Important: the 489 visa is closed to new applicants
The 489 visa was replaced by the 491 Skilled Work Regional visa on 16 November 2019. This page is for people who already hold a 489 visa and want to move to permanent residence through the 887 visa.
How to go from the Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) to PR (permanent residency)?
To be able to apply for a permanent visa, you first need to make sure you’ve met your obligations on the 489 visa mainly:
As a state nominated visa holder, you must:
- Live and work in the state that sponsored you for two years from the date your visa is granted
- After you arrive and get settled into your new home, you must advise your state of your address and contact details. You must continue to notify your state of any changes to your residential address and contact details during the period of the 489 visa.
Meeting your 489 visa conditions
Please ensure that you abide by the provisional visa conditions as specified by the Department of Home Affairs, because if you don’t it will affect you and your dependents when you apply for permanent residency (887 visa) in the future.
Most importantly:
- The 489 visa is a four-year provisional visa that requires you to live in a regional area for at least two years and work full time (minimum 35 hours a week) for at least 12 months, before you become eligible to apply for permanent residency.
- While you are on this visa, you and any dependents on the same visa must live, work and/or study in a regional area.
- You must continue to abide by the current 489 visa conditions until you are granted permanent residency.
The 887 visa: your permanent residence step after the 489
The 489 visa closed to new applicants on 16 November 2019, but people who already hold a 489 visa (or a former 489 visa) can still move to permanent residence through the Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887). The 887 is a permanent visa, so once it is granted you can live, work and study anywhere in Australia.
The 887 is different from the newer Subclass 191 visa. The 191 is only for holders of the 491 and 494 visas, so if you hold a 489 your pathway is the 887.
Main 887 requirements at a glance
| Eligible visa | You must hold, or have held, a 489 visa (or one of the older eligible regional visas such as the 495, 496, 475 or 487). |
| Residence | You must have lived in a specified regional area for at least 2 years while holding your eligible visa. |
| Work | You must have worked full time (at least 35 hours a week) in a specified regional area for at least 12 months while holding your eligible visa. |
| Visa conditions | You must have substantially complied with the conditions of your 489 visa. |
| Location | In most cases you must be in Australia when you lodge the 887 application. |
| Health and character | You and your family members must meet the health and character requirements. |
There is no new points test, skills assessment, age limit or English test for the 887. These were already assessed when your 489 was granted.
Government charges (from 1 July 2026)
- Main applicant: $630
- Each additional applicant aged 18 or over: $315
- Each additional applicant under 18: $160
See our skilled visa fees page and the 1 July 2026 fee changes for other skilled visa charges.
Step by step from 489 to 887
- Track your regional time. Keep a simple record of every address and every job from the date you first arrived on your 489 visa.
- Collect your evidence. Typical documents include leases or rates notices, utility bills, payslips, employment contracts, employer references showing your hours, tax returns and bank statements.
- Check your dates. Make sure you have at least 2 years of regional residence and 12 months of full-time regional work before you lodge, and that your 489 visa has not expired.
- Lodge the 887 application in Australia. Include your partner and dependent children if they are part of your family unit.
- Complete health checks and police certificates when requested.
- Stay lawful while you wait. If your 489 expires after you lodge a valid 887 application in Australia, you will normally be granted a bridging visa.
Can I still apply for a new 489 visa?
No. The 489 closed to new applicants on 16 November 2019. If you are planning a regional pathway now, look at the 491 visa, which leads to permanent residence through the 191 visa.
Can I apply for the 191 visa instead of the 887?
No. The 191 is only available to holders of the 491 and 494 visas. 489 visa holders apply for the 887.
Does my work have to be in my nominated occupation?
No. The 887 work requirement is about full-time work in a specified regional area. The work does not have to be in the occupation you were assessed in, but it must be genuine, full time and supported by evidence such as payslips and employer references.
What if my 489 visa is about to expire and I have not met the requirements?
This depends on your circumstances and how much regional time you have. Other visa options may be available, and temporary COVID-19 concessions (now ended) were introduced for some 887 applicants whose regional time was affected by the pandemic. Book a consultation well before your visa expires so we can check your options.
Can my family members be included in the 887 application?
Yes. Your partner and dependent children can be included, and they must meet health and character requirements. A separate government charge applies for each additional applicant.
Get in touch with your trusted registered Migration Agent in Melbourne and maximise your chances of becoming an Australian permanent resident.
Other temporary to permanent visa options and how to become an Australian permanent resident:
Select a state below to see its requirements:
Australia
State and territory requirements
Each state and territory has its own list of occupations, requirements and processes you must follow.
More information about the requirements and processes on how Australian states or territories nominate applicants is available.
