Third visa: the 179 days of specified work
Six months of specified work during your second visa — counted the same way as the 88 days, with a few extra rules.
By Borja Pérez · Updated October 2026
Quick answer: A third Working Holiday visa needs 179 days of specified work, which is six calendar months, done during your second visa. The days are counted the same way as the 88 days, only work done on or after 1 July 2019 counts, and the requirement cannot be completed in less than six calendar months.
- 179 days for a third visa (the six shortest calendar months of the year).
- Work on a bridging visa counts only if you applied for the second visa while the first was still valid.
- UK passport holders applying for a third 417 from 1 July 2024 do not need specified work.
- Source: Home Affairs, third Working Holiday visa (417).
The requirement
For a third visa you need 179 days of specified work — six calendar months — done during your second visa. The days are counted exactly like the 88 days: calendar days for full-time work, a proportion for part-time work, and never more than one day per calendar day. See how the days are counted.
You can’t complete it in less than six calendar months, however many hours you work.
Rules specific to the third visa
- Work from 1 July 2019 onwards. Earlier specified work does not count towards a third visa.
- Bridging visas. Work done on a bridging visa between your first and second visas only counts if you applied for the second visa while the first was still valid.
- Same industries and postcodes. The eligible industries and postcodes are the same as for the second visa.
- UK passport holders applying for a third 417 from 1 July 2024 don’t need specified work — see the UK exemption.
Sources: third Working Holiday (417), third Work and Holiday (462) and the specified work pages, checked 7 October 2026.
Plan the six months early
Six months is a big part of a one-year visa. Log each job in the calculator (choose “Third visa — 179 days”) and add your visa expiry date: it warns you if, at your current pace, you would finish after the visa ends.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for a third Working Holiday visa?
179 days of specified work, which is six calendar months (the six shortest months of the year), done during your second visa.
Does work on a bridging visa count towards my third visa?
Only if you applied for your second visa while your first one was still valid.
Can I use work from before 2019?
No. Specified work for a third visa must have been done on or after 1 July 2019.
This guide is general information, not migration, tax or legal advice. Only the Department of Home Affairs decides whether your work counts towards a visa. Rules change; always check the official pages before you apply. See our methodology and disclaimer.