How are the 88 and 179 days counted?

Full-time: a week counts as 7 days

For a second visa you need 3 months of specified work, which Home Affairs defines as at least 88 calendar days, including weekends or equivalent rest days. For a third visa you need 6 months, at least 179 calendar days, done on or after 1 July 2019.

Home Affairs' own example: working Monday to Friday, full-time and correctly paid, from 1 December to 26 February is 88 calendar days and meets the second-visa requirement. Piece rate work counts the same way, as long as you work the normal days for the role.

Part-time and casual: counted in proportion

You must complete the same number of normal work days or shifts that a full-time worker in that role would do over 88 or 179 calendar days. Part-time work still counts, it just takes longer.

Home Affairs' examples: working 2 days a week at a vineyard from 1 February to 30 April does not meet the 88 days. Working 5 days a fortnight for 4 months (122 calendar days), which is half the usual full-time days, counts as 61 days.

• A normal day is the standard hours for that industry and role, agreed with your employer before you start.
• Paid public holidays and paid sick days count. Unpaid days off do not.
• Unpaid days when rain or seasonal weather stopped work do not count.
• Standard rosters, such as 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off, can count in full if you are paid for the whole period and the roster is normal for the industry. Keep the contract.

One employer or several

You do not need to do the days in one go or with one employer. You can spread them over your visa and add up several jobs, full-time, part-time or piece rate.

But one calendar day can never count as more than one day. Working two shifts for two employers on the same day, or a double shift, is still one day. And you cannot finish the requirement in less than 3 (or 6) calendar months in total, however many days a week you work.

Separately, visa condition 8547 usually limits you to 6 months of work with any one employer, which matters if you plan all 179 days at one place.

It must be paid at award rates

All specified work must be paid in line with Australian workplace law and the relevant award. Piece rates are fine with a written piece rate agreement. Lawful deductions, such as rent, need a written and signed agreement.

Disaster recovery work

Recovery work in declared bushfire areas (after 31 July 2019) and in areas declared affected by floods, cyclones or other severe weather (after 31 December 2021) counts as specified work. This work can be paid or volunteer. For volunteer recovery work, any day you worked counts as one day.

Check the declared postcodes on the Home Affairs specified work page. In ImmiAccount you select the recovery employment type, paid or volunteer, and volunteers need a signed letter from the volunteer coordinator.

What does not count

• Unpaid or volunteer work, except declared bushfire or natural disaster recovery work.
• Work for accommodation or food only (including most WWOOFing) that is not paid at award rates.
• Work in a postcode that is not eligible for that type of work.
• Work done while on another visa, such as a student visa (a few bridging visa cases are the exception).
• For a third visa: days done on your first visa, or before 1 July 2019.
• Unpaid days off, including rain days.

The evidence to keep

Home Affairs asks for proof covering every period you claim. It may contact your employers to check. Keep any of these, and ideally all:

• Payslips for every pay period.
• Australian bank statements showing the wages arriving.
• Your piece rate agreement, showing the rate per piece and how it is measured.
• Payment summaries, tax returns and employer references.
• Any signed agreement for deductions from your pay.
• For volunteer recovery work: a signed letter from the coordinator with your passport number, duties, postcodes and number of days.