Short answer
Tourism and hospitality count on both visas, but only in Northern Australia, Remote and Very Remote Australia, and postcodes 4406, 4416, 4498 and 7215, for work done from 22 June 2021. That covers cafés, restaurants, bars, hotels, hostels, caravan parks and tour jobs. In the cities and most regional towns, hospitality doesn't count.
417 or 462: where it counts
| Visa | Where tourism and hospitality counts |
|---|---|
| 417 Working Holiday | Counts in Northern Australia, Remote and Very Remote Australia, and postcodes 4406, 4416, 4498 and 7215, from 22 June 2021 (Tables 1 to 3). |
| 462 Work and Holiday | Same areas and dates as the 417. |
What counts
“From 22 June 2021, tourism and hospitality work carried out within postcodes 4406, 4416, 4498 and 7215, Northern Australia or Remote and Very Remote Australia, is considered eligible specified work…”
Home Affairs, specified work
Examples Home Affairs gives:
- hotels, motels, B&Bs and backpacker hostels
- caravan parks and camping grounds, and commercial housekeeping
- cafés, restaurants, takeaways and catering
- pubs, taverns, bars and hospitality clubs
- tour guides and operators, and outdoor adventure instructors
- tourist transport, galleries, museums, travel agencies and event venues
What doesn't count
- hospitality in the big cities and most regional towns
- tourism and hospitality work done before 22 June 2021
How the days count
- Hospitality is usually casual with changing hours. Count from payslip hours: 38 hours is a full week and counts as 7 days.
- Paid public holidays count. Unpaid days off in the quiet season don't.
Well-known places where it counts
Each of these is on the official list for tourism and hospitality on a 417 visa. Check the page for the 462 and any date conditions.
- 4870 Cairns, QLD
- 0800 Darwin, NT
- 6725 Broome, WA
- 0870 Alice Springs, NT
- 0872 Yulara, NT
- 6707 Exmouth, WA
- 4802 Airlie Beach, QLD
- 4877 Port Douglas, QLD
- 4810 Townsville, QLD
- 5723 Coober Pedy, SA
Listed postcodes by state
| State | 417 | 462 |
|---|---|---|
| Queensland | 155 | 155 |
| Western Australia | 122 | 122 |
| South Australia | 52 | 52 |
| Northern Territory | 34 | 34 |
| New South Wales | 23 | 23 |
| Tasmania | 10 | 10 |
| Victoria | 8 | 8 |
Number of postcodes with their own page where tourism and hospitality is listed. PO-box-only postcodes aren't counted.
Questions people also ask
Does a café job in Byron Bay or the Gold Coast count?
No. Those postcodes aren't in Northern Australia or the remote areas, so hospitality there doesn't count, even though some other work there does.
Does working at a hostel count?
Yes, if the hostel is in a postcode listed for tourism and hospitality, and you're paid properly.
Sources
General information, not immigration advice. Checked against Home Affairs on 21 October 2026.