Not every Australian postcode counts towards your 88 days of specified work. Getting this wrong can waste months of work, so always check before you accept a job.
The regional rule
Specified work must be performed in a regional area. The government defines regional postcodes for visa purposes, and the list excludes most major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and their surrounds).
What counts as regional
- Most of regional NSW, Victoria, Queensland, WA, SA, Tasmania and the NT.
- Many popular farm areas (Bundaberg, Mildura, Riverland, Cairns, Darwin) qualify.
What does NOT count
- Work inside the metro postcodes of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Newcastle, the Central Coast and Wollongong generally does not count.
How to check in seconds
Enter any 4-digit postcode into the free Postcode Finder and it tells you instantly whether the location qualifies for your 417 or 462 specified work.
Always confirm the postcode before you sign a contract — it is the single most common reason backpackers lose days.