417 vs 462: what counts as specified work on each visa?
Short answer
Both visas count farm work, construction, tourism and hospitality (in the north and remote areas) and bushfire and disaster recovery. The 417 also counts mining, plus fishing and tree farming across regional Australia. On a 462, mining doesn't count, and fishing and tree farming count only in Northern Australia.
The 417 (Working Holiday) and 462 (Work and Holiday) visas both need 88 days for a second visa and 179 for a third, counted the same way. What’s different is which work counts, and where.
Side by side
| Type of work | 417 Working Holiday | 462 Work and Holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Farm work (plant and animal cultivation) | Regional Australia | Northern Australia and specified regional areas |
| Construction | Regional Australia | Northern Australia and specified regional areas |
| Mining | Regional Australia | Doesn’t count |
| Fishing and pearling | Regional Australia | Northern Australia only |
| Tree farming and felling | Regional Australia | Northern Australia only |
| Tourism and hospitality | Northern, remote and very remote Australia, from 22 June 2021 | Same |
| Bushfire recovery (paid or volunteer) | Declared areas, work after 31 July 2019 | Same |
| Flood, cyclone and storm recovery (paid or volunteer) | Declared areas, work after 31 December 2021 | Same |
The 462 page sums it up in its own list: “fishing and pearling in northern Australia only”, “tree farming and felling in northern Australia only”, and plant and animal cultivation and construction “in Northern Australia and other specified areas of regional Australia”.
What’s the same on both
- The counting rules. Calendar days, weekends included, compared with a full-timer in that job. Paid holidays and sick days count; unpaid days don’t.
- Pay. “All specified subclass 462 work must be paid in accordance with the relevant Australian legislation and awards.” The 417 page says the same.
- Volunteering. Only bushfire and natural disaster recovery volunteering counts.
- The 179 days for a third visa.
Why it matters in practice
- A 462 holder doing a mine shutdown in the Pilbara won’t get any days for it.
- A 462 holder on a fishing boat in Tasmania won’t either, but the same job in Darwin counts.
- A 417 holder in a Byron Bay café won’t get days, but a farm job in the same postcode counts.
Check by visa, not just by postcode
The official tables are separate for each visa. The postcode checker shows both side by side. The calculator asks for your visa first, then only lets a job count if that work is listed for your visa in that postcode.
Questions people also ask
How do I know if I'm on a 417 or a 462?
It's on your visa grant notice. Broadly, passports like the UK, Ireland, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan get the 417 Working Holiday visa; passports like the USA, China, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam get the 462 Work and Holiday visa.
Does mining count on a 462?
No. Mining isn't on the 462 lists.
Does construction count on a 462?
Yes, in Northern Australia and the specified regional areas listed for the 462.
Are the postcode lists the same for both visas?
No. Each visa has its own tables. A postcode can count for one type of work on a 417 and not on a 462, so check by visa.
Sources
General information, not immigration advice. Aussie Days is independent and not affiliated with the Australian Government. Always check the official Home Affairs pages before you rely on anything here.
Keep reading
Does mining count for 88 days? FIFO, shutdowns and 12-hour shifts
Mining counts for 88 days on a 417 visa (not 462), including mining support services and cleaning. How FIFO rosters, shutdowns and 12-hour shifts count.
Types of workDoes hospitality count for the 88 days?
Hospitality and tourism work count for your 88 days only in Northern Australia and remote areas, from 22 June 2021. Which jobs and places count, with examples.
Types of workDoes volunteering or WWOOFing count for the 88 days?
Unpaid volunteering and WWOOFing don't count for your 88 days. The only exception is volunteer bushfire and natural disaster recovery in declared areas.