What is changing for the Australia Working Holiday visa in 2026?

Australia is introducing a ballot for second and third year Working Holiday Maker visas. Second-year places are capped at 45,000 and third-year places are limited to about 5,000, allocated by random selection. The existing regional work requirement remains, fees for second and third visas sit at AUD $1,000, and processing times are being stabilised at three months. British passport holders are not affected due to the UK free trade agreement.

Do I still need 88 days of specified work for a second year visa in 2026?

Yes. The 88 days (three months) of specified regional work requirement remains in place. Completing it is what makes you eligible to enter the ballot for a second year visa, and six months of specified work remains the requirement for the third year.

How do I count my 88 days correctly?

Count only full days of eligible specified work performed in an eligible regional postcode, for a legitimate employer with a valid ABN, and keep payslips as evidence. Piece-rate and part-time work must convert to a full day equivalent. The free 88 day calculator and AI payslip scanner verify postcode eligibility and count your days automatically.

How much does a second or third Working Holiday visa cost in 2026?

Second and third Working Holiday (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visas are priced at AUD $1,000 by the Department of Home Affairs, in addition to any ballot registration fee that applies.

Which postcodes count as regional work for the 88 days?

Eligible postcodes depend on the industry. Plant and animal cultivation counts in designated regional areas, while construction, mining, fishing, forestry, tourism and hospitality have their own postcode lists, including northern Australia and remote or very remote areas. Always verify the exact postcode of the workplace before starting.

How to Count 88 Days of Specified Work in Australia

To extend your Working Holiday visa (subclass 417 or 462) to a second or third year, you must complete at least 88 calendar days of specified work in regional Australia. This guide explains how those days are counted.

What "88 days" really means

According to the Department of Home Affairs, three months of specified work means at least 88 calendar days, including weekends or equivalent rest days, during which you were employed. The days are the calendar days covered by your period of employment in a specified role — not just the days you physically worked.

The key test is whether you worked the equivalent of the normal days and shifts of a full-time employee in that role and industry over three months. If a full-time worker in your job works Monday–Friday and you work that same pattern for three months, the calendar days — including weekends — count.

Part-time and irregular patterns

You do not have to work five days every week. Home Affairs' own example includes a worker who works fewer than five days per week over a longer period. If your normal pattern is part-time, the equivalent can still accumulate, but it generally takes a longer calendar period to reach the equivalent of three months of full-time work. The count is not automatic for every continuous employment — what matters is whether your actual days and shifts add up to the full-time equivalent over the qualifying period.

Paid rest days

Paid public holidays and paid sick days during your employment can count as part of the period. Unpaid days off do not. Gaps between separate jobs, or periods where you were not employed, do not count.

A worked example

Home Affairs gives the example of Karsten, who works Monday to Friday from 1 December to 26 February — 88 calendar days, which meets the requirement. Weekends are included because they are part of the continuous employment period.

Specified work types

Specified work includes plant and animal cultivation (harvesting, packing, pruning), tree farming and felling, fishing and pearling, mining, construction, and — in Northern or Remote Australia only — tourism and hospitality. Bushfire and flood recovery work in declared areas also counts. The list differs between subclass 417 and 462 — confirm the current list for your subclass on the Home Affairs specified work page.

UK passport holders

If you hold a UK passport and lodge a subclass 417 application on or after 1 July 2024, you do not need to complete specified work for your second or third year visa. Check the official 417 page for details.

Keep your evidence

Keep payslips, employer letters and a record of dates and postcodes for every job. Use the 88 Days Calculator to scan each payslip and track your running total, and the Postcode Finder to confirm each location is regional before you start.

Estimates only. Visa decisions are made by the Department of Home Affairs — always confirm your situation on the official website.