88 Days Farm Work FAQs: Your Questions Answered (2026)

June 22, 2026/FWA Staff

The 88 days are the specified work you do in regional Australia to get a second year on your Working Holiday Visa. Most people have the same questions before they start. Here are the quick answers.

This is the fast version. If you want the full walkthrough on counting rules, postcodes, pay and scams, read our complete 88 days farm work guide.

A quick note before we start. Visa rules change, and the official source is always the Department of Home Affairs. Check the current rules on their website before you make decisions about your visa.

The Basics

What are the 88 days in Australia?

The 88 days are the specified work you do in regional Australia to get a second year on your Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417). You complete 88 days of approved work, in an approved postcode, with proper payslips. Do that and you can apply to stay a second year. It’s roughly three months of full-time work.

Who needs to do the 88 days of farm work?

Most subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa holders who want a second year. That includes passport holders from Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Korea and many others. UK citizens are exempt since 1 July 2024 under the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement. If you’re happy with just one year in Australia, you don’t need to do the 88 days at all.

What is the difference between 417 and 462 for the 88 days?

They’re two different Working Holiday visas with different rules. Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) requires 88 days of specified work for a second year. Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) requires 6 months of specified work, not 88 days, and the eligible work and postcodes can differ. Check which visa you hold before you plan your regional work.

Eligibility and the Work

What work counts for the 88 days?

The government calls it specified work. Farm work is the main route: fruit picking, packing, pruning, planting, dairy, livestock and grain harvesting. Fishing, pearling, tree farming, mining, regional construction and disaster recovery also count. Tourism and hospitality count only in remote or very remote areas. The work must be in an approved postcode and properly paid. For the full list, see what counts as specified work.

Does fruit packing count for the 88 days?

Yes. Packing fresh produce at the farm or packing shed counts as specified work, as long as it’s in an approved postcode. The catch is location. Packing in a city-based processing factory away from the farm usually doesn’t count. If you’re packing fruit or veg straight off the farm in a regional area, you’re fine.

Does pruning count for the 88 days?

Yes. Pruning is plant cultivation, which is the most common specified work category. So is thinning, planting, weeding, irrigating and general crop maintenance. It doesn’t have to be harvest season. Winter pruning on vines and orchards counts the same as summer picking, as long as the postcode is approved and you’re paid properly with payslips.

Which postcodes are approved for the 88 days?

Most of regional Australia. As a rough rule, anywhere outside Greater Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, the Gold Coast and the ACT qualifies. South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory qualify entirely. The list changes, so check the exact postcode on the Department of Home Affairs website before you start work. Don’t take an employer’s word for it. See our list of approved postcodes for the 88 days.

The Timing

How long does it take to complete the 88 days?

It depends on your contract. Full-time work counts calendar days, including weekends, so you can finish in about 12 to 13 weeks. Casual work counts only the days you actually work. Five days a week as a casual takes around 17 to 18 weeks. Most farm jobs are casual, so plan for four to five months, not three.

Can I do my 88 days part-time or in chunks?

Yes. You don’t have to do the 88 days in one go or with one employer. You can combine days from different farms, regions and jobs, as long as each one meets the postcode, industry and pay rules. Part-time and casual work counts too, but only the actual days you work. Keep payslips for every single job.

How much specified work do I need for a third year visa?

179 days. To get a third year on the 417 visa, you complete 179 days of specified work during your second year. That’s roughly six months. The same counting and postcode rules apply, and you can’t carry over days from your first year. It’s a big commitment, so a full-time role gets you there faster. See our guide to second year visa jobs.

Pay and Paperwork

How do I prove my 88 days?

Payslips are the main proof and now a minimum requirement. Each payslip should show your employer’s ABN, your name, your pay rate and hours worked. Back them up with bank statements, your employer’s Form 1263, and your myGov tax records. Keep everything from day one. Chasing paperwork from a farm you left months ago is hard.

What is Form 1263 for the 88 days?

Form 1263 is the Working Holiday visa employment verification form. Your employer fills it in to confirm what work you did, where, and when. It’s strong supporting evidence for your second year visa, but it doesn’t replace payslips. Most rejected applications have problems around Form 1263, so check it’s filled in correctly before you submit.

What if my employer won’t pay me properly or give payslips?

Walk away and find another job. Cash in hand with no payslips means those days won’t count, no matter how hard you worked. Every real employer has an ABN and issues payslips. If they refuse, that’s a red flag. The Department of Home Affairs cross-checks records, so unpaid or undocumented work puts your whole visa at risk.

After Your 88 Days

Why do 88 days visa applications get rejected?

Usually paperwork. The common ones are missing or incomplete payslips, errors on Form 1263, work done in a postcode that isn’t approved, work that doesn’t count as specified work, and being paid below the award wage. Cash in hand jobs get refused. Keep clean records, check your postcode, and make sure you were paid properly.

Ready to Start Your 88 Days?

The best way to avoid problems later is to pick a proper job in an approved postcode from the start. Every job listed on Farmwork.com.au shows the location, so you can check it qualifies before you apply.

Rules can change. Always check current requirements with the Department of Home Affairs before making decisions about your visa.

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