Australia Cuts Working Holiday Visa Places: The Facts Farm Job Seekers Need
News · 2026-09-25 · 3 min read
Australia's farm sector is facing a difficult run-up to the Christmas harvest. This week, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced wide-ranging changes to the Working Holiday Maker visa program. Growers rely on short-term, mobile workers to pick crops from mangoes to berries, so the timing is poor for them. If you are thinking about working on an Australian farm, here are the facts, stated plainly.
The Numbers at a Glance
| Item | Before | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Second-year visa places | 57,000 | 45,000, allocated by ballot |
| Third-year visa places | 31,000 | 5,000 |
| Regional or remote work for a second-year extension | 88 days was enough to count on qualifying | Finishing it no longer secures a place |
Put simply, a second year in Australia used to be something you earned through farm work. Now you enter a draw. Industry groups have warned that this loss of certainty could send backpackers to countries with more secure visa options.
Delays Were Already Biting
The overhaul comes on top of an existing slowdown. Before the announcement, applications from 24 of 29 eligible countries had been paused. Processing that used to take days now takes about three months. In some regions, citrus and berry harvests start within weeks, so growers could be short of staff no matter how the ballot turns out.
Which Farms Will Struggle
The impact will not be even. Dr Kaya Barry of Griffith University, who researches seasonal migration in Queensland agriculture, notes that large farms mostly hire through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, a separate pathway with more structure. Backpackers have mainly filled seasonal gaps at small, family-run farms that do not have work all year.
Do not assume PALM can simply stand in for working holiday makers. PALM placements are usually longer and more formal. Backpackers appeal to farmers because they are mobile and will chase a harvest from one region to another inside a few weeks.
Agriculture Is Joining the Skilled Worker Visa List
One change has been received more positively: agriculture is being placed on Australia's skilled worker visa list. Industry bodies support it but want the government to spell out the detail, including whether horticulture roles will count and what qualification levels may apply. Until that information is published, employers cannot plan around it with any confidence. In plain terms, agriculture joins the skilled visa list, but the fine print is still missing.
What You Should Do Now
- Treat a second or third year as uncertain. Under a ballot, it is nowhere near guaranteed.
- Start your regional work early and document it properly. Good records will count for more than before.
- Employers: look into PALM scheme partnerships, watch for the skilled visa detail, and allow extra time for visa processing. This is urgent, not something to leave for later.
Bottom Line: Stay Alert
Because places are now limited and handed out by ballot, be very careful of anyone who claims they can guarantee you a second-year or third-year visa. Rely on official government information, and remember that a genuine employer will never ask you to pay for a job offer. The skilled visa pathway is still being finalised, so follow developments closely before you commit money or time.
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