Working holiday makers on 417 and 462 visas can usually work for the same employer for up to 6 months (visa condition 8547). They can stay longer, anywhere in Australia, in plant and animal cultivation, natural disaster recovery, agriculture, health, aged care and disability services, childcare, and tourism and hospitality. Certain industries in northern Australia are exempt too, a new location starts a new 6 months, and a worker can ask Home Affairs for permission to stay longer.
Last checked: 13 November 2026
What the rule says
Visa condition 8547 limits a working holiday maker to 6 months of work with the same employer. It covers all work: full time, part time, casual, shift work and even voluntary work. The 6 months is counted in calendar months from their first day, not in hours or days worked, so a part-time worker uses up their 6 months at the same speed as a full-time worker.
The clock resets when the traveller gets a new Working Holiday visa, for example when they move on to a second or third year visa.
Industries that are exempt anywhere in Australia
Since 1 January 2024, working holiday makers can work longer than 6 months with one employer in these areas, wherever the job is:
- Plant and animal cultivation, including horticulture, crop maintenance, animal husbandry and processing plant and animal products.
- Natural disaster recovery: clean-up, reconstruction and support services.
- Agriculture, including food processing.
- Health: hospitals, medical, dental and support roles.
- Aged care and disability services.
- Childcare, including nannies, au pairs and out of school hours care.
- Tourism and hospitality, including accommodation, food and beverage and tourism-facing roles.
Home Affairs says these exemptions apply until the government makes further decisions, so check the official page before you rely on them for a long contract.
Industries exempt in northern Australia only
In northern Australia, fishing and pearling, tree farming and felling, construction and mining are also exempt. Eligibility depends on the postcode of the work. All of the Northern Territory qualifies, along with listed postcodes in Queensland and Western Australia.
Different locations reset the clock
A traveller can keep working for you past 6 months if each location they work at is no more than 6 months. A change to or from remote work counts as a new location. This suits businesses with several venues, farms or sites.
What counts as the same employer
- The employer is the business the person directly works for.
- A labour hire agency can place a traveller with different businesses for 6 months each.
- Switching the same person between related companies, agencies or subcontractors to keep them in the same job at the same place does not get around the rule.
- If a traveller is genuinely self-employed, the client is treated as the employer.
Asking for permission to keep someone longer
A working holiday maker can ask Home Affairs for permission to work longer than 6 months with you if:
- they have applied for another visa that allows ongoing full-time work and are waiting for a decision, or
- their work is critical to your business, supported by a letter from you.
They apply online with the permission request form. If they apply before their 6 months are up, they can keep working until they get a written decision. If they apply after, they must stop working for you until the decision arrives.
How to manage it in practice
- Note each working holiday maker’s start date and visa expiry when they start.
- Check whether your role fits an exemption. Most hospitality, tourism and farm roles do.
- Diarise 5 months in for anyone not exempt, so you can plan a replacement or a move to another site.
- Re-check VEVO if the person gets a new visa.
- When you need a replacement, post a free job on TAW a few weeks ahead.
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Frequently asked questions
Does the 6 month rule apply to hospitality?
No, not at the moment. Tourism and hospitality is one of the critical sectors exempt from the 6 month limit anywhere in Australia since 1 January 2024.
Is the 6 months counted in hours worked?
No. It is counted in months from the first day of work, whatever hours they do.
Does a second year visa reset the 6 months?
Yes. The period restarts when the traveller is granted a new Working Holiday visa.
Can I use a labour hire company to keep a worker longer?
A labour hire company can place a traveller with a new business every 6 months. It cannot be used to keep the same person in the same job at the same place.
What if a worker goes over 6 months by mistake?
It is a breach of their visa condition and can affect their visa. Stop the work and get advice from a registered migration agent.
Sources: Home Affairs: 6 month work limitation, Home Affairs: permission to work longer than 6 months. General information only, not migration advice.
