Do UK citizens still need to do 88 days?
Short answer: not if you apply for your second or third 417 visa from 1 July 2024 with a UK passport.
By Borja Pérez · Updated October 2026
Quick answer: No. UK passport holders who apply for a second or third Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) on or after 1 July 2024 do not need to complete specified work: no 88 days for the second visa and no 179 days for the third. It only applies to applications made with a UK passport and does not cover the 462 visa.
- Applies to the subclass 417 only, for applications from 1 July 2024.
- Applications on a non-UK passport follow the normal specified work rules.
- Tax does not change: working holiday makers pay 15% on the first $45,000.
- Source: Home Affairs, specified work (417).
The exemption
If you apply for a second or third Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) on or after 1 July 2024, and you apply using your UK passport, you don’t need to complete specified work. No 88 days for the second visa and no 179 days for the third.
Sources: specified work (417), third Working Holiday visa and the specified work conditions page, checked 7 October 2026.
Who it does not cover
- Applications made with a passport from any other country, even if you also hold a UK one.
- The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462).
The other requirements of the second and third visas still apply — the exemption only removes specified work. Check the official visa pages for the rest.
What still matters for UK working holiday makers
Tax doesn’t change: as a working holiday maker you pay 15% on the first $45,000. See the working holiday maker tax calculator and our WHM tax guide, including how your super is taxed when you leave.
Frequently asked questions
Do British backpackers need to do farm work for a second year visa?
No. UK passport holders who apply for a second or third Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) on or after 1 July 2024 do not need to complete specified work.
Does the UK exemption apply if I have dual nationality?
The exemption is for applications made with a UK passport. If you apply on another passport, the normal specified work rules apply.
Does the exemption apply to the 462 visa?
No. UK citizens use the subclass 417; the exemption is for that visa only.
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.