/191 definition.
1 Year Full-Time Regional Work
You must have worked full-time (at least 35 hours per week) in a designated regional area for at least 1 year during your provisional visa period.
Key points:
- The work doesn't need to be in your nominated occupation
- Multiple employers are fine — the 1 year can be cumulative
- Self-employment counts if properly documented
- Part-time work doesn't count unless combined to equivalent full-time hours
Health and Character
Standard requirements apply at the time of 887 application.
887 vs 191: Key Differences
| Feature | 887 (Legacy) | 191 (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| From visa | 489/475/487 | 491/494 |
| Regional residence | 2 years | 3 years |
| Work requirement | 1 year full-time | Income threshold ($53,900 × 3 years) |
| Cost | $415 | $415 |
| Occupation restriction | None for work requirement | None |
The 887 has a shorter residence requirement (2 years vs 3) and a simpler work requirement (1 year employment vs income threshold), reflecting the different era of policy under which it was designed.
Current Processing Status
The Department continues to process 887 applications, though the volume has decreased significantly as most eligible 489 holders have already applied. Processing times currently range from 6-18 months.
If you have a pending 887 application, you remain on your provisional visa (or a bridging visa if the provisional has expired) during processing. Full work and study rights continue.
Evidence You'll Need to Provide
Getting the 887 approved depends heavily on the quality of your documentation. The Department wants proof — not just a statutory declaration — that you genuinely lived and worked in a designated regional area.
Regional Residence Evidence
You need to demonstrate continuous residence in a regional area for at least 2 years. Acceptable evidence includes:
- Rental agreements or mortgage documents showing regional addresses
- Utility bills (electricity, gas, water, internet) in your name at regional addresses
- Bank statements showing transactions at regional locations
- Children's school enrolment records at regional schools
- Vehicle registration records showing a regional address
- Medicare correspondence addressed to a regional location
The key word is continuous. Short trips away from the region don't break continuity, but an extended move back to a capital city would. If you maintained your regional address and returned within a reasonable period, you should be fine — but document everything.
Regional Work Evidence
For the 1-year full-time work requirement, you'll need:
- Payslips covering the entire employment period
- Tax returns and PAYG summaries showing income earned
- Employment contracts or letters from employers confirming hours worked
- Superannuation statements showing employer contributions
- ABN registration and invoices (if self-employed)
- Business Activity Statements (for self-employed applicants)
The Department cross-references your claimed employment with ATO records, so make sure everything matches. Discrepancies between payslips and tax returns are a red flag.
Tips for a Successful Application
Having processed thousands of these applications, migration agents consistently highlight the same pitfalls. Here's how to avoid them:
Don't rely on statutory declarations alone. A stat dec saying "I lived in Ballarat for 2 years" means nothing without supporting documents. The Department wants objective evidence.
Keep records of every address change. If you moved within the regional area, document the move with lease agreements or change-of-address notices.
Make sure your employer was genuinely regional. If you worked for a company headquartered in Sydney but your workplace was in a regional area, clarify this in your application. The work location matters, not the employer's head office address.
Check the designated area postcodes carefully. The regional area definition for the 887 uses the older classification. Some areas that are now considered regional under the 491 scheme weren't regional under the 489. Verify that your specific postcode was designated regional during your 489 visa period.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still apply for the 887?
Only if you held a 489, 475, or 487 visa and met the requirements during that visa period. If you never held one of these visas, you cannot apply.
I held a 489 but my visa expired — can I still apply?
Possibly. If you met all the 887 requirements during your 489 visa period and are still in Australia (potentially on a bridging visa), consult a migration agent about your options. Time is critical — the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to gather evidence.
Is the 887 being phased out?
Effectively, yes. No new 489 visas are being granted, so the pool of eligible 887 applicants is finite and shrinking. Once all remaining applications are processed, the 887 will become obsolete.
What if my 887 application is refused?
You can seek review at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). Given that the 887 has relatively straightforward requirements, refusals are uncommon and usually relate to insufficient evidence of regional residence or work. The AAT can reassess your evidence and overturn the decision if warranted.
Can I travel while my 887 is being processed?
If you're on a bridging visa while your 887 is processed, travel can be complicated. A Bridging Visa B allows travel, but a Bridging Visa A does not. If you need to travel, apply for a Bridging Visa B before departing. Leaving Australia on a Bridging Visa A without a travel facility means you can't return.
Does the 887 lead to citizenship?
Yes. The 887 grants permanent residence, and time spent on the 887 counts toward the 4-year residence requirement for Australian citizenship. You can apply for citizenship once you've met the general residence requirements.
