Skilled - Regional visa (subclass 887)

COVID-19 concessions to lodgement and eligibility requirements are available to eligible prospective Skilled – Regional visa (subclass 887) applicants where they meet criteria set out below.

Applicants outside of Australia

Eligible prospective subclass 887 visa applicants can make their visa application outside Australia during the concession period and be granted the visa while they are outside Australia. Applicants outside of Australia who lodge during the concession period are given access to shorter employment requirements and shorter residence requirements.

These applicants must provide evidence of at least:

• 9 months full-time work in a specified regional area (or, if the Minister specifies a shorter period in a legislative instrument, that shorter period), and
• 18 months residence in a specified regional area (or, if the Minister specifies a shorter period in a legislative instrument, that shorter period).

Applicants inside Australia

Eligible prospective subclass 887 applicants inside Australia who lodge during the concession period are given access to shorter employment requirements.

These applicants must provide evidence of at least:

• 9 months full-time work in a specified regional area, and
• 2 years of residence in a specified regional area.

All applicants must be in Australia and hold an eligible visa at the time a subclass 887 visa application is made unless COVID-19 concessions apply.

An eligible visa is a:

• subclass 489, 495, 496, 475 or 487 visa, or
• Bridging visa A or Bridging visa B, after having made a valid application for a subclass 489, 495 or 487 visa, or where a subclass 887 visa is lodged outside Australia during the concession period, a visa mentioned above that expired during the concession period while the holder was outside Australia.

The person seeking to satisfy the primary criteria must also have held one of the following eligible visas for a total of 2 years before a subclass 887 visa application is made:

• subclass 489, 495, 496, 475 or 487 visa.

The eligible visa must have been granted to them on the basis of satisfying the primary criteria, or on the basis of being the spouse or de facto partner of the person who satisfied the primary criteria.

Note: The person seeking to satisfy the primary criteria in this application will be the person who seeks to meet the 887 work and residence requirements.

At the time you apply for this visa you must have lived for a total of at least 2 years (unless COVID-19 concessions apply), as the holder of one or more eligible visas, in:

• a regional or low-population growth metropolitan area if a state or territory government nominated you for your eligible visa, or
• a designated area of Australia if a family member sponsored you for your eligible visa.

When you apply for this visa you must have worked full-time for at least 12 months (unless COVID-19 concessions apply), as the holder of one or more eligible visas:

• in a regional or low-population growth metropolitan area, if a state or territory government nominated you for your eligible visa, or
• a designated area of Australia if a family member had sponsored you for your eligible visa.

Full time work means 35 hours per week.  You can combine work in concurrent part-time employment to satisfy this requirement. You can work in your nominated occupation or any other occupation.

You, and any family members holding an eligible visa, must have complied with the conditions attached to your eligible visa when in Australia. This requirement applies for the whole period you hold the visa(s).

At the time we make a decision on your application you must:

• have functional English, or
• have paid the second instalment of the visa application charge for your eligible visa, or
• pay the second instalment of the visa application charge when we ask for it

You and any family members who apply for the visa with you must meet our health requirement. As you undertook a health examination for your eligible visa, in most circumstances you will not need to undertake another one.

You and family members aged 16 years and over who apply for the visa with you must meet our character requirement.

Family members not accompanying you to Australia must also meet the requirement.

If you are 18 years of age or older, you must:

• have read, or had explained to you, the Life in Australia and
• confirm you will respect the Australian way of life and obey Australian laws when you sign an Australian Values Statement 

If you or any family members (including those who do not apply for the visa with you) owe the Australian Government money, you or they must have paid it back or arranged to pay it back.

We will consider your immigration history when we make a decision on your application, which means you might not be eligible for this visa if you have had a visa cancelled or refused.

In some circumstances you may still apply for a permanent visa if you have had a visa cancelled or an application refused see Limitations on applications in Australia.

If applying for a visa from outside Australia see Can I go to Australia.

If you want immigration assistance, see Who can help with your visa application.