How to Extend a Working Holiday Visa: 2nd and 3rd Year (2026)
What counts as specified work?
Specified work includes plant and animal cultivation (fruit picking, packing, farm hand), fishing and pearling, tree farming, mining, and construction — carried out in the regional postcodes Home Affairs lists for each industry. Hospitality only counts in limited northern/remote areas under specific rules, so check your postcode and industry against the official list before you commit.
How are the 88 days counted?
You need the equivalent of 3 months of full-time work: 88 calendar days including weekends if you worked the same pattern as full-time local workers. The days do not need to be consecutive or with one employer — keep every payslip, as Home Affairs verifies your evidence.
How much does the second and third visa cost?
The second Working Holiday visa costs $1,000 AUD. You can apply onshore or offshore, and you must still be under the age limit for your passport when you apply. Check the Home Affairs page for the current third-year charge before applying.
Does farm work pay properly?
Yes — piecework agreements must now guarantee at least the casual minimum hourly rate, a protection introduced after years of underpayment in horticulture. If a farm offers "accommodation instead of pay" or day rates far below minimum wage, walk away and ask the community for verified farms.
When should I do my regional work?
Start before month 6 if you can. Waiting until the end of your first year leaves no buffer if a farm cancels, the harvest ends early, or the weather stops work — the most common reasons backpackers miss the 88 days.
General information only, not personal migration advice.
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