Short answer
Construction counts on both visas: residential and commercial building, civil works, site preparation, and on-site jobs like landscaping, painting new buildings, fencing, scaffolding, and support and cleaning services. On a 417 it counts in regional Australia; on a 462, in Northern Australia and the specified regional areas.
417 or 462: where it counts
| Visa | Where construction counts |
|---|---|
| 417 Working Holiday | Counts in regional Australia (Table 4). |
| 462 Work and Holiday | Counts in Northern Australia and the specified regional areas listed for the 462 visa. |
What counts
“For the purposes of specified work, construction is defined as residential and non-residential building construction, heavy and civil engineering construction, land development and site preparation services and building structure, installation, and completion.”
Home Affairs, specified work
Examples Home Affairs gives:
- landscaping the grounds of a construction site
- painting the interior or exterior of new buildings
- erecting fences on a construction site
- scaffolding
- other construction services, including support and cleaning services
What doesn't count
- work in a postcode that isn't listed for construction (most big cities)
- general maintenance that isn't part of construction
- unpaid or cash work without records
How the days count
- Labour-hire and casual construction work counts by hours: 38 hours is a full week and counts as 7 days.
- Many construction payslips show a head office. Ask for a letter naming the site address and postcode.
Well-known places where it counts
Each of these is on the official list for construction on a 417 visa. Check the page for the 462 and any date conditions.
- 4870 Cairns, QLD
- 4810 Townsville, QLD
- 0800 Darwin, NT
- 2340 Tamworth, NSW
- 3350 Ballarat, VIC
- 3550 Bendigo, VIC
- 2650 Wagga Wagga, NSW
- 6230 Bunbury, WA
- 4350 Toowoomba, QLD
- 7250 Launceston, TAS
Listed postcodes by state
| State | 417 | 462 |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 440 | 440 |
| South Australia | 341 | 341 |
| Queensland | 295 | 295 |
| New South Wales | 291 | 291 |
| Western Australia | 275 | 275 |
| Tasmania | 115 | 115 |
| Northern Territory | 34 | 34 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 1 | 1 |
Number of postcodes with their own page where construction is listed. PO-box-only postcodes aren't counted.
Questions people also ask
Does labour hire construction work count?
Yes, if the work itself is construction in a listed postcode and you're paid properly. What counts is the site, not the labour-hire office.
Does cleaning on a building site count?
Yes. Home Affairs lists "other construction services (including support and cleaning services)".
Sources
General information, not immigration advice. Checked against Home Affairs on 21 October 2026.