Short answer
Mining counts on a 417 visa in regional Australia, and it includes mining support services such as cleaning, not just operators. It never counts on a 462 visa. Mine work counts by the mine site's postcode, so FIFO from Perth or Brisbane is fine as long as the site is listed.
417 or 462: where it counts
| Visa | Where mining counts |
|---|---|
| 417 Working Holiday | Counts in regional Australia (Table 4). That covers the big mining regions: the Pilbara, the Goldfields, the Bowen Basin and outback Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory. |
| 462 Work and Holiday | Doesn't count. Mining isn't on any of the 462 lists. |
What counts
“Mining for the purposes of specified work can be defined as coal mining, oil and gas extraction, metal ore mining, and mining for other construction materials.”
Home Affairs, specified work
Examples Home Affairs gives:
- coal mining, oil and gas extraction and metal ore mining
- mining for construction materials
- non-metallic mineral mining and quarrying
- exploration
- mining support services, including cleaning services
What doesn't count
- any mining work on a 462 visa
- office jobs for a mining company in a city that isn't listed
- work at a site whose postcode isn't on the regional list
How the days count
- Shutdowns and 12-hour shifts count by hours from your payslips: 84 hours (7 × 12-hour shifts) covers a full fortnight, and a month can count at most the days it has.
- A full-time roster such as 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off counts in full when it's standard in the industry and you're paid for the whole period.
- Get a letter from your employer naming the site and its postcode, especially if your payslips show a city office.
Well-known places where it counts
Each of these is on the official list for mining on a 417 visa. Check the page for the 462 and any date conditions.
- 6714 Karratha, WA
- 6721 Port Hedland, WA
- 6753 Newman, WA
- 6751 Tom Price, WA
- 6430 Kalgoorlie, WA
- 4825 Mount Isa, QLD
- 4744 Moranbah, QLD
- 4720 Emerald, QLD
- 5725 Roxby Downs, SA
- 0870 Alice Springs, NT
Listed postcodes by state
| State | 417 | 462 |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 440 | 0 |
| South Australia | 341 | 0 |
| Queensland | 295 | 0 |
| New South Wales | 291 | 0 |
| Western Australia | 275 | 0 |
| Tasmania | 115 | 0 |
| Northern Territory | 34 | 0 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 1 | 0 |
Number of postcodes with their own page where mining is listed. PO-box-only postcodes aren't counted.
Questions people also ask
Does cleaning on a mine site count?
Yes. Home Affairs lists "mining support services (including cleaning services)" as mining work.
I'm on a 462. Can mining count?
No. Mining isn't listed for the 462 visa in any area.
Do FIFO rest days count?
They count when you're on a full-time roster that's standard in the industry and you're paid for the whole period. If you're casual, count from your payslip hours instead.
Sources
General information, not immigration advice. Checked against Home Affairs on 21 October 2026.