What the 88 days are
The “88 days” are the specified work requirement Australia sets so Working Holiday Visa holders can stay another year. Three simple rules: a minimum number of days, in an eligible regional area, and paid, documented work.
They don't have to be 88 consecutive days: you can add them across several jobs and employers, even in different states.
3 rules: (1) minimum days, (2) eligible regional area by postcode, (3) paid work meeting minimum wage.
Visa 417 vs 462: which one do you have?
There are two Working Holiday Visa subclasses depending on your passport. The 417 (Working Holiday) is for countries like the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and many more.
The 462 (Work and Holiday) is for countries like Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Ecuador, the USA, Spain, China, Brazil, Indonesia, Vietnam and others. It usually has extra requirements (education level, functional English and sometimes a government letter).
To extend the visa, both subclasses use the SAME specified work requirement: 88 days for the 2nd year and 179 days for the 3rd. The main difference is who can apply and some entry requirements, not the days.
Not sure which one you have? Check your grant letter: it says “subclass 417” or “subclass 462”.
What work counts
Counts: fruit and vegetable harvesting, pruning, dairy and livestock, fishing and pearling, forestry, mining, regional construction, and tourism/hospitality ONLY in the remote north.
Doesn't count: café, bar or retail in a city, office work, cash-in-hand work with no payslips, or self-employment.
“Piece rate” pay (per bin or kilo) only counts if it averages at least the hourly minimum. Always keep your payslips.
What exactly counts as ONE day
A “day” is a full day of paid work, with whatever hours are standard for that industry and role (in harvesting usually 7–8 hours). If you worked the workplace's normal day, that day counts — Monday or Sunday makes no difference.
If you work the industry's standard full week (e.g. 5 days, 35–40 hours), you can count all 7 days of that calendar week — rest days included. That's how 88 days fit into ~3 months.
If you work part-time or odd days, you only count the days you actually worked a full day. Half a day can NOT be combined with another half to make a whole one.
Also counts: rain days paid by the employer and paid leave (sick days) on days you were rostered. Does NOT count: unpaid days, travel to the farm, unpaid training or volunteer/WWOOF work.
Quick rule: standard full week → count 7 days. Odd days → count only the days worked. Keep payslips for everything.
2nd and 3rd year
Second year: 88 days (about 3 months) of specified work done during your first year.
Third year: 179 days (about 6 months) of specified work done during your second year.
≈ 3 months of specified work in your 1st year.
≈ 6 months of specified work in your 2nd year.