88 Days Calculator: Turn your hours into qualifying days.
Pick the work you’re doing, enter your hours, and get an estimate of how many of your days count toward your second visa year, based on the award hours for your work.
Select your work type
Choose the kind of work you’re doing and we’ll load the right award hours for your 88 days.
Tip: Check your employment contract if you’re unsure which type to pick.
88 Days Calculator: Understanding How Immigration calculates your days.
Introduction to the 88 days requirement.
The 88 days work requirement is a crucial aspect of obtaining a second or third year Working Holiday Visa (WHV) in Australia. This guide will help you understand how to calculate your eligible work days, provide information on specified work for WHV Australia, and offer tools like our 88 days calculator and postcode checker.
Understanding the 88 days work Australia requirement.
The ‘88 days work Australia’ rule is a key component of extending your Working Holiday Visa. It’s important to note that these 88 days don’t necessarily equate to 88 calendar days. Depending on your work schedule and industry, you might complete your 88 days in less or more than three months. Our calculator helps you track your progress accurately, considering factors like full-time, part-time, and casual work arrangements.
The Maria case: understanding Immigration’s day calculation.
One of the greatest enigmas when completing your 88 days of specified work in Australia is determining precisely how many days will be officially counted. Let’s explore the “Maria Case” to better understand how Immigration calculates work days.
Maria works at a dairy farm, which falls under the Pastoral Award. This Award defines a full-time worker as someone who averages 38 hours a week. However, Maria works only 30 hours, yet according to Immigration, she is counted as working seven days a week.
This suggests that unless an Award explicitly states a minimum number of hours required for full-time employment, the target appears to be 30 hours for Immigration purposes.
Example. While on her second visa, Maria works on a dairy farm milking and other duties. Maria makes an agreement with her employer to work five days a week (Wednesday to Sunday) from 4am to 7am and 1pm to 4pm each working day (a total of six working hours per day) for six months. These hours are considered normal for this role and Maria is paid the correct legal wage. Maria can count every day of work towards the six month specified work requirement, which she meets.
Example. While on his first visa, Jian works on a fruit orchard picking and packing mangoes. Jian is working on a piecework rate and works five or six days a week for three months. Depending on the weather and ripening of crops he works between five to eight hours each working day. Jian can count all of these days of work towards the three month specified work requirement, which he meets.
Based on this case and our research, we believe the day counting structure looks like this:
These bands assume a 30-hour week, which is our recommended target for plant and animal cultivation, fishing and pearling, and tree farming. Our calculator also lets you count against the award's full 38-hour week, and it always uses 38 hours for tourism and hospitality, mining and construction, scaling the bands to match. It’s an estimate: the final decision rests with Home Affairs.
Using our 88 days calculator.
Our 88 days calculator is an essential tool for tracking your progress towards the specified work requirement. The calculator, available in The 88th Day app for iOS and Android, offers a convenient way to log your work hours and calculate your eligible days.
88 Days Postcode Checker: available in our app.
Ensuring your work location qualifies for the 88 days requirement is crucial for your Working Holiday Visa extension. Our app features a comprehensive postcode checker that instantly verifies if your workplace is eligible for specified work.
Don’t leave your visa extension to chance. Download our app now to access the postcode checker and other essential tools for managing your 88 days of specified work in Australia.
Here’s how our postcode checker works:
- 1We maintain an up-to-date database of all Australian postcodes.
- 2Our system cross-references these postcodes with the latest information from the Department of Home Affairs website.
- 3The checker considers different eligibility criteria for various industries (e.g., plant and animal cultivation, tourism and hospitality in Northern Australia).
- 4When you enter a postcode, our app instantly tells you if it's eligible and for which types of specified work.
- 5The database is regularly updated to ensure accuracy with the latest government regulations.
What qualifies as specified work for WHV Australia?
Specified work for Working Holiday Visa holders includes various industries such as plant and animal cultivation, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, mining, and construction in regional Australia. Recent additions include tourism and hospitality in Northern Australia, as well as disaster recovery work. It’s essential to understand which industries and roles qualify to ensure your work counts towards your visa extension.
Specified Work Industries and their awards.
Tourism & Hospitality
Applicable in Northern/Remote Australia from 22 June 2021- Award: Hospitality Industry (General) Award 2020
- Full-time hours: 38 per week average
- Minimum hours for visa purposes: 38
Plant & Animal Cultivation
Applicable in Regional Australia- Awards: Horticulture Award 2020, Pastoral Award 2020
- Full-time hours: 38 per week average
- Minimum hours for visa purposes: 30
Piece Rates in Horticulture
Applicable in Regional Australia- Award: Horticulture Award 2020
- Minimum earnings: $965.40 per week (based on 30 hours at $32.18/hour including casual loading, from 1 July 2026)
Fishing & Pearling
Applicable in Regional Australia- Award: Aquaculture Industry Award 2020
- Full-time hours: 38 per week average
- Minimum hours for visa purposes: 30
Tree Farming & Felling
Applicable in Regional Australia- Awards: Silviculture Award 2020, Timber Industry Award 2020
- Full-time hours: 38 per week average
- Minimum hours for visa purposes: 30
Mining
Applicable in Regional Australia- Award: Mining Industry Award 2020
- Full-time hours: 38 per week average
- Minimum hours for visa purposes: 38
Construction
Applicable in Regional Australia- Award: Building and Construction General On-site Award 2020
- Full-time hours: 38 per week average
- Minimum hours for visa purposes: 38
Bushfire Recovery
Applicable in Declared Areas after 31 July 2019- No specific award
- Any day worked counts as one day
Flood Recovery
Applicable in Declared Areas after 1 Jan 2022- No specific award
- Any day worked counts as one day
COVID-19 Healthcare
Applicable Anywhere in Australia after 31 Jan 2020- Award: Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020
- Full-time hours: 38 per week average
- Minimum hours for visa purposes: 30
Tips for tracking your 88 days work Australia.
- Keep detailed records of your work hours and days
- Save all payslips and employment contracts
- Use The 88th Day app to log your hours and calculate your days
- Double-check your work location's eligibility using our postcode checker
- Consult with your employer about your visa requirements
Frequently asked questions.
How does the 88 days calculator work?
Our 88 days calculator takes into account your working hours and the specific industry you're working in. It uses the guidelines set by the Department of Home Affairs to accurately calculate how many days of your specified work count towards the 88 days requirement for your Working Holiday Visa extension.
What postcodes are eligible for specified work in Australia?
Eligible postcodes for specified work vary depending on the type of work and region. Generally, most of regional Australia is eligible. You can use our postcode checker tool to verify if a specific location qualifies for the 88 days work requirement.
Can I do my 88 days work anywhere in Australia?
No, the 88 days of specified work must be completed in eligible regional areas of Australia. Some industries, like plant and animal cultivation, are eligible in most regional areas, while others, like tourism and hospitality, are only eligible in specific regions such as Northern Australia.
What types of jobs count as specified work for a WHV in Australia?
Specified work for a Working Holiday Visa in Australia includes various industries such as plant and animal cultivation, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, mining, construction, and more recently, tourism and hospitality in certain areas. Disaster recovery work in declared areas also counts. It's important to check the current list of eligible industries as it can be updated by the government.
Conclusion
Understanding and correctly calculating your 88 days of specified work is crucial for obtaining your second or third year Working Holiday Visa in Australia. Use the tools and information provided in this guide, including our 88 days calculator and postcode checker, to ensure you’re on track. If you’re unsure about any aspect of your eligibility, it’s always best to consult with the Department of Home Affairs or a registered migration agent.
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