Short answer
Work directly in catching fish and other aquatic species, or in taking or culturing pearls and pearl shell, counts. On a 417 it counts across regional Australia. On a 462 it counts only in Northern Australia.
417 or 462: where it counts
| Visa | Where fishing and pearling counts |
|---|---|
| 417 Working Holiday | Counts in regional Australia (Table 4). |
| 462 Work and Holiday | Counts in Northern Australia only. |
What counts
“conducting operations relating directly to taking or catching fish and other aquatic species; conducting operations relating directly to taking or culturing pearls or pearl shell.”
Home Affairs, specified work
Examples Home Affairs gives:
- deckhand work on a commercial fishing boat
- catching fish and other aquatic species
- work on a pearl farm, taking or culturing pearls or pearl shell
What doesn't count
- on a 462 visa: fishing and pearling outside Northern Australia
- retail seafood work in a shop
How the days count
- Boat work often comes in long trips. Count from your payslips; a month can count at most the days it has.
Well-known places where it counts
Each of these is on the official list for fishing and pearling on a 417 visa. Check the page for the 462 and any date conditions.
- 6725 Broome, WA
- 0800 Darwin, NT
- 5606 Port Lincoln, SA
- 6530 Geraldton, WA
- 4870 Cairns, QLD
- 7000 Hobart, TAS
Listed postcodes by state
| State | 417 | 462 |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 440 | 0 |
| South Australia | 341 | 0 |
| Queensland | 295 | 119 |
| New South Wales | 291 | 0 |
| Western Australia | 275 | 28 |
| Tasmania | 115 | 0 |
| Northern Territory | 34 | 34 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 1 | 0 |
Number of postcodes with their own page where fishing and pearling is listed. PO-box-only postcodes aren't counted.
Questions people also ask
I'm on a 462. Does fishing in Tasmania count?
No. On a 462, fishing and pearling count only in Northern Australia, and Tasmania isn't in it.
Sources
General information, not immigration advice. Checked against Home Affairs on 21 October 2026.