417 vs 462 Visa for Farm Work: What’s the Difference?

Both the 417 and 462 visas let you do farm work in Australia. Both count towards the specified work days you need for a second visa. The real difference isn’t the work, it’s your passport.

If you’re trying to work out which visa applies to you, or whether one gives you an advantage on a farm, here’s how they actually compare.

417 vs 462 at a glance

The country lists change from time to time. Always check the Department of Home Affairs website for the current list before you apply. We’re not the source of truth on visa eligibility, we’re the source of truth on where the farm jobs are.

Which visa matches your passport

You don’t get to pick between a 417 and a 462. Your passport decides it for you.

417 passports include the UK, Ireland, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

462 passports include the USA, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, India, Chile, Argentina, and a longer list of other countries.

If your country sits on the 462 list, you may face an extra step. Some 462 nationalities need to show functional English before they apply, or apply through a government-endorsed process in their home country. None of this affects what farm work you can do once you’re here. It only affects how you get the visa in the first place.

What’s identical once you’re on a farm

This is the part that actually matters if you’re planning your season. Once you’re working, the 417 and 462 give you the same deal.

• Same eligible work. Picking, packing, pruning, and other farm work in regional Australia counts towards your specified work days on either visa.
• Same pay rates. The horticulture award casual rate is $32.18/hr. The national minimum wage is $26.44/hr. Neither rate changes based on which visa you hold.
• Same 88-day pathway. Specified work in an approved postcode counts the same way towards eligibility for a second working holiday visa, whether you’re on a 417 or a 462. Read our 88 days guide for how the days are counted and what work qualifies.
• Same third-year pathway. Some visa holders on either subclass can apply for a third working holiday visa after completing enough specified work days in their second year. The current rule is covered in our third-year visa guide.
• Same postcode rules. Not every farm job counts. Use our postcode checker before you take a job if the second-year visa matters to you.

If you’re weighing up a 417 job against a 462 job on the same farm, there’s no visa-based reason to pick one over the other. The employer sees a working holiday maker either way.

What’s actually being harvested right now

August is a mix of harvest and pruning depending on the region. Here’s what’s active this month, based on our own harvest calendar.

If you’re in southern Australia, this is pruning territory, not harvest. Mildura, Griffith and the Barossa are all mid-way through their vine pruning windows, which still counts as specified farm work. Further north, Bundaberg and Bowen are running near their peak volumes for winter vegetables and citrus.

Neither the 417 nor the 462 gives you priority access to any of these regions. Farmers hire based on availability and reliability, not visa subclass.

Do employers prefer one visa over the other?

Not for the work itself. A grower in Bundaberg or a packing shed in Mildura cares about whether you can start now, whether you have transport, and whether you’ll stick around for the season. The visa subclass on your paperwork doesn’t change any of that.

Where it can matter is timing. If you’re on a 462 and needed a functional English test or a government-endorsed application before you got your visa, that’s usually sorted before you arrive in Australia, not something an employer needs to manage. Once you’re standing in front of a farm supervisor with a valid visa and the right to work, you’re the same as anyone else in the queue.

Getting your specified work recognised

Whichever visa you’re on, the paperwork habit is the same:

• Keep every payslip. Digital copies are fine, but back them up somewhere that isn’t just your phone.
• Get your employer’s ABN and confirm the postcode is approved before you rely on the work counting.
• If you’re moving between farms and regions, keep a simple log of dates, locations, and hours. It saves a headache when you apply for your next visa.

Our farm work pay rates guide breaks down what to expect on a payslip so you can check you’re being paid correctly, regardless of which visa brought you here.

Planning your season

If you’re new to farm work and not sure where to start, our harvest trail guide maps out the regions and timing across the whole country. For a closer look at one of the busiest winter regions right now, the Bundaberg farm work guide covers what’s hiring and what to expect on the ground.

The visa question is worth sorting out early, but it’s a one-time decision made by your passport. What happens after that, which region you head to, what you pick, how many days you clock up, is entirely up to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between a 417 and 462 visa?

The 417 and 462 visas do the same job. Both let you live and work in Australia for up to 12 months on a working holiday. The difference is which passport gets you which visa. The 417 is for a set list of countries including the UK, Ireland, Canada, most of Europe, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The 462 is for a wider list including the USA, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Chile, Argentina and India, among others. Check the Department of Home Affairs website for the exact list for your passport.

Which visa do I need for farm work in Australia?

You don’t choose between 417 and 462. Your passport decides which one you’re eligible for. Both visas let you do farm work anywhere in Australia and both count that work towards the specified work days needed for a second or third working holiday visa.

Does farm work count the same for both visas?

Yes. Farm work in an eligible postcode counts the same way whether you’re on a 417 or a 462. There’s no separate rule for either visa when it comes to specified work, pay rates, or the type of farm jobs you can take.

Do I need better English for the 462 visa?

In some countries, yes. Some 462 applicants need to show functional English or apply through a government-endorsed process before they can lodge their visa application. This depends on your passport, not on the type of work you plan to do. Check the current requirement for your country on the Department of Home Affairs website.

Can I do farm work on a 462 visa to get a second-year visa?

Yes. Farm work in an approved postcode on a 462 visa counts towards your specified work days for a second working holiday visa, the same as it does on a 417.

What is the 179-day rule for a third-year visa?

Some 417 and 462 visa holders can apply for a third working holiday visa after completing specified work days in their second year. The details of how many days and which work qualifies are set out in our third-year visa guide.

Where can I check my postcode is approved for 88 days?

Use our postcode checker to confirm whether the region you’re working in counts towards your specified work days before you commit to a job.