Which New South Wales postcodes count for the 88 days?
Checked against Home Affairs on
Short answer
In New South Wales, farm work counts for the 88 days only in the 7 postcodes and postcode ranges on the Home Affairs regional list, so Byron Bay (2481), Coffs Harbour (2450) and Griffith (2680) count but Sydney (2000) and Newcastle (2300) do not. Tourism and hospitality work only counts in New South Wales's remote and very remote postcodes, a short list of far-flung areas (Home Affairs list, checked 2 November 2026).
Right now 45 live jobs in New South Wales on Matey are marked as counting for the 88 days.
Popular places in New South Wales, checked
Town-centre postcodes, run against the Home Affairs lists. Farms outside town can have a different postcode, so always check the worksite.
| Place | Postcode | Farm work | Tourism and hospitality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney | 2000 | No | No |
| Newcastle | 2300 | No | No |
| Wollongong | 2500 | No | No |
| Tamworth | 2340 | Yes | No |
| Port Macquarie | 2444 | Yes | No |
| Coffs Harbour | 2450 | Yes | No |
| Byron Bay | 2481 | Yes | No |
| Young | 2594 | Yes | No |
| Wagga Wagga | 2650 | Yes | No |
| Griffith | 2680 | Yes | No |
| Batlow | 2730 | Yes | No |
| Orange | 2800 | Yes | No |
The full Home Affairs lists for New South Wales
Copied from the Home Affairs specified work pages, which carry the same lists for the 417 and the 462 visa.
Regional Australia: farm work and construction
7 postcodes or ranges. On the 417, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, and mining count here too. On the 462, fishing, pearling, tree farming and felling only count in Northern Australia.
2311 to 2312, 2328 to 2411, 2420 to 2490, 2536 to 2551, 2575 to 2594, 2618 to 2739, 2787 to 2898
Remote and very remote Australia: tourism and hospitality work also counts
For work done from 22 June 2021.
2356, 2386, 2387, 2396, 2405, 2406, 2672, 2675, 2825, 2826, 2829, 2832 to 2836, 2838 to 2840, 2873, 2878, 2879, 2898, 2899
Bushfire and other natural disaster recovery work has its own, separate lists of declared areas on the same Home Affairs pages. Those can include city postcodes, but only for recovery work.
Before you take the job
- Ask for the worksite address and postcode, and the employer's ABN.
- Check you are paid at least the award rate, into your own bank account, with a payslip every pay period.
- Log every day with the postcode. Full-time weeks count as 7 days, part-time only the days you worked.
Common follow-up questions
Does Sydney count for the 88 days?
No. Sydney (2000) is not on the Home Affairs regional list for New South Wales, so work there does not count towards the 88 days, unless it is declared disaster recovery work. The work has to be done in a listed postcode.
Does hospitality or hostel work in New South Wales count?
Only in the listed remote and very remote postcodes. None of the big backpacker towns in this state are on that list. Bar, cafe or hostel work anywhere else in New South Wales does not count, even in a regional town.
Whose postcode matters: the farm, the employer's office or where I sleep?
The postcode where you actually do the work. The employer's head office and your hostel do not matter. Some farms sit just over a boundary, so check the worksite postcode before your first shift.
Do UK passport holders need the 88 days?
No. Since 1 July 2024, UK passport holders on the 417 visa do not need specified work for a second or third year.
How do I check one postcode quickly?
Type it into Matey's free postcode checker at matey.fun/88-days/. It uses the same Home Affairs regional list, and links to the official page.
General information only, not immigration or tax advice. For advice about your situation, talk to a registered migration agent (check the OMARA register) or a registered tax agent (TPB register).
Sources
- Home Affairs: specified work for the 417 visa (eligible postcodes)
- Home Affairs: specified work for the 462 visa (eligible postcodes)
General information, not migration or legal advice. Rules and pay rates change, so confirm anything your visa depends on with the official source.
Other states
88-day jobs in New South Wales
45 live jobs in New South Wales marked as counting for the 88 days, free to browse, no fees.
See the jobs