88 days: what counts, where it counts
To get a second Australian Working Holiday visa you need 3 months (88 calendar days) of specified work completed while holding your first Working Holiday visa. For a third visa, 6 months (179 calendar days) of specified work completed while holding your second Working Holiday visa. Only certain kinds of work, in certain parts of Australia, count — and the rules differ between the 417 and 462 visas.
417 Working Holiday
Farm work, fishing, forestry, construction and mining count in Regional Australia. Tourism and hospitality only counts in northern or remote areas.
462 Work and Holiday
Farm work and construction count in Northern and Regional Australia. Fishing and forestry count in Northern Australia only. Mining does not count.
Tools
- Job checker
Your exact job + town, answered in 30 seconds.
- Postcode checker
See how any postcode is classified under the rules.
- 88-day calculator
Estimate your progress towards 88 or 179 days.
- Eligible areas map
See where each kind of work counts, town by town.
- Rule changes
Every change to the rules, dated and sourced.
- Postcode dataset
The classifications as open CSV/JSON data.
By passport
Rules differ by subclass — and UK passports may not need 88 days at all.
Work categories
Where each kind of specified work counts, visa by visa.
Locations
What counts in the towns Working Holiday makers actually go to.
- Broome, WA
- Cairns, QLD
- Darwin, NT
- Bundaberg, QLD
- Mildura, VIC
- Alice Springs, NT
- Port Douglas, QLD
- Airlie Beach, QLD
- Townsville, QLD
- Katherine, NT
- Kununurra, WA
- Exmouth, WA
- Karratha, WA
- Mount Isa, QLD
- Tully, QLD
- Byron Bay, NSW
- Shepparton, VIC
- Gatton, QLD
- Hobart, TAS
- Margaret River, WA
- Bowen, QLD
- Innisfail, QLD
- Mareeba, QLD
- Ayr, QLD
- Charters Towers, QLD
- Emerald, QLD
- Mackay, QLD
- Stanthorpe, QLD
- Griffith, NSW
- Swan Hill, VIC
- Renmark, SA
- Coober Pedy, SA
- Port Lincoln, SA
- Esperance, WA
- Kalgoorlie, WA
- Carnarvon, WA
- Devonport, TAS
- Huonville, TAS
- Tennant Creek, NT
Jobs
Whether common backpacker jobs count — and where.
- Bartender
- Barista
- Waiter / waitress
- Chef
- Kitchen hand
- Hotel receptionist
- Housekeeper (hotel/commercial)
- Tour guide
- Dive instructor
- Fruit picker
- Fruit / vegetable packer
- Farm hand
- Dairy farm worker
- Vineyard worker
- Shearer / shed hand
- Meat / abattoir worker
- Fishing worker / deckhand
- Pearl farm worker
- Forestry worker
- Construction labourer
- Carpenter
- Scaffolder
- Painter (construction)
- Plumber
- Electrician
- Mining worker
- Cleaner
- Au pair / nanny
- Retail assistant
- Office / admin worker
- Delivery driver / rideshare
- Baker / bakery worker
Guides
Check your exact job and town
The rules depend on your visa, job and postcode. Get an answer for your situation, with the official sources to verify it.
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