Student Visa Working Hours for International Students

The following explains the working hours for international students and their dependents in Australia once they are granted Australia student visa work permit.

Australia Student Visa Working Hours

Condition 8105 restricts students to 48 hours work per fortnight while their course is in session. They are not permitted to work until their course has commenced. When their course is not in session they may work unlimited hours. Students who have commenced a masters by research or a doctorate course may work unlimited hours after commencing their postgraduate research course.

Students are also not permitted to work more than 48 hours a fortnight while their course of study or training in which they are enrolled is ‘in session’, with the exception of those who have commenced a masters degree by research or doctoral degree. However, this work limitation does not include work that is a registered component of the student’s course of study or training for the award to be obtained.

Student Visa 500 Working Hours for dependents

Dependents of 500 Visa holders who are enrolled in Master's or Doctorate degrees are allowed to work full time.

Student visa working hours during holidays for dependents

Dependents of student visa holders who are studying an approved program other than a Master's or Doctorate Degree are allowed to work only 48 hours a fortnight.

How many hours can International Students work in Australia if they go to school

Student visa does not prohibit students enrolled at school from working. However Australian employment laws impose age restrictions for employment purposes. Therefore, 'how many hours can a school student work in Australia', depends on Australian employment laws, rather than student visa work rights.

Student Visa Work Rights when course is not in session

40 hour student visa condition is not applicable when the course is not in session. Students can work full time during term holidays.

Australia Student Visa Work after Graduation

Students are allowed to work full time after they complete their courser requirements. Most students lodge Subclass 485 visa which allows them to work and gain work experience in Australian workplace and industry for 2 to 4 years.

Student Visa Restriction 8104 and 8105

Normally international students are restricted to 48 hours of work per fortnight as per student visa work rules. However due to current workforce shortages, the Government is temporarily removing the limit on international student working hours for student and secondary training visa holders. This temporary measures applies to all sectors of the economy. Students and dependents may also commence work before the student's course starts.

Temporary Relaxation in 40 Hour Student Work

You must continue to balance your study and work commitments even though there is more flexibility in work hours in certain sectors.

Students who work 48 hours per fortnight in the above sectors, must:

• Maintain their course enrollment
• Ensure satisfactory course attendance, and
• Ensure satisfactory course progress.
  

Student on Australian Visa 500 holders who cancel their enrollment and stop attending classes, or fail to meet satisfactory course progress, may be in breach of their visa conditions.  

If you are working or have an offer of employment in one of the sectors above, and you have finished your course, you may be eligible for a COVID-19 Pandemic (subclass 408) visa. You can only apply for this visa 90 days before your student visa is due to expire.

You do not need to contact anyone if you wish to work 48 hours per fortnight.

Provided the primary visa holder has commenced their course, Student visa partner work rights Australia have also been relaxed for secondary visa holders provided they meet the other requirements. ​

COVID Recovery allows Student Visa Unlimited Hours

To assist with Australia’s COVID-19 recovery, the Australian Government is providing an incentive for Student visa holders to return to Australia as soon as possible to help address current workforce shortages. Any Student visa holder who is currently offshore and travels to Australia between 19 January 2022 and 19 March 2022 will be eligible for a refund of their visa application charge (VAC).

Australian government has also removed student visa work limitation as long as COVID recovery provisions remain in place.

Student Visa Working Hours Information for employers

Employers must continue to follow Australian workplace law. Overseas workers, including international students on Australia Subclass 500 Visa, have the same rights under Australian workplace law as all other employees.

While these measures are in place, the Department of Home Affairs and Australian Border Force will for holders of student visa working 24 hours:

• Exercise their discretion under s116(1)(b) of the Migration Act 1958. This is to not cancel the visas of students who work  more than 40 hours each fortnight to support your organisation.
• Not refer student visa holders for investigation of any potential offence under s235 of the Migration Act 1958. This might relate to the hours worked by a student visa holder in breach of their visa conditions.
• Not refer you or relevant third-party labour hire companies, as an employer, for investigation of any potential offence under s245AC of the Migration Act 1958. This  might relate to allowing a student visa holder to work in breach of their visa conditions.​

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours student can work in Australia?

It depends on whether student's program of study is in session or not. If student's program of study is in session then they can work maximum 48 hours per fortnight, and when their study is not in session then they can work full time.

How many hours can a student work minimum?

There is no condition for students to work certain minimum hours.

Can a student work full time?

Any person who works more than 35 hours per week is considered full time. International students while on student visa can only work 40 hours per fortnight while their studies are in session. However they can work full time when they have term holidays.

How many hours can i work as a student?

There is no maximum limit imposed by student visa to what a student can work during their term holidays. However all workers in Australia are subject to Health and Occupational Safety laws.

How many hours can a school student work in Australia?

School going students are not restricted from work by their student visa. However Australia employment laws imposes restrictions on how many hours a school student can work and what type of work they are allowed to do.

Can student work more than 40 hours?

In term holidays students can work more than 40 hours a week. For student dependents; "Can you work full time on a student visa? depends whether you are dependent of a Master's or Post Graduate Research student or not. If you are then you can work full time. If you are not then you can work maximum 48 hours per fortnight regardless of whether student's study is in session or not.

Can international students work more than 20 hours?

Yes. International students can work more than 48 hours per fortnight during their term holidays.

How immigration check working hours?

Never ask this question. Just stick to the rule.

Can International Students work in the bank?

Yes, International students can work in the bank.

Can International Students work in Australia after graduation?

Yes. International students can work in Australia after graduation for the time left on their student visa. They might also be eligible to apply for Temporary Graduate Skilled Subclass 485 visa after finishing their studies. This visa allows International Students to live and work in Australia for 2 - 4 years depending on what level of qualification they have achieved and where the institution of their study was located.

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Disclaimer: ‘Atlantis International Pty Ltd’ and its associates are independent consulting entities which are not associated in anyway with the Australian ‘Department of Home Affairs’ (DOHA). Information on this website does not constitute personal migration advice. For a customized migration advice based on your personal circumstances, please call and talk to one of our Immigration Consultants or register your interest with our Associates.