If you want a second year on your Working Holiday Visa in Australia, you need to complete 88 days of specified work in a regional area. That’s the rule for subclass 417 visa holders, and it applies to most nationalities.
This guide covers how the 88 days are counted, what work qualifies, which postcodes are approved, what you’ll earn, and how to avoid the scams that target backpackers chasing their days. Everything in one place so you don’t need to piece it together from ten different websites.
Already know the basics? Jump straight to finding qualifying farm jobs on Farmwork Australia.
What Is the 88-Day Requirement?
The Australian government requires Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417) holders to complete 88 days of “specified work” in a designated regional area to qualify for a second year visa.
The idea behind it is simple: Australia needs seasonal labour in regional areas, and backpackers want to stay longer. The 88-day requirement connects the two.
A few things to be clear on upfront:
- The 88 days apply to the subclass 417 visa. If you’re on a subclass 462 (Work and Holiday Visa), the requirement is 6 months of specified work, not 88 days. Different visa, different rules.
- The work must be in an approved regional postcode. Farm work in metro Sydney or central Melbourne doesn’t count.
- You need proper documentation — payslips, an ABN from your employer, and tax records. No paperwork, no visa.
- UK citizens are now exempt from this requirement as of 1 July 2024 (more on that below).
How Your 88 Days Are Actually Calculated
This is where most people get confused, and where the difference between a 3-month and a 5-month stint on a farm comes down to one thing: your employment type.
Full-Time vs Casual — The Counting Rules
Full-time work counts in calendar days. If you’re employed full-time by a farm, every day you’re on the books counts — including rest days, weekends, and public holidays. You could reach 88 days in about 12-13 weeks of continuous full-time employment.
Casual work only counts actual days worked. If you work Monday to Friday as a casual, only those five days go toward your 88. Weekends off? They don’t count. A casual worker doing five days a week needs roughly 17-18 weeks to hit 88 actual working days.
This catches a lot of people out. They assume 88 days means about three months. On a casual contract (which most farm jobs are), it’s closer to four or five months.
Do Weekends Count?
Yes — if you’re full-time. Your rest days and days off are included because full-time employment counts calendar days, not just shifts worked.
No — if you’re casual. You only bank days you actually work. Saturday and Sunday at the hostel? Those are zero days toward your total.
Sick Days and Public Holidays
Sick days on a full-time contract still count toward your 88, because you remain employed. On a casual contract, a sick day where you don’t work is a day that doesn’t count.
Public holidays follow the same rule. Full-time employees count them. Casual workers who don’t get a shift that day don’t.
The bottom line: full-time contracts are faster for building your days. If you have a choice between two similar jobs and one is full-time, that’s worth considering.
What Counts as Specified Work
The government uses the term “specified work” to describe what qualifies. It’s broader than just fruit picking, though farm work is by far the most common route.
Farm Work (Most Common)
This is the category most backpackers use. It covers:
- Plant cultivation: Fruit picking, packing, pruning, thinning, irrigating, and harvesting
- Animal husbandry: Dairy, cattle mustering, shearing, feedlot work
- General farm maintenance: Fencing, operating farm machinery, clearing land
- Grain and seed harvesting: Includes cotton
- Immediate processing: Sorting, grading, packing at the farm or packing shed (not a city-based processing factory)
If you’re working on a farm and the work directly relates to growing, maintaining, or harvesting crops or livestock, it almost certainly counts.
Other Qualifying Industries
Farm work isn’t your only option. These industries also qualify as specified work:
- Fishing and pearling: Includes aquaculture operations
- Tree farming and felling: Plantation work, forestry
- Mining: Regional mining operations
- Construction: Must be in a regional area (not metro)
- Bushfire and flood recovery: Disaster recovery work in affected areas
- Tourism and hospitality: Only in areas classified as “remote” or “very remote” by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. A pub in a small country town doesn’t automatically qualify — it needs to be in a specifically classified remote area.
Tourism and hospitality is the trickiest category. The ABS remoteness classification is specific and many areas people assume are “remote” don’t actually meet the definition. If you’re planning to use hospitality work for your days, check the ABS classification of the exact postcode before you start.
What Definitely Does NOT Count
- Office work or admin jobs, even on a farm property
- Work in major cities, regardless of the industry
- Hospitality in regional towns that aren’t classified as “remote” or “very remote”
- Volunteer work (you must be paid and on the books)
- Work where you’re paid cash in hand with no payslips or tax records
- Working for yourself or as a freelancer
Approved Postcodes — Where Your Work Must Be
Your specified work must be done in an approved regional postcode. The list was last updated on 5 April 2025 and covers most of Australia outside the major metropolitan centres.
The General Rule
If it’s not Greater Sydney, Greater Melbourne, Greater Brisbane, Greater Perth, the Gold Coast, or the greater ACT, it probably qualifies. But “probably” isn’t good enough when your visa depends on it.
Postcodes by State
Here’s a broad overview. Always verify the specific postcode before you start working.
New South Wales: Most of the state qualifies except the Greater Sydney area and a few surrounding postcodes. The Central Coast, Hunter Valley, Riverina, Central West, North Coast, and far west are all in.
Victoria: Most areas outside Greater Melbourne qualify. The Goulburn Valley, Mildura, Sunraysia, Gippsland, and the western districts are all approved.
Queensland: Nearly everything outside Greater Brisbane and the Gold Coast urban area. Bundaberg, Bowen, the Atherton Tablelands, Stanthorpe, and all of Far North Queensland qualify.
South Australia: The entire state qualifies as a regional area, including Adelaide.
Western Australia: Most of the state qualifies. Perth metro is excluded, but regions like Margaret River, Carnarvon, Kununurra, and Donnybrook are all in.
Tasmania: The entire state qualifies.
Northern Territory: The entire territory qualifies.
How to Check if a Postcode Qualifies
Before you accept a job, check the postcode against the official list on the Department of Home Affairs website. Search for “specified work postcodes 417” to find the current list. Your employer should also be able to confirm whether their location qualifies, but don’t rely on their word alone — check it yourself.
If a postcode isn’t on the list and you work there for three months, those days don’t count. This is not something you want to discover at the visa application stage.
UK Citizens The Free Trade Agreement Rules (2024+)
Since 1 July 2024, UK citizens on a subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa are exempt from the 88-day specified work requirement. This is part of the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement (AUKFTA).
What this means in practice:
- UK passport holders can apply for second and third year visas without completing any farm work or specified work
- The age limit for UK citizens was raised from 30 to 35
- There’s no cap on the number of UK WHV holders
- UK citizens can work for the same employer for longer than 6 months (the old employer restriction was also removed)
This only applies to UK citizens. If you hold a passport from Ireland, France, Germany, Canada, or any other eligible WHV country, the 88-day requirement still applies to you in full.
If you’re a UK citizen and someone tells you that you need to do farm work for your second year visa, they’re working from old information. You don’t.
Third Year Visa 179 Days Explained
Want a third year in Australia? The subclass 417 visa allows it, but the bar is higher.
To qualify for a third year, you need to complete 179 days of specified work during your second year. That’s roughly six months, and the same counting rules apply, full-time counts calendar days, casual counts working days only.
The work must be in an approved regional postcode and in a qualifying industry, just like the 88-day requirement. The 179 days are separate from your first-year 88 days. You can’t carry over unused days from your first year.
On a casual contract working five days a week, 179 days of actual work takes about 36 weeks or close to nine months of the year spent on a farm. That’s a serious commitment. If a third year is your goal, a full-time position will get you there faster and with more weekends free.
How Much Will You Earn During Your 88 Days?
Farm work pays better than a lot of backpackers expect, but your first week will be slower than you’d like.
Minimum rates under the Pastoral Award 2026:
| Employment Type | Hourly Rate | Weekly (38 hrs) |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time / Part-time | $24.73/hr | $939.74 |
| Casual (25% loading) | $30.91/hr | $1,174.58 |
Piece rates are common for picking work. Instead of an hourly rate, you’re paid per bin, bucket, tray, or kilogram. How much you earn depends on your speed, the crop, and how much fruit is on the trees.
- First week: Most beginners earn close to minimum wage while learning the technique. Your hands hurt, you’re slow, and the experienced pickers around you seem impossibly fast. This is normal.
- After 2-3 weeks: You’ll be noticeably quicker. Most people hit $25-$35/hour equivalent at this point.
- Experienced pickers: $35-$45+/hour equivalent on good crops in peak season. Fast cherry and mango pickers can earn well above this during short, high-demand windows.
A rough calculation for your 88 days: Working full-time at the casual rate of $30.91/hour, five days a week for 18 weeks, you’d earn roughly $10,800 before tax. Take-home will be less after tax, accommodation, and living costs but you’ll still come out of it with savings if you’re sensible.
For a full pay breakdown by crop and region, see our Farm Work Pay Rates Australia 2026 guide.
How to Avoid 88-Day Scams
Scams targeting backpackers doing their 88 days are common and getting more sophisticated. The people running them know you’re under pressure to complete your days, and they use that against you.
Red Flags to Watch For
- No ABN (Australian Business Number): Every legitimate employer has one. If they can’t provide it, walk away.
- Cash-in-hand payments with no payslips: You need official payslips for your visa application. Cash payments with no paper trail mean those days won’t be accepted by Immigration.
- Upfront fees for “placement” or “guaranteed work”: Legitimate employers never charge you to get hired. If someone wants money before you start, it’s a scam.
- Piece rates that consistently work out below minimum wage: Employers must ensure piece rate workers earn at least the minimum hourly rate averaged over a pay period. If you’re earning $8/hour equivalent week after week, something is wrong.
- Employers who offer to “sign off” on days you didn’t work: This is fraud. Immigration does cross-check. If you’re caught, your visa application gets refused and you may be barred from future Australian visas.
- Hostels that “guarantee” work in exchange for expensive accommodation bookings: Some hostels charge inflated rent and string workers along with promises of shifts that never come. Check reviews from other backpackers before booking.
Protecting Your Evidence
Keep records from day one. Don’t wait until you’re applying for your visa to start collecting paperwork.
- Payslips: Save every single one. Digital copies are fine, but keep them backed up.
- Employment contract or letter: Get something in writing from your employer confirming your start date, job description, and work location.
- Bank statements: Showing regular wage payments that match your payslips.
- Tax records: Your employer must report your income to the ATO. Check your myGov account to confirm payments are showing up.
- Form 1263: Your employer should complete this form, which confirms the nature and dates of your work. You’ll need it for your visa application.
If an employer is reluctant to provide proper documentation, that’s a red flag on its own. Move on and find an employer who does things properly.
Documents You Need to Keep
When you apply for your second year visa, Immigration will ask you to prove your 88 days. Here’s what they want to see:
- Payslips for every pay period during your specified work
- Employment references or contracts confirming your role, location, and dates
- Form 1263 (Employment Verification) completed by each employer
- Tax payment summaries or myGov records showing reported income
- Bank statements showing wage deposits
- ABN of your employer(s)
Keep all of this organised as you go. Set up a folder on your phone or in cloud storage and add documents after every pay cycle. Chasing paperwork from a farm you left six months ago is stressful and sometimes impossible.
Find 88-Day Qualifying Farm Jobs Now
You’ve read the guide. You know the rules, the postcodes, and the red flags. Now you need a job.
Every farm job listed on Farmwork Australia includes the location and postcode, so you can verify it qualifies for your 88 days before you apply.
Browse all farm jobs across Australia →
Looking for work in a specific state? Start here:
- Farm jobs in Queensland → — year-round work in Bundaberg, Bowen, and the Tablelands
- Farm jobs in Victoria → — stone fruit, grapes, and dairy in the Goulburn Valley and Mildura
- Farm jobs in New South Wales → — cherries, blueberries, and citrus from Young to Coffs Harbour
- Farm jobs in South Australia → — the entire state qualifies, strong in grapes and citrus
- Farm jobs in Western Australia → — apples in the southwest, mangoes in the northwest
- Farm jobs in Tasmania → — the whole island qualifies, cherries and apples from December
- Farm jobs in Northern Territory → — mangoes and melons, the whole territory qualifies
Plan your 88 days around the harvest calendar. Check our Fruit Picking Seasons Australia guide to see what’s being picked where, right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are 88 days calculated for farm work?
It depends on your employment type. Full-time work counts calendar days, so weekends and rest days are included. If you work full-time for 88 consecutive days, you’re done. Casual work only counts actual days worked. Most farm jobs are casual, which means five working days per week and weekends off — putting the real timeline at around 17-18 weeks rather than the 12-13 weeks people expect.
Do weekends count towards 88 days?
Only if you’re employed full-time. Full-time employment counts every calendar day, weekends included. Casual workers only count days where they actually worked a shift. This is the single biggest reason the 88 days takes longer than people plan for.
What jobs count for 88 days in Australia?
The government calls it “specified work.” The most common route is farm work, picking, packing, pruning, livestock, dairy, and grain harvesting. But fishing, tree farming, mining, regional construction, disaster recovery, and tourism/hospitality in remote areas also qualify. The work must be done in an approved postcode. Check the full list of qualifying industries on the Department of Home Affairs website.
What postcodes are eligible for the second year visa?
Most of regional Australia qualifies. The list was last updated on 5 April 2025. As a general rule, areas outside Greater Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, the Gold Coast, and the ACT are eligible. The whole of South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory qualifies. Always check the specific postcode on the Home Affairs website before you start work — don’t guess.
Do UK citizens still need to do farm work?
No. Since 1 July 2024, UK citizens are exempt from the 88-day requirement under the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement. UK passport holders can apply for their second and third year WHV without any specified work. The age limit was also raised to 35. This applies only to UK citizens and everyone else still needs to do the 88 days.
Can you do 88 days in the same place?
Yes. There’s no requirement to work at multiple farms or move between regions. You can complete all 88 days with one employer at one location, as long as the work qualifies and the postcode is approved. Many people prefer this as it’s simpler for paperwork and you avoid the cost of relocating between farms.
What happens if I can’t finish 88 days?
If you don’t complete the full 88 days before your first-year visa expires, you can’t apply for a second year. Your completed days stay on record, they don’t expire or reset but you can’t get the visa until you reach 88. Some people return on a different visa to finish the remaining days, though this can be complicated. The best approach is to start your 88 days early in your first year so you have time to deal with gaps between jobs.
How much do you get paid for 88 days farm work?
The casual minimum under the Pastoral Award 2026 is $30.91/hour. Full-time base rate is $24.73/hour. Many picking jobs pay piece rates where your earnings depend on speed and the crop. Beginners usually earn around minimum wage, with experienced pickers making $35-$45+/hour equivalent. Over a full 88-day period at casual rates (five days a week, 38 hours), you’d earn roughly $10,800 before tax.
Last updated: April 2026. Visa rules, postcodes, and pay rates are checked against the latest information from the Department of Home Affairs and the Fair Work Commission. Rules can change so always verify current requirements at homeaffairs.gov.au before making decisions about your visa.