Skilled Regional visa (subclass 887)

For example:

• payslips that cover the period of employment
• contracts, tax returns, group certificates and superannuation documents
• employment references
• any other documents relating to your employment history that you provided for your skills assessment.

Employment references

Employment references must:

• be written on the official letterhead of the employer providing the reference
• clearly show the employer’s full address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail or website addresses on the letterhead
• show, below their signature, the name, position and contact telephone number of the person who signed the reference
• show:
  • the exact period of your employment
  • whether employment was permanent or temporary, full or part-time
  • the position(s) you held and duties undertaken
  • your salary.

The position should be described according to the nature of the duties undertaken (for example research chemist, accounts clerk). It should not be described in general terms (for example, research officer, public servant).

Self-employment

• If you have been self-employed, provide evidence of self-employment:

• audited financial statements for the relevant period
• company registration documents
• taxation documents
• examples of major contracts
• advertising and marketing material
• company profile or prospectus
• memberships of any business or professional associations.

Who Can Still Apply for the 887 Visa?

The 887 is the permanent stage for Australia’s older regional skilled visas. Since 16 November 2019, the Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) has been closed to new main applicants, and the regional pathway for new applicants now runs through the 491 and 494 visas and the 191 visa.

This means the 887 is mainly relevant if you:

• hold, or recently held, a 489 visa or one of the older eligible visas listed above, or
• hold a Bridging visa A or B connected to an application for one of those visas.

If you hold a 491 or 494, the 887 is not for you. Your permanent pathway is the 191.

The 887 does not involve a points test, a skills assessment or a new nomination, and you do not need a job offer to apply. The assessment looks at what you have already done: where you have lived, where you have worked and whether you have complied with your visa conditions.

Which Regional Area Applies to You?

The areas that count for the 887 depend on how your provisional visa was granted. This catches many applicants out, because the lists are not the same as the designated regional areas used for the 491, 494 and 191.

Both lists are based on postcodes. Some whole states and territories are included, while in others only certain postcodes count. Check each address and workplace against the list that applies to your visa, for the whole period you are relying on.

Understanding the Residence and Work Requirements

Two years of residence

You must have lived in a specified regional area for at least two years while holding your eligible visa. Home Affairs looks at where you actually lived, so the strongest evidence is a continuous set of records in your own name, such as leases, rental receipts, property documents, utility bills and correspondence sent to your regional address. If your evidence has gaps, explain them and provide other documents that support your residence for that time.

One year of full time work

You must have worked full time in a specified regional area for at least one year while holding your eligible visa. Full time generally means at least 35 hours a week. Points to keep in mind:

• The 35 hours can generally be made up of more than one job, as long as all the work is in a specified regional area.
• Self-employment can count, but you need strong evidence of the hours you worked and the income of the business.
• Weeks where your hours fall below full time may not count towards the one year.
• The workplace, not just your home, must be in a specified regional area.

Payslips, tax records and superannuation records are the best way to show your hours and dates. Our checklist above lists the evidence that Home Affairs commonly expects.

COVID-19 concessions

Temporary COVID-19 concessions (now ended) reduced the residence and work periods for some applicants affected by the pandemic. Whether they are still relevant to you depends on your dates and circumstances. See our 887 COVID-19 concessions page, and get advice before relying on them.

How to Apply for the 887 Visa: Step by Step

1. Confirm your eligible visa. Make sure you hold an eligible provisional visa, or a Bridging visa A or B connected to one, and that you have held a skilled visa for at least two years.
2. Check which area list applies. Work out whether your residence and work must be in a regional or low population growth area or in a designated area.
3. Map your residence and work history. List every address and every job, with dates and hours, and check each one against the right postcode list.
4. Gather your evidence. Use the checklist above, and make sure your records cover the full two years of residence and one year of work.
5. Lodge online and pay the visa application charge. The application is lodged through ImmiAccount. There is no expression of interest or invitation stage.
6. Complete health checks and police certificates. These are needed for you and the family members included in your application.
7. Keep Home Affairs updated while you wait. Report new passports, address changes, new family members and any other change in your circumstances.
8. Receive a decision. Once granted, you are an Australian permanent resident.

887 Visa Cost: A Worked Example

From 1 July 2026, the government visa application charges for the 887 are $630 for the main applicant, $315 for each additional applicant aged 18 or over and $160 for each additional applicant under 18. For a family made up of the main applicant, a partner and two children under 18, the total would be:

Health examinations, police certificates and translations are extra. See our skilled visa fees page for other skilled visas. Charges are usually indexed on 1 July each year, so the amount that applies is the one in force on the day you lodge.

887 vs 191: What Is the Difference?

The two visas are not interchangeable. You must apply for the one that matches the provisional visa you hold.

Including Your Family

You can include your partner and dependent children in your 887 application, and they receive the same permanent residence rights as you. Each family member must meet the health and character requirements, and you will need evidence of your relationships, such as marriage certificates, relationship evidence and birth certificates. Police certificates are generally needed for each person aged 16 and over, for every country where they have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.

If your partner also holds the provisional visa and meets the residence and work requirements, they may be able to apply as the main applicant instead. This can help if their work history is stronger than yours.

What If You Do Not Meet the 887 Requirements?

If you have not yet completed two years of residence or one year of full time work, the main thing to check is how long your current visa has left. You must hold an eligible visa when you lodge, so you need to meet the requirements and apply before it expires.

If you cannot meet the 887 requirements in time, other options may include an employer sponsored visa such as the 186 visa, a points tested visa such as the 189 or 190, or a family visa. The right option depends on your occupation, age, English and family circumstances, so book a consultation to review your situation before your visa expires.

After Your 887 Visa Is Granted

• You can live and work anywhere in Australia. The regional requirements end once the 887 is granted.
• Travel. Your travel facility lasts five years from the grant date. After that, you will need a Resident Return visa to return as a permanent resident, unless you have become a citizen.
• Citizenship. You may be able to apply for Australian citizenship once you meet the residence requirement, which generally means four years of lawful residence in Australia, including 12 months as a permanent resident.

Common 887 Mistakes to Avoid

• Using the wrong postcode list for your visa type.
• Counting part-time weeks towards the one year of full time work.
• Relying on a regional home address when the workplace was in a non-qualifying area.
• Not having continuous evidence of residence for the full two years.
• Waiting too long and letting the provisional visa expire before lodging.
• Applying for the 887 when you hold a 491 or 494 (you need the 191 instead).