What if my postcode isn't on the eligible list?

Days worked there won't count toward your 88 days regardless of the type of work. You can still take the job, but you'll need qualifying regional work elsewhere to complete the requirement.

Can I combine days from different states and employers?

Yes. Qualifying days from multiple jobs and states all count toward the same 88-day tally, as long as each job is in an eligible postcode and an eligible industry. Keep a Form 1263 per employer.

The Home Affairs list changed after I started. Which version applies?

The version in force on the day you did the work is the one that counts. A screenshot taken on your first day is your evidence — it shows what the rule said when your days were earned.

Does my employer's head-office postcode count if the work site is rural?

No. Only the postcode where you physically performed the work counts. The employer's registered business address is irrelevant to your visa eligibility.

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Second-year visa

How to check if your postcode qualifies for the 88 days

Updated 2026-06-29

A postcode checker tells you whether the physical location of your job falls inside regional Australia for WHV purposes. It's not about which city you live in or where your employer's head office is — it's the postcode of the exact address where you clock in every day.

Common mistake: the employer is registered in Brisbane but the farm is in Bundaberg. The Brisbane postcode does nothing for you. Use the postcode of the actual work site.

How to check your postcode

Hello June has the eligible postcode list built in, sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and last reviewed in May 2026. When you add an employer in the app, enter the postcode of the work site (not the office) and June tells you immediately whether it qualifies. For a quick one-off check before accepting a job, the Home Affairs website also publishes the full list at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.

Which postcodes are eligible?

Eligible areas are everywhere except the major metropolitan centres. The exact boundaries are postcode ranges defined by Home Affairs, and they differ by state. A few rough landmarks:

NSW: Sydney metro and close suburbs are out; the Hunter Valley, Central West, and coastal regional towns are in.
VIC: Melbourne metro is excluded; Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and regional Victoria qualify.
QLD: Brisbane metro is excluded; Cairns, Townsville, the Whitsundays and the farming belt qualify.
WA, SA, TAS, NT: specific ranges apply — use the checker for the exact numbers rather than guessing.

Check before you accept — and screenshot on day one

The cheapest moment to verify is before you sign a contract or book accommodation. If the postcode doesn't qualify, you haven't lost three months of your life finding out. Once you start, take a screenshot of the eligible-postcode list from the Home Affairs website and save it with your payslips. Home Affairs updates the list occasionally and you want proof of the version that applied when you were there.

Records to keep alongside the check

Payslips with the work site's address (not just the employer's registered address).
Your signed employment contract, specifying the location where work is performed.
Form 1263 completed by your employer — it has a dedicated field for the physical work postcode.
A screenshot of the Home Affairs eligible-postcode list, dated the day you started the job.

FAQ

What if my postcode isn't on the eligible list?: Days worked there won't count toward your 88 days regardless of the type of work. You can still take the job, but you'll need qualifying regional work elsewhere to complete the requirement.
Can I combine days from different states and employers?: Yes. Qualifying days from multiple jobs and states all count toward the same 88-day tally, as long as each job is in an eligible postcode and an eligible industry. Keep a Form 1263 per employer.
The Home Affairs list changed after I started. Which version applies?: The version in force on the day you did the work is the one that counts. A screenshot taken on your first day is your evidence — it shows what the rule said when your days were earned.
Does my employer's head-office postcode count if the work site is rural?: No. Only the postcode where you physically performed the work counts. The employer's registered business address is irrelevant to your visa eligibility.

Let June do the maths for you

Import your payslips and bank statement: June finds your deductions, estimates your refund, and tells you what goes in which myTax box. Free on screen.

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General information to help you find your way, not personalised tax advice. For your exact situation, refer to the ATO (ato.gov.au) or a registered tax agent.