Subclass 887 Visa

Advantages Of Getting A Skilled Regional (Subclass 887) Visa

What Can You Do on a subclass 887 Visa?

Being a permanent residency visa, the Skilled Regional visa allows you to stay indefinitely in Australia by granting permanent resident status. Apart from that, you are allowed to do the following:

• Work in any occupation or industry without limitations in Australia.
• Live anywhere in the country.
• Enrol in education programs and study in Australian educational institutions (access domestic student fees)
• You can sign up for Medicare to access Australia’s public healthcare System. This is extremely beneficial for getting excellent healthcare at much more reasonable medical expenses.
• You can sponsor eligible relatives, such as partners, parents and dependent children, for permanent residence. This is helpful for applicants who want to live in Australia with their family and together enjoy the permanent residency benefits.
• For the whole five years (from the date of visa approval), you can easily travel to and from Australia. After that, you can easily apply for a Resident Return Visa to continue international travel.
• You can request Australian citizenship after meeting residency requirements on your Skilled Regional visa. It frees you from even minor obligations, like renewing travel facilities (RRV) every 5 years and voting in federal elections.

Eligibility Criteria For Visa Subclass 887

To qualify for the Subclass 887 visa, you must meet all the following core criteria:

Hold an Eligible Prior Visa

You must currently hold or have previously held one of the following eligible regional provisional visas:

• Subclass 496 (Skilled Designated Area-sponsored Provisional)
• Subclass 489 (Skilled Regional (Provisional))
• Subclass 495 (Skilled Regional Sponsored)
• Subclass 475 (Skilled Regional Sponsored)
• Subclass 487 (Skilled Regional Sponsored)
• In some cases, a Bridging Visa A or B after applying for an eligible visa also counts.

Regional Residency Requirement

This is an onshore visa. Thus, you need to have been living in a designated regional area of Australia for at least 2 years when applying for the visa.

Work Requirement

You must have spent at least 12 months of your two-year stay working full-time (at least 35 hours per week) in the designated regional Australia.

Health and Character Requirement

You (and your family members, if accompanying) must satisfy the standards of health and character as set by the Australian immigration authorities.

Compliance & English

You ought to actually compile with all the necessary conditions of your previous Australian visa and meet functional English requirements.

Notes:

• Apart from the basic eligibility requirements, a visa applicant is required to be free from any outstanding government debt.
• If you have had a visa cancelled or refused while you were in Australia, it can negatively impact your visa application.

For complete insights on the eligibility details, you can check the eligibility section on the Home Affairs website. Or simply get in touch with our professionals for a quick analysis of your eligibility for a Subclass 887 visa.

What Documents Are Required? (Apply for a 887 Visa)

The department needs actual proof to consider you a candidate eligible for a skilled regional subclass 887 visa. Thus, they demand that you specifically attach legitimate documents with your visa application to confirm your eligibility. Here is the checklist of the key documents you’ll need to gather and attach:

• Documents proving stay in the designated regional area, such as residential lease agreements, property ownership documents, Utility bills (electricity, gas, water), bank statements showing regional address, etc.
• Identity documents, such as a passport, a birth certificate or a national identity card, previous Australian visa grant notices, or a name change certificate (if applicable).
• Documents of Work experience, such as Employer reference letters, superannuation documents, Employment contracts, Payslips (at least 12 months), Tax assessments and income summaries, etc.
• English language test documents proving the functional English requirement.
• A health examination certificate provided by your healthcare provider. (if required)
• Character documents, which basically include police clearance certificates (issued by Australia and any country lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years)
• Relationship documents, such as a marriage, divorce, or separation certificate (if applicable)
• Birth certificates for dependent children or custody documents (if relevant)
• Related documents like Health and police checks for all the included family members (if relevant)

887 Visa Cost

Currently, the costs for the Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887) range as follows:

• Primary applicant: AUD 505
• Secondary applicant (more than 18): AUD 250
• Secondary applicants (under the age of 18): AUD 130

Note:

• These visa application fees are subject to change.
• Health examinations, Police clearance certificates, English language test fees, and other expenses may incur additional costs.

How to Apply for the Subclass 887 Visa?

You need meticulous planning when applying for your Skilled Regional Visa. Here are the steps you need to follow:

Meet Eligibility Criteria

Before you start, you must actually check if you are eligible to apply for the visa in the first place. Otherwise, there is no need to go through the process. Hence, from your end, check if you meet the requirements, such as having worked full-time for a year during a two-year stay in a designated regional area on an eligible provisional visa.

Gather Documentation

If you are eligible to apply for the visa, you need to gather documents to actually prove your eligibility to the Department. Collect the documents, like employment history, tax returns, proof of residency and other credentials mandated to be submitted for meeting the visa requirements.

Lodge Visa Application

Once you have all the required documents, you can submit your subclass 887 visa application on the Department of Home Affairs website by logging into your ImmiAccount. Make sure to provide the correct information and legitimate documents for smooth verification.

Await the Decision

After lodging the application and paying the Visa Application Charge (VAC), you need to wait for the Department of Home Affairs to assess and approve your application.

Notes: Stay updated and respond promptly if the department requests additional information or documents to verify your application.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Visa Subclass 887? (887 Visa Process)

The processing time for your Skilled Regional Visa (Subclass 887) will vary depending on a number of factors, including how complete your application is, the current workload of the Department, and other individual circumstances.

On average, the Department of Home Affairs processes applications as follows:

• 50% of applications are processed within 10 months
• 90% of applications are processed within 20 months

For more detailed information, click here.

887 Visa Conditions

Getting a subclass 887 visa is definitely a golden pass to permanent residency in Australia. However, once the visa has been granted, permanent residents must fulfil certain general obligations.

As a Subclass 887 visa holder, you must generally comply with the following conditions:

• Respect and obey all Australian rules and laws.
• Maintain good character status and conduct moral behaviour.
• Update your personal information with the authorities whenever it’s required.
• Hold a valid travel facility or Resident Return Visa for international travel after the initial five-year period.

Note: There are no employment, employer, or regional restrictions after the grant of a subclass 887 visa.