Does my job count?

Why 88-day claims get refused — and how to avoid it

Updated 12 August 2026

Most refused specified-work claims fail for predictable reasons: the work never qualified, the days were miscounted, or the evidence didn't hold up. Every one of them is preventable before you start work — much harder to fix afterwards.

The refusal reasons, mapped to prevention

Why claims failHow to prevent it
The work wasn't in a specified category (au pair, retail, hospitality outside eligible areas)Check the job and postcode before accepting — our checker exists for exactly this moment
The postcode wasn't eligible for that categoryVerify the classification, not the vibe: 'regional-feeling' towns like Byron Bay aren't eligible for hospitality
Days were counted wrong (weekends claimed on casual work, gaps included)Learn the counting rules and log days as you go
Pay wasn't lawful — cash-in-hand, below minimum, no payslipsInsist on payslips from day one; unlawful pay risks the claim and your entitlements
Evidence was thin: no payslips, employer uncontactable, no ABNCollect employer name, ABN, address and phone before you start; keep every payslip
Work was done on the wrong visa (bridging, student, or the wrong WHV year)Second visa = work on your first visa; third visa = work on your second

The evidence that decides it

  • Payslips for every pay period — the primary evidence
  • Employer name, ABN, address, phone and the dates you worked
  • Bank statements showing wages arriving
  • PAYG payment summaries / income statements
  • Piecework agreements where you're paid piece rates
  • Your own day log (dates, location, employer) kept as you go

If you've already been refused

Read the refusal letter carefully — it states which criterion failed. Depending on your circumstances you may have review rights through the Administrative Review Tribunal within a strict deadline stated in the letter, or you may be better placed applying again with stronger evidence once eligible.

For anything beyond straightforward evidence gaps, get advice from a registered migration agent (check the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority register) or an immigration lawyer. This page is general information, not advice about your case.

Common questions

What happens if Home Affairs doesn't accept my 88 days?

The application can be refused on the specified-work criterion. The refusal letter explains why and whether you have review rights through the Administrative Review Tribunal, with a strict deadline. Prevention — eligible work, correct counting, complete payslip evidence — is far more reliable than review.

Can Home Affairs check my work claims?

Yes. They can request evidence, contact employers, and cross-check tax records — sometimes years later. Claims you can't evidence with payslips and employer details are at risk.

Do I need payslips for every single day I claim?

You should be able to evidence every period you claim, and payslips are the primary evidence Home Affairs lists. No payslips usually means unlawful pay, which itself disqualifies the work.

Official sources

Check your own job

Guides explain the rules — the checker applies them to your exact job and town.

Check my job

Free · takes about 30 seconds · no account needed

Keep reading

Last updated 12 August 2026. General information only — not immigration advice.