I Am on a 489 Visa - Can I Still Get Permanent Residency Through the 887 Visa?

What matters now is whether you have met the requirements, how close you are, and how to put your application together properly. For context on how the newer regional pathway works, see our guide on the 491 visa and its PR pathway, and for the 191 specifically, our 191 visa eligibility guide.

The 887 vs the 191: Know Which Pathway You Are On

This is the first thing worth getting clear on, because the two pathways are often confused. The Subclass 887 is for holders of the older regional provisional visas, primarily the 489, and also the 475, 487, 495, and 496. The Subclass 191 is the permanent pathway for holders of the newer 491 and 494 visas. If you are on a 489, your pathway is the 887, not the 191. Applying for the wrong one wastes time, money, and can complicate your record.

The Three Requirements You Need to Meet

1. Two Years of Regional Residence

You must have lived in a specified regional area of Australia for at least two years while holding your 489 visa. The regional definition for the 887 is based on the older classification and excludes Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, and Newcastle. This is slightly different from the current 491 definition, so if you have moved around, it is worth checking which areas counted as regional during the specific periods you were there.

Overseas travel does not count toward the two-year residential period. Time spent outside Australia, even for family emergencies or work trips, does not accumulate. What the Department is looking for is genuine, physical presence in a regional area, not just a regional postal address.

2. One Year of Full-Time Work in a Regional Area

You must have worked full time, which the regulations define as at least 35 hours per week, in a specified regional area for at least 12 months during the two-year residence period. This is one of the most practically useful differences from the 191: the work does not need to be in your nominated occupation. Any lawful employment in a regional area counts, regardless of the industry or role. Self-employment and contract work can also count, provided you can demonstrate the hours.

3. No Visa Condition Breaches

You must have complied with all the conditions of your 489 visa during the period you are relying on. Standard health and character requirements also apply, including police clearances from every country you have lived in for 12 months or more in the past 10 years since turning 16.

Side-by-Side Comparison: 887 vs 191

Current Processing Times and What to Expect

As of mid-2026, around 18,000 Subclass 887 applications remain pending with the Department. Processing times are currently running up to 25 months for some applications. This is a long time, but your status during that wait is protected: if your 489 visa expires after you have lodged a valid 887 application, a bridging visa is automatically granted that maintains your full work and study rights while you wait for a decision.

What to Start Gathering Now

The most common reason 887 applications are delayed or refused is insufficient documentary evidence for the regional residence or work period, not the applicant failing to have actually been there. Building a complete, well-organised evidence file before you lodge is the single most effective way to avoid an unnecessary request for further information that adds months to your wait.

• Lease agreements, rental receipts, or mortgage statements for every regional address during your 489 period
• Utility bills, bank statements, or official correspondence showing each regional address across the full two-year period
• Employment contracts, payslips, and employer letters confirming at least 12 months of full-time hours in a regional area
• Tax returns and ATO records covering the 489 period (useful supporting evidence even though there is no income threshold)
• Your 489 visa grant notice confirming your exact grant date and the start of your regional period
• Police certificates from every country you have lived in for 12 months or more since turning 16

For broader guidance on how regional PR pathways compare, see our guide on the best regional areas in Australia for PR opportunities. And if you are exploring whether your points profile might now support a 189 or 190 visa as an alternative or parallel pathway, that guide explains the key differences.

What If You Have Not Quite Hit the Two-Year Mark Yet

If your 489 visa expires before you reach two years of regional residence, a bridging visa may still be available if you have a valid application for another substantive visa in place before expiry. However, time spent on a bridging visa does not always count toward the 887 residence requirement in the same way as time on the 489 itself, which is exactly why getting advice early, rather than waiting until the visa expiry date is imminent, matters so much here.