Farm Work and 2nd Year Visa FAQs

  • If you are in Australia when you apply, and held a first Working Holiday visa: - You can remain in Australia for 24 months from the date you first entered Australia on your first Working Holiday visa
  • If you are in Australia, but did not hold a first Working Holiday visa: - You can remain in Australia for 12 months from the date your second Working Holiday visa is granted If you are outside Australia when you apply, you can travel to Australia at any time in the 12 months from the date your second Working Holiday visa is granted (this cannot be extended or deferred), or you can stay in Australia for 12 months from the date you first enter the country on your second Working Holiday visa. Your 12 month stay period starts when you enter Australia

This depends on your circumstances when we grant the visa. Your grant notification will tell you how long you can stay in Australia and you can also use VEVO to check your visa details and conditions.

  • Outside Australia - If you lodge your application outside Australia, you must be outside Australia to be granted your visa. You can lodge your application at any Australian government office overseas.
  • In Australia - If you apply within Australia you must be in Australia to be granted your visa.

Specified work is classified as a minimum period of 88 calendar days, including weekends or equivalent rest days during your period of employment.

To meet the ‘three months' specified work requirement, you must complete the same number of normal work days or shifts as a full-time employee in that role and industry would normally work in a three month (88 calendar day) period.

You can do this in a variety of ways, for example:

  • working five days a week for a continuous period of three calendar months, including on a piecework rate agreement
  • working less than five days a week over a period longer than three calendar months, including on a piecework rate agreement
  • working multiple short periods of work in any combination of full time, part time or on a piecework rate, which add up to the equivalent of five days a week over three calendar months

You should agree with your employer on the number of working hours, before you start work.

One single day of work is considered to be the normal number of hours per day or shift that is considered standard practice in the industry and role in which you are employed.

You are not required to do your three months of specified work all in one go, or all with one employer. You can spread the work over the period of your first Working Holiday Visa stay in Australia. You cannot complete the three month specified work requirement for a second Working Holiday (subclass 417) visa in a total period of less than three calendar months.

Yes. You can undertake specified work for longer than the minimum required three months. The plant and animal cultivation industry is also exempt from the 6 month limitation.

All workers in Australia have the same rights and protections at work, regardless of citizenship or visa status. Your employer must comply with Australian workplace and immigration laws, including their obligation to:

  • pay you the right pay rate for all time worked
  • provide a safe workplace.

These rights can't be taken away by contracts or agreements. Pay rates and workplace conditions are set by Australian law. You can source advice or assistance from the Fair Work Ombudsman regarding workplace issues.

You should agree with your employer the number of working hours, before you start work. One single day of work is considered to be the normal number of hours per day or shift that is considered standard practice in the industry and role in which you are employed.

If you are working on a piecework rate the number of hours can depend on the weather and ripening of crops.

If you are working on an Award you should check your conditions of employment, including rostering, overtime, and penalty rates.

Australian public holidays and sick days (or equivalent workers compensation leave days) can be counted as a day of specified work if you are paid for that day. Public Holiday or leave days which are not paid cannot be included in your total period of specified work.

Note: If you are working on an Award you should check your conditions of employment including leave and public holiday entitlements.