The Subclass 887 — A Legacy Permanent Pathway
The subclass 887 Skilled Regional (Permanent) visa is the permanent residence outcome for people who held eligible provisional regional skilled visas — primarily the subclass 489 (Skilled — Regional Sponsored), and a small cohort of older visa holders (475, 487, 495 and 496). It was created to provide a permanent residence pathway for people who committed to living and working in regional Australia.
The subclass 887 is not open to new provisional visa holders entering the regional pathway today. The subclass 489 visa closed to new applications. People who are now commencing the regional pathway hold the subclass 491 (Skilled Work Regional) or subclass 494 (Employer Sponsored Regional) visa, and their permanent residence pathway is via the subclass 191 (Permanent Residence — Skilled Regional) visa — not the 887.
If you hold a current subclass 489 (or older 475/487/495/496) provisional visa, or have already been granted one, the 887 remains your permanent residence pathway — provided you meet the residence and work requirements.
Who Qualifies for the Subclass 887?
Evidence of Regional Residence and Work
The 887 application requires strong documentary evidence of both regional residence and regional work. The Department will not accept bare assertions — evidence must be contemporaneous and comprehensive.
Subclass 887 vs Subclass 191 — Which Is Yours?
The most common source of confusion with regional permanent residence is which visa applies. The answer depends entirely on which provisional visa you held — not on your current circumstances.
Transitional Deadlines and Visa Expiry
The subclass 489 provisional visa has a maximum 4-year stay. The 887 application must generally be made while you hold a valid substantive visa. You do not need to be in Australia or in a regional area at the time you apply for the 887, but you must have held a valid provisional visa (or a Bridging Visa A covering it) at the time of application.
If your provisional visa is approaching expiry and you have not yet met the work and residence requirements, you may need to extend your stay — possibly via a Bridging Visa. Seek migration advice well before your provisional visa expires if you are concerned about meeting the requirements in time.
There is no formal deadline for the 887 to close — the Department expects to accept 887 applications for as long as there are eligible 489 holders who have met the requirements. However, the cohort of eligible applicants is finite and declining as the 489 visa wound down.
How to Apply for the Subclass 887
Frequently Asked Questions
This information is general in nature and does not constitute immigration assistance or legal advice for any individual situation. Requirements including occupation lists, fees and processing criteria change without notice.
Nanak Migration Group Pty Ltd makes no representation that information on this site is complete, current or applicable to your circumstances. Nothing here guarantees, implies or represents any visa outcome, approval likelihood or processing time.
Obtain advice tailored to your situation from a registered migration agent or Australian legal practitioner. Navpreet Aulakh, MARN 2619467, is registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Information current as at August 2026. Verify all requirements with the Department of Home Affairs (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au) before lodging any application.