Skilled - Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887)

The purpose of this visa is to allow holders of certain provisional visas to apply for permanent residency.

To be granted this visa, you must have lived for at least two (2) years and worked full time for a total period of 12 months in a Specified Regional Area of Australia before lodging your visa application.

This visa is for you if you hold one of these visas:

• Skilled - Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495)
• Skilled - Designated Area – Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 496)
• Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 475)
• Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487)

and you:

• have lived in a Specified Regional Area for at least two (2) years
• have worked full time in a Specified Regional Area for at least one (1) year
• have complied with the conditions on your visa.

This visa allows you and any secondary applicants included in your visa application to live as permanent residents in Australia.

Australian permanent residents can:

• live and work in Australia on a permanent basis
• study in Australia at school or university
• receive subsidised healthcare through Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• access certain social security payments (subject to waiting periods)
• be eligible for Australian citizenship (subject to the residency eligibility criteria)
• sponsor people for permanent residence

This is a permanent residence visa for holders of the following provisional visas:

• Skilled - Independent Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 495)
• Skilled - Designated Area – Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 496)
• Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 475)
• Skilled - Regional Sponsored (Provisional) visa (subclass 487)

Applicants must meet certain residence and work requirements in Australia before applying for this visa.

As a permanent resident you are permitted to remain in Australia indefinitely. This visa also allows you to travel to and enter Australia for five (5) years from the date the visa is granted. The expiry of this visa does not affect your permanent resident status if you are in Australia. However, if you wish to continue to travel to and from Australia as a permanent resident after the initial visa has expired, you must obtain a Resident Return Visa (RRV). Your eligibility for an RRV will depend on the period that you have resided in Australia.

Skilled - Regional (Residence) visa (subclass 887)

Charge Type	Charge Amount
1st instalment	$195
2nd instalment	$2925