Evidence You Need for Your Second-Year Visa (Payslips & Form 1263)

Here's a hard truth: the Department doesn't take your word for it. Your 88 days of specified work only count if you can prove them with documents. Plenty of backpackers do the work and then can't apply because they never collected the evidence. Don't be one of them.

The two documents that matter most

Payslips are your primary evidence — they show who you worked for, when, how many hours, and that you were paid. Form 1263 ("Working Holiday Visa — declaration") is signed by your employer to confirm the specified work, dates and location. Together they’re the backbone of a strong application.

Full evidence checklist

• Payslips for every week of specified work.
• Form 1263, completed and signed by each employer.
• Bank statements showing the wages landing in your account.
• The employer's ABN and business details.
• Your own record of dates, hours and location per shift.
• Group certificates / income statements at year end.

The cash-in-hand trap

If you're paid cash with no payslips, you have almost nothing to prove the work happened — and these days are the ones most likely to be rejected. If an employer offers cash with no paperwork, treat it as a red flag for your visa. At minimum, get payslips and bank deposits; a job that won't give you evidence isn't worth your 88 days.

What a complete evidence pack looks like

Example: 11 weeks picking citrus near Mildura (eligible postcode), with a payslip for each week, a signed Form 1263 from the farm, bank statements matching every payment, and your own weekly log of hours. That’s an application the case officer can approve without chasing you for more — which also means a faster decision.