A Skilled Regional Visa Subclass 887 visa temporarily enables an individual to live and work in Australia. It allows the holder to stay in Australia as the spouse or partner of an Australian citizen or permanent resident and provides the holder with a sponsored permanent residence after three years of living in Australia as the spouse or de facto partner of an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

What should you know about subclass 887 regional visas?

The subclass 887 skilled regional visa is a temporary visa for people who want to live and work in Australia for up to three years. The subclass 887 regional visa can be granted at a port of entry or by applying for it through the Department of Home Affairs. It's not possible to apply for this visa from outside of Australia.

The subclass 887 regional visa cannot be used as a pathway to permanent residency. However, holders may be eligible for Permanent Residence under other visas if holders meet certain conditions. Applicants must know that if they're not from New Zealand, Japan or Singapore, there may still be requirements such as English language proficiency and health checks that must be fulfilled before being granted this type of visa.

Who is eligible for skilled regional visa subclass 887?

To be eligible, they must have a job offer from an employer with a positive skills assessment.

• Be under 45 years old.
• Have qualifications that are relevant to their job.
• To be eligible for a Regional Visas subclass 887, an applicant must either have lived in and worked in Australia for at least two years or be employed by a company in an eligible region for at least three years.
• Applicants can apply for this visa if their employer sponsors them or a permanent resident spouse sponsors them.

How long does it take to process this visa?

The processing time for a Skilled Regional Visa Subclass 887 and skilled regional provisional visa 489 is between six and nine months, though it can sometimes take up to 18 months. The waiting period begins from the date of lodgement of your application. Your application will not be processed until all requirements have been met.

You must provide evidence of having funds available to cover living expenses in Australia, which should be at least $20,000 per person. You must also provide evidence that you intend to live and work in a specified area in Australia.

Benefits of having Regional Visa Subclass 887

• The benefit of having the subclass 887 visa is that it offers temporary residence for skilled individuals looking for work in regional areas of Australia.
• These visas are granted for up to four years, with the possibility of a two-year extension.
• There is also an option for permanent residence if certain conditions are met.
• Your family may be able to apply for this visa too. Your spouse and any children under 18 who are Australian citizens or permanent residents can be included on your application and granted a visa at the same time as you. 
• This visa is an excellent option for people who have lived, worked, or studied in a regional area of Australia for at least three years and would like to live in another regional area.
• This visa allows applicants to reside and work in any regional location within Australia.
• It also provides applicants for Skilled Regional Visa Subclass 887 more flexibility when traveling than other visas.