Is it regional?
20 cities, answered for the 88 days and for skilled visas, from the official Home Affairs lists.
Official list last changed 5 Apr 2025 · checked 19 Oct 2026
It depends which visa you mean. For the 88 or 179 days on a working holiday visa there's no single "regional" map: each type of work has its own postcode list. Sydney has no farm work postcodes, while all of Adelaide, Hobart and Darwin count. For skilled visas (491, 494, 191), every city except Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane is a designated regional area.
The short answer, city by city
| City | 88 days: farm work postcodes (417) | Skilled visas |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast | 4 of 22 | Regional (Category 2) |
| Sunshine Coast | All | Regional (Category 2) |
| Brisbane | None | Not regional |
| Perth | 15 of 36 | Regional (Category 2) |
| Adelaide | All | Regional (Category 2) |
| Canberra | 1 of 25 | Regional (Category 2) |
| Newcastle | None | Regional (Category 2) |
| Wollongong | None | Regional (Category 2) |
| Geelong | All | Regional (Category 2) |
| Ballarat | All | Regional (Category 3) |
| Bendigo | All | Regional (Category 3) |
| Sydney | None | Not regional |
| Melbourne | 27 of 173 | Not regional |
| Central Coast | None | Regional (Category 3) |
| Hobart | All | Regional (Category 2) |
| Darwin | All | Regional (Category 3) |
| Cairns | All | Regional (Category 3) |
| Townsville | All | Regional (Category 3) |
| Toowoomba | All | Regional (Category 3) |
| Mandurah | All | Regional (Category 2) |
Farm work postcodes are counted across the city's ABS regions, from the Home Affairs tables checked 19 Oct 2026. Skilled visa categories are for the city centre, from the designated regional area list (updated 7 Oct 2026).
Why there are two answers
- Working holiday visa (417, 462): for a 2nd or 3rd visa, the work has to be a listed type of work in a listed postcode. Farm, construction, mining, hospitality and recovery work each have their own table, so a city can count for one and not another. See specified 417 work and specified 462 work.
- Skilled regional visas (491, 494, 191): "regional" means the designated regional areas. Category 2 is the cities and major regional centres, Category 3 the rest of regional Australia. This list doesn't decide your 88 days.
Always check the exact postcode where you work: postcode checker or the map.
Is the Gold Coast regional?
For the 88 days: Only in parts. 4 of the Gold Coast's 22 postcodes count for farm work on a 417 visa. Check the exact postcode. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in 4 of them, mining in 4 of them, fishing and pearling in 4 of them. 18 more count only for recovery work.
For skilled visas: Yes. The Gold Coast is a designated regional area in Category 2, 'Cities and Major Regional Centres'.
Postcodes in the Gold Coast that count for paid work on a 417: 4211 Nerang, 4270 Tamborine, 4272 Tamborine Mountain, 4275 Canungra .
Is the Sunshine Coast regional?
For the 88 days: Yes. All 28 of the Sunshine Coast's postcodes are on the list for farm work on a 417 visa. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in all of them, mining in all of them, fishing and pearling in all of them.
For skilled visas: Yes. The Sunshine Coast is a designated regional area in Category 2, 'Cities and Major Regional Centres'.
Is Brisbane regional?
For the 88 days: Mostly no. None of Brisbane's 77 postcodes count for farm work on a 417 visa, and only 1 postcode counts for another paid type of work. Check the exact postcode. On a 417, it's also listed for tourism and hospitality in 1 of them. 76 more count only for recovery work.
For skilled visas: No. Brisbane is a Major City (Category 1), so it isn't a designated regional area for skilled visas.
Postcodes in Brisbane that count for paid work on a 417: 4183 Point Lookout .
Is Perth regional?
For the 88 days: Only in parts. 15 of Perth's 36 postcodes count for farm work on a 417 visa, and 1 more postcode counts for another paid type of work. Check the exact postcode. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in 15 of them, tourism and hospitality in 1 of them, mining in 15 of them, fishing and pearling in 15 of them. 19 more count only for recovery work.
For skilled visas: Yes. Perth is a designated regional area in Category 2, 'Cities and Major Regional Centres'.
Postcodes in Perth that count for paid work on a 417: 6055 Brabham, 6056 Swan View, 6069 Ellenbrook, 6076 Kalamunda, 6083 Gidgegannup, 6084 Bullsbrook, 6111 Kelmscott, 6121 Oakford, 6122 Byford, 6123 Mundijong, 6124 Jarrahdale, 6125 Serpentine, 6126 Keysbrook, 6161 Rottnest Island, 6556 Chidlow, 6558 Wooroloo .
Is Adelaide regional?
For the 88 days: Yes. All 147 of Adelaide's postcodes are on the list for farm work on a 417 visa. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in all of them, mining in all of them, fishing and pearling in all of them.
For skilled visas: Yes. Adelaide is a designated regional area in Category 2, 'Cities and Major Regional Centres'.
Is Canberra regional?
For the 88 days: Only in parts. 1 of Canberra's 25 postcodes counts for farm work on a 417 visa. Check the exact postcode. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in 1 of them, mining in 1 of them, fishing and pearling in 1 of them. 24 more count only for recovery work.
For skilled visas: Yes. Canberra is a designated regional area in Category 2, 'Cities and Major Regional Centres'.
Postcodes in Canberra that count for paid work on a 417: 2618 Hall .
Is Newcastle regional?
For the 88 days: Mostly no. None of Newcastle's 31 postcodes count for farm, construction, mining or hospitality work. All of them count only for disaster or bushfire recovery work.
For skilled visas: Yes. Newcastle is a designated regional area in Category 2, 'Cities and Major Regional Centres'.
Is Wollongong regional?
For the 88 days: Mostly no. None of Wollongong's 18 postcodes count for farm, construction, mining or hospitality work. All of them count only for disaster or bushfire recovery work.
For skilled visas: Yes. Wollongong is a designated regional area in Category 2, 'Cities and Major Regional Centres'.
Is Geelong regional?
For the 88 days: Yes. All 30 of Geelong's postcodes are on the list for farm work on a 417 visa. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in all of them, mining in all of them, fishing and pearling in all of them.
For skilled visas: Yes. Geelong is a designated regional area in Category 2, 'Cities and Major Regional Centres'.
Is Ballarat regional?
For the 88 days: Yes. All 29 of Ballarat's postcodes are on the list for farm work on a 417 visa. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in all of them, mining in all of them, fishing and pearling in all of them.
For skilled visas: Yes. Ballarat is a designated regional area in Category 3, 'Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas'.
Is Bendigo regional?
For the 88 days: Yes. All 28 of Bendigo's postcodes are on the list for farm work on a 417 visa. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in all of them, mining in all of them, fishing and pearling in all of them.
For skilled visas: Yes. Bendigo is a designated regional area in Category 3, 'Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas'.
Is Sydney regional?
For the 88 days: Mostly no. None of Sydney's 207 postcodes count for farm, construction, mining or hospitality work. 206 postcodes count only for disaster or bushfire recovery work.
For skilled visas: No. Sydney is a Major City (Category 1), so it isn't a designated regional area for skilled visas.
Is Melbourne regional?
For the 88 days: Only in parts. 27 of Melbourne's 173 postcodes count for farm work on a 417 visa. Check the exact postcode. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in 27 of them, mining in 27 of them, fishing and pearling in 27 of them. 146 more count only for recovery work.
For skilled visas: No. Melbourne is a Major City (Category 1), so it isn't a designated regional area for skilled visas.
Postcodes in Melbourne that count for paid work on a 417: 3139 Woori Yallock, 3211 Little River, 3340 Bacchus Marsh, 3430 Clarkefield, 3431 Riddells Creek, 3432 Bolinda, 3433 Monegeetta, 3434 Romsey, 3435 Lancefield, 3437 Gisborne, 3438 New Gisborne, 3440 Macedon, 3441 Mount Macedon, 3753 Beveridge, 3756 Wallan, 3758 Wandong, 3762 Bylands, 3781 Cockatoo, 3783 Gembrook, 3797 Yarra Junction, 3799 Warburton, 3810 Pakenham, 3812 Nar Nar Goon, 3813 Tynong, 3814 Garfield, 3815 Bunyip, 3981 Koo Wee Rup .
Is the Central Coast regional?
For the 88 days: Mostly no. None of the Central Coast's 11 postcodes count for farm, construction, mining or hospitality work. All of them count only for disaster or bushfire recovery work.
For skilled visas: Yes. The Central Coast is a designated regional area in Category 3, 'Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas'.
Is Hobart regional?
For the 88 days: Yes. All 35 of Hobart's postcodes are on the list for farm work on a 417 visa. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in all of them, mining in all of them, fishing and pearling in all of them.
For skilled visas: Yes. Hobart is a designated regional area in Category 2, 'Cities and Major Regional Centres'.
Is Darwin regional?
For the 88 days: Yes. All 15 of Darwin's postcodes are on the list for farm work on a 417 visa. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in all of them, tourism and hospitality in all of them, mining in all of them, fishing and pearling in all of them.
For skilled visas: Yes. Darwin is a designated regional area in Category 3, 'Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas'.
Is Cairns regional?
For the 88 days: Yes. All 27 of Cairns's postcodes are on the list for farm work on a 417 visa. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in all of them, tourism and hospitality in all of them, mining in all of them, fishing and pearling in all of them.
For skilled visas: Yes. Cairns is a designated regional area in Category 3, 'Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas'.
Is Townsville regional?
For the 88 days: Yes. All 15 of Townsville's postcodes are on the list for farm work on a 417 visa. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in all of them, tourism and hospitality in all of them, mining in all of them, fishing and pearling in all of them.
For skilled visas: Yes. Townsville is a designated regional area in Category 3, 'Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas'.
Is Toowoomba regional?
For the 88 days: Yes. All 7 of Toowoomba's postcodes are on the list for farm work on a 417 visa. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in all of them, mining in all of them, fishing and pearling in all of them.
For skilled visas: Yes. Toowoomba is a designated regional area in Category 3, 'Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas'.
Is Mandurah regional?
For the 88 days: Yes. All 6 of Mandurah's postcodes are on the list for farm work on a 417 visa. On a 417, it's also listed for construction in all of them, mining in all of them, fishing and pearling in all of them.
For skilled visas: Yes. Mandurah is a designated regional area in Category 2, 'Cities and Major Regional Centres'.
Questions
If a city is regional for skilled visas, does it count for my 88 days?
No. The skilled visa list and the specified work tables are separate. Perth and the Gold Coast are regional for skilled visas, but most of their postcodes don't count for farm work on a working holiday visa.
Which postcode do I use: the farm, my employer's office, or where I live?
Where you physically do the work. An office address in a city doesn't stop farm work in a listed postcode from counting, and the reverse is true too.
Can these answers change?
Yes. Home Affairs updates both lists from time to time. The 88-day answers on this page are worked out from the tables we check, so they change with them. Last checked 19 Oct 2026.