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π§ At a glance: is it for you?
On an Australian Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) you can travel and work. Farm jobs like picking, packing and pruning are popular because they pay and can count toward a visa extension. The key is choosing farms that pay legal wages and keeping careful records.
- Who it suits: People aged 18β35 who are physically fit and can spend a few months on regional farms
- Start-up cost: No set amount (visa fee, flights, starting funds and insurance; check visa pricing with Home Affairs)
- Time to first income: 2β6 months: visa application, preparation, finding farm work
- Difficulty: Medium (needs some English, fitness and job hunting)
π Pros
- Horticulture minimum pay is set by law (casual AUD 32.18/h)
- 88 days of specified work lets you apply for a 2nd visa
- You can apply directly without an agency
π Cons and cautions
- Days worked and income vary with weather, crop and speed
- Regional housing and transport cost money
- Scams exist, such as fake day sign-offs and underpayment
π What the full guide below covers: specified work types, visa conditions (age, 88/179 days), start-up costs, Horticulture Award pay table, piece-rate rules, finding jobs, step-by-step preparation, scam warnings, FAQ
π° Legal minimum pay
- Horticulture Award (from 1 July 2026) adult Level 1 casual rate AUD 32.18 per hour before tax
- Full-time/part-time AUD 25.74 per hour, AUD 978.10 per week
- Casual public holiday rate AUD 57.92 per hour
- Example: 30β38 casual hours a week is about AUD 965β1,223 before tax
Even on piece rates (per bin or bucket), you must earn at least the minimum hourly rate for hours worked (Fair Work). Real income depends on days worked, weather, speed, housing and transport costs, and the exchange rate.
On an Australian Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) you can travel and work. Farm jobs such as fruit picking, packing and pruning are popular with young Koreans because they pay and can also count toward a visa extension. This guide explains how to make money with harvest work in Australia using official Australian and Korean government sources.
Short version: the key is “choose farms that pay legal wages + keep careful work records.” What you actually earn varies a lot by region, crop, weather and speed.
1. What is the work?
Plant cultivation work on farms in regional Australia. The Department of Home Affairs’ “specified work” list includes:
- Picking fruit on an orchard, harvesting vegetables
- Packing fruit and vegetables (on-farm)
- Pruning trees and vines for commercial crops
- Also: animal cultivation, fishing, tree farming, mining, construction, tourism and hospitality in northern and remote areas, and bushfire/natural-disaster recovery
General garden maintenance does not count.
2. Visa rules at a glance
- Age: According to the Korean Embassy in Australia, from 1 July 2026 Korean citizens can apply for the 417 visa aged 18 to 35 inclusive (apply before your 36th birthday).
- 2nd visa: 3 months (at least 88 calendar days, weekends included) of specified work on your first visa.
- 3rd visa: 6 months (at least 179 days) of specified work on your second visa (on or after 1 July 2019).
- Paid work only: specified work must be paid according to Australian law and the relevant award. Volunteer work counts only for disaster recovery. Unpaid weather days don’t count.
- Work can be split across employers and can be full-time, part-time or piecework.
- Visa fees change often; check Home Affairs’ “Visa pricing” page before applying.
3. Start-up cost
There is no set amount; it varies by person.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Visa fee | See Home Affairs pricing |
| Flights | Depends on timing |
| Starting funds | Accommodation, food, transport until your first job |
| Insurance | Travel/health insurance (medical costs are high) |
| Transport | Farms are regional; car or bus costs |
| Work gear | Boots, hat, long sleeves, gloves, sunscreen, water bottle |
4. How much can you earn?
Under the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Horticulture Award pay guide (effective 1 July 2026), adult Level 1 minimum rates before tax are:
| Type | Minimum hourly rate (AUD) |
|---|---|
| Casual | 32.18 |
| Full-time / part-time | 25.74 (weekly 978.10) |
| Casual public holiday | 57.92 |
Many jobs pay a piece rate (per bin or bucket). Fair Work says piece-rate workers must still be guaranteed at least the minimum hourly rate for the hours they work.
Actual take-home pay varies with days worked, weather, season, speed and accommodation/transport costs, and the KRW value depends on the exchange rate. Working holiday makers have their own tax rates; check the ATO.
5. Finding jobs
- Workforce Australia (government jobs site), which Home Affairs points to for harvest work.
- Fair Work Harvest Trail pages on pay and rights.
- Contact farms directly by email or phone.
- Follow the seasons: harvest times differ by crop and region.
- Once hired, get a Tax File Number (TFN) and always ask for payslips.
6. Step-by-step start
- Check eligibility: age, passport, health and character requirements, and fees on Home Affairs.
- Apply yourself through ImmiAccount; processing can take months.
- Prepare: insurance, starting funds, and safety info from Korea’s Working Holiday Info Center.
- Find work via Workforce Australia and direct contact; get pay terms in writing.
- Keep records: dates worked, payslips, bank deposits, employer ABN β your evidence for extensions.
- Apply for the extension after 88 (or 179) days.
Watch out for these scams
Some people charge money to “place you on an 88-day farm” or offer fake sign-off of days. Fake documents can lead to refusal or cancellation of your visa. Some employers over-deduct for housing and transport, pay below the minimum, or ask to hold your passport. Read Home Affairs’ “Work visa scams” page and report problems to Fair Work and the Korean consulate (Consular Call Center +82-2-3210-0404).
Sources
- Home Affairs β Specified work (subclass 417)
- Home Affairs β Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
- Home Affairs β Visa pricing
- Home Affairs β Work visa scams
- Korean Embassy in Australia β 417 age limit notice (1 July 2026)
- Fair Work Ombudsman β Horticulture Award MA000028 pay guide (published 24 June 2026)
- Fair Work Ombudsman β Pay and piece rates
- Fair Work Ombudsman β Working the Harvest Trail
- Workforce Australia
- ATO β Working holiday makers
- Korea Working Holiday Info Center
π Related guides
- How to Make Money as a Forest Fire Watcher in Korea (Seasonal Public Job: How to Apply)
- How to Make Money with Lawn Care & Gardening
- How to Make Money with Pet Sitting & Dog Walking
Last updated: October 29, 2026. Based on official sources; rules and prices can change.
β FAQ
What’s the age limit?
From 1 July 2026, Korean citizens can apply aged 18β35 (Korean Embassy notice).
Do the 88 days count only working days?
Home Affairs treats 3 months as at least 88 calendar days, including weekends. See their guidance for details.
Can piece rates pay less than the hourly minimum?
Under Fair Work rules you must get at least the minimum hourly rate for hours worked. If not, contact Fair Work.
Does unpaid work count?
No, except volunteer disaster-recovery work.
Do I need an agency?
No. You can apply directly on the Home Affairs website.
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Want to run Fruit Picking on an Australian Working Holiday as a 30-day plan? The PDF guide (one-time .99) compares 30 methods with steps and income estimates. All steps above stay free.
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