Does mining work count towards your 88 days?
Mining work generally falls under the mining category: for a 417 Working Holiday visa it counts when carried out in Regional Australia, and for a 462 Work and Holiday visa it does not count.
Mining work can count towards specified work in some parts of Australia, but it does not qualify everywhere.
Which category it falls under
Mining
- coal mining
- oil and gas extraction
- metal ore mining
- construction material mining
Mining is a specified work category for subclass 417 only. It is not a specified subclass 462 work category.
Mining is a specified work category for subclass 417 only — it does not count for subclass 462.
Where it counts
417 Working Holiday
Counts when carried out in Regional Australia.
462 Work and Holiday
Not a specified work category for this visa.
Location examples
Examples derived from the current official postcode classifications for the mining category (subclass 417).
Check mining worker in a specific town
Read more about the whole category: 88 days mining work → or see where it counts on the map. UK passport? You may not need 88 days at all.
Common questions
Does mining work count for 88 days?
Mining work generally falls under the mining category: for a 417 Working Holiday visa it counts when carried out in Regional Australia, and for a 462 Work and Holiday visa it does not count.
Can I do mining work in Sydney or Melbourne for my 88 days?
No. Sydney, Melbourne and the other major capitals are not within the eligible areas for mining work, so the same job there won't count.
Do I need payslips for mining work to count?
Yes. Specified work must be paid in accordance with Australian workplace laws, and payslips are the primary evidence Home Affairs lists. Cash-in-hand work is both unlawful pay and unprovable.
Official sources
Migration (Specified work and areas for subclass 417 visas) Instrument (LIN 22/012) 2022 — Compilation No. 3
Federal Register of Legislation · last checked 12 August 2026
View official government source ↗Specified work for Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
Department of Home Affairs · last checked 12 August 2026
View official government source ↗
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General information only, based on rules last checked 12 August 2026 — not immigration advice.