SKILLED REGIONAL VISA (SUBCLASS 887)

Available only to holders of certain temporary skilled visas

This is an onshore permanent visa which is only available to applicants who already hold one of the following temporary skilled visas

• Skilled – Independent Regional (495) visa,
• Skilled – Designated-Area Sponsored (496) visa,
• Skilled – Regional Sponsored (475) visa,
• Skilled – Regional Sponsored (487) visa,
• Skilled – Regional Nominated or Sponsored (489) visa, or
• a Bridging A or B visa granted on the basis that the applicant had applied for a
  • Skilled – Independent Regional (495) visa, or
  • Skilled – Regional Sponsored (487) visa, or
  • Skilled – Regional Nominated or Sponsored (489) visa.

An applicant must have held a 475, 487, 495, 496 or 489 visa for at least 2 years

• as applicant who had satisfied the primary criteria for that visa, or
• as the spouse or de facto partner of the applicant who had satisfied the primary criteria for that visa.

Must have resided in Regional or Designated areas

If the 475, 487, 495, 496 or 489 visa held by the applicant was subject to the conditions

• 8539 – for applicants who were nominated by a State/Territory government, that they must live, study and work only in a regional area that is in the same State/Territory that had nominated

them, or

• 8549 – for applicants who were sponsored by a relative resident in a designated area, that they must live, study and work only in a ‘designated area’ that is in the same State/Territory of their sponsor’s residence, then the applicant for the 887 visa must have
• lived in the specified regional area or designated area for at least 2 years, and
• worked full time in the specified regional area or designated area for at least 1 year

as the holder of the 475, 487, 495, 496 or 489 visa

As long as they have complied with conditions of their other temporary visa ,

• applicants applying under this option are not required to meet these requirements (as they would have been satisfied for the other temporary visa), i.e.
  • No nomination or sponsorship requirements
  • No points test requirements
  • No English language requirements, and
  • No age requirements