- Second year: 3 months (at least 88 calendar days) of specified work on your first visa
- Third year: 6 months of specified work on your second visa
- UK passports: no specified work needed if you apply on or after 1 July 2024
- Specified work: mainly farm, fishing, forestry, mining and construction work in regional Australia, plus tourism and hospitality in the north and remote areas
- Ballot: the government announced a ballot for second and third year visas in September 2026, but it is not law yet
Last checked: 25 October 2026
What counts as specified work
For a 417 visa, Home Affairs approves:
- plant and animal cultivation in regional Australia (fruit picking, packing, pruning, livestock, dairy)
- fishing and pearling in regional Australia
- tree farming and felling in regional Australia
- mining in regional Australia
- construction in regional Australia
- tourism and hospitality in northern Australia or remote and very remote Australia, plus postcodes 4406, 4416, 4498 and 7215
- bushfire recovery work in declared areas (after 31 July 2019) and recovery work in flood, cyclone or other severe weather areas (after 31 December 2021), which can include volunteer work
The 462 list is narrower. See the 462 guide. Home Affairs is also currently giving more weight to the industry, so support work for a specified industry, such as cleaning or admin on a farm in an eligible postcode, may be accepted.
How to count your days
- 3 months means at least 88 calendar days. 6 months means at least 179 calendar days.
- If you work full-time (the normal full-time hours for that industry) Monday to Friday, the weekends count too.
- Part-time or casual work counts on the days you actually worked, so it takes longer to add up.
- Days off sick or on leave in line with your employment can count. Unpaid trials do not.
- All specified work must be paid in line with Australian law and the right award. Unpaid work does not count, except approved disaster recovery volunteering.
- The work must be done in an eligible postcode. It is the postcode where you work that matters, not where you live. Check our regional postcodes guide.
Keep your evidence
Keep payslips, your bank statements showing pay, and your employer’s details including their ABN. You may be asked for a completed Employment Verification form (Form 1263). Without payslips your application can be refused.
The announced ballot
On 17 September 2026 the government announced a ballot for second and third year working holiday visas, with 45,000 second year places and 5,000 third year places. Under the proposal, your 88 days or 6 months of work would make you eligible to enter the ballot rather than guarantee a visa. ABC News reported on 24 October 2026 that the change is expected to roll out over the next 12 months, but as of 25 October 2026 there is no confirmed start date and no law in place, so the current rules still apply. We will update this page and our News section when that changes.
Find your 88 days
Search farm and regional jobs, or read our harvest guide to see what is picking where.
Frequently asked questions
Do weekends count towards the 88 days?
Yes, if you work full-time for the industry, usually Monday to Friday. If you work part-time or casually, only the days you actually work count.
Does unpaid farm work count?
No. Specified work must be paid in line with Australian law and awards. The only exception is approved volunteer recovery work in declared disaster areas.
Do UK citizens need 88 days for a second year visa?
No. UK passport holders who apply on or after 1 July 2024 can get a second and third Working Holiday visa without specified work.
Is the second year visa ballot in place?
Not yet. It was announced on 17 September 2026 but had no start date and no law in place as of 25 October 2026. The current 88 day rule still applies.
Does hospitality in Cairns or Darwin count?
Tourism and hospitality work counts in northern Australia and in remote and very remote Australia. Darwin and Cairns are in northern Australia, but check the exact postcode on the Home Affairs list.
Official sources: Home Affairs: 417 specified work · Home Affairs: 462 specified work · Home Affairs: second 417 visa. Rules change, so always check the official source before you apply or sign anything.