From 1 July 2023, work restrictions for student visa holders will be re-introduced.
Student visa work restrictions were relaxed throughout the pandemic, and completely removed in January 2022 to allow primary and secondary student visa holders to work over their normal limit of 40 hours per fortnight to address workforce shortages.
The Australian Government has announced that student visa holders already working in the aged care sector on 9 May 2023 can continue to work unrestricted hours in the aged care sector until 31 December 2023.
From 1 July 2023, work restrictions for all other student visa holders will be re-introduced and capped at the increased rate of 48 hours per fortnight. This ensures that student visa holders are able to focus on obtaining a quality Australian education and qualification, while remaining able to support themselves financially, gain valuable work experience, and contribute to Australia’s workforce needs.
Temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders
Due to workforce shortages, there is a temporary relaxation of student visa work limits to all sectors of the economy. This takes effect immediately for all ongoing students as well as new student arrivals who wish to commence a job prior to course commencement. This means that international students can work before their course commences and work more than 40 hours a fortnight in any sector of the economy. This also includes secondary applicants.
To address workforce shortages, student visa work hours restrictions have been temporarily relaxed. This will end on 30 June 2023.
Until 30 June 2023, all ongoing students as well as new student arrivals and secondary applicants are able to work more than 40 hours a fortnight in any sector of the economy and work before their course of study commences.
After the 30 June 2023, the number of hours a Student visa holder will be allowed to work will again be capped. The number of hours a Student visa holder works, ensures that Students focus on obtaining a quality Australian education and qualification.
Students must make sure they are aware of any changes to visa conditions, including work rights.
Related: Work Rights on Student Visa (8105 Condition)
Information for students
You must continue to balance your study and work commitments even though there is flexibility in the number of hours you can work.
Students must still:
- maintain their course enrolment
- ensure satisfactory course attendance, and
- ensure satisfactory course progress.
Student visa holders who cancel their enrolment 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 a critical sector, 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.
Information for employers
Employers must continue to follow Australian workplace law. Overseas workers, including international students, 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:
- 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.
Student and WHM work rights changes – BVA holders
Home Affairs has confirmed that these same conditions also apply to BVA holders where:
- the BV holder’s last visa held was a student visa and they have 8104 or 8105, the visa holder is able to work unlimited work hours. BV holders who do not have this condition are not able to work unlimited hours.
- The relaxation of the 6 month work limitation on WHM visa holders also apply to WHM-associated BV holders.
Previous update:
Student visa holder work restrictions have been further relaxed for those working in supermarkets, or associated distribution facilities located in an area impacted by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, for the duration of the lockdown.
This relaxation of conditions are added to those of the aged care and NDIS providers, health care, agricultural, tourism and hospitality sectors.
The Government will remove existing work hour caps for Student Visa holders employed in the tourism and hospitality sector. A 40 hour fortnightly limit previously applied during study periods.
In addition, temporary visa holders will be able to access the 408 COVID-19 Pandemic Event Visa for a period of 12 months if they work in the tourism and hospitality sector. This decision adds tourism and hospitality to the critical sectors of agriculture, food processing, health care, aged care, disability care and child care for eligibility for this visa subclass.
COVID-19 has introduced a lot of changes into migration law. One of the latest changes to the law is the relaxation of working hours for student visa holders. Together with the Australian Border Force, the Department of Home Affairs will be taking a flexible approach to student visa holders working beyond the usual work limitations in certain fields.
Student visa holders are not allowed to work for more than 40 hours per fortnight (8105 condition- work rights) as part of the visa condition. However, there is now a temporary relaxation of the rules in certain circumstance.
You can work for more than 40 hours a fortnight if you are:
- employed by an aged care Approved Provider or Commonwealth-funded aged care service provider with a RACS ID or a NAPS ID
- employed by a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme provider (NDIS)
- enrolled in a health care related course and you are supporting the health effort against COVID-19, as directed by health officials
- employed in the agriculture sector
- employed in the tourism and hospitality sector
- in a supermarket, or associated distribution facility, located in an area impacted by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions for the duration of the lockdown.
How to determine if you are working in agriculture or tourism and hospitality sectors?
The sectors are defined using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) system.
For the tourism and hospitality sector, the definition also includes work for employers whose primary purpose is to directly provide a service to tourists, when their activities are not listed in the Division of Accommodation and Food Services under the ANZSIC system.
We have summarised the groups of work that belong to Agriculture, Tourism and Hospitality based on ANZIC for your reference as below
| Agriculture | Nursery and Floriculture Production | Nursery Production (Under Cover) |
| Nursery Production (Outdoors) | ||
| Turf Growing | ||
| Floriculture Production (Under Cover) | ||
| Floriculture Production (Outdoors) | ||
| Mushroom and Vegetable Growing | Mushroom Growing | |
| Vegetable Growing (Under Cover) Vegetable Growing (Outdoors) | ||
| Fruit and Tree Nut Growing | Grape Growing | |
| Kiwifruit Growing | ||
| Berry Fruit Growing | ||
| Apple and Pear Growing | ||
| Stone Fruit Growing | ||
| Citrus Fruit Growing | ||
| Olive Growing | ||
| Other Fruit and Tree Nut Growing | ||
| Sheep, Beef Cattle and Grain Farming | Sheep Farming (Specialised) | |
| Beef Cattle Farming (Specialised) | ||
| Beef Cattle Feedlots (Specialised) | ||
| Sheep-Beef Cattle Farming | ||
| Grain-Sheep or Grain-Beef Cattle Farming | ||
| Rice Growing | ||
| Other Grain Growing | ||
| Other Crop Growing | Sugar Cane Growing | |
| Cotton Growing | ||
| Other Crop Growing n.e.c. | ||
| Dairy Cattle Farming | Dairy Cattle Farming | |
| Poultry Farming | Poultry Farming (Meat) | |
| Poultry Farming (Eggs) | ||
| Deer Farming | Deer Farming | |
| Other Livestock Farming | Horse Farming | |
| Pig Farming | ||
| Beekeeping | ||
| Other Livestock Farming n.e.c. | ||
| Accommodation and Food Services | Accommodation | Accommodation |
| Food and Beverage Services | Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services | |
| Cafes and Restaurants | ||
| Takeaway Food Services | ||
| Catering Services | ||
| Pubs, Taverns and Bars | ||
| Clubs (Hospitality) | ||
| Employers whose primary purpose is to directly provide a service to tourists |
NDIS providers
There is no requirement for NDIS providers to register with the Department of Home Affairs. These providers should see the letter provided to them by the NDIS Commission for further details. See a list of NDIS providers.
Employers
Employers must continue to follow Australian workplace law. Overseas workers, including international students, have the same rights under Australian workplace law as all other employees.
These temporary measures will be reviewed by the government regularly. Employers will be advised when these measures no longer apply.
While these measures are in place, the Department of Home Affairs and Australian Border Force will:
- exercise their discretion under s116(1)(b) of the Migration Act 1958 to not cancel the visas of students who work in excess of 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 that 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 that might relate to allowing a student visa holder to work in breach of their visa conditions.
Whilst there is a relaxation of the rules, employers are still expected to follow Australian employment law.
Students who intend to work more than 40 hours per fortnight should discuss an arrangement with the employer. Students are not required to place an application to work more hours.
During this period, Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force will exercise their discretion not to cancel a student visa if they work more than 40 hours per fortnight.
Previous update: Student visa holders able to work more hours
Student visas are subject to condition 8104 or 8105, which allow limited work in Australia. Under these conditions:
- You (and your dependants, if any) can only work after you have commenced your course
- You (and your dependants, if any) must adhere to the work hour restrictions set out in your visa conditions.
Student work hour restrictions
| Student type | When course is in session | When course isn’t in session |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework students who have started their degree | 40 hours per fortnight | Unlimited hours |
| Graduate researchers who have started their degree | Unlimited hours | N/A |
| AusAwards or Defence students | 40 hours per fortnight | Unlimited hours |
Dependent work hour restrictions
| Dependent type | When course is in session | When course isn’t in session |
|---|---|---|
| Dependants of student visa holders enrolled in a Master or Doctorate degree | Unlimited hours | N/A |
| Dependents of all other student visa holders | 40 hours per fortnight | N/A |
Voluntary work
One way to gain work experience and professional skills is to work as a volunteer. Hours spent volunteering will not count towards your student visa work hour limits, if:
- your main purpose in Australia continues to be your studies (and any work remains a secondary activity)
- the work is genuinely voluntary, and would not otherwise be undertaken by an Australian resident as employment
- the activities are for a non-profit organisation and no remuneration (in cash or kind) is received in return.
For more information, see the Fair Work Ombudsman fact sheet on unpaid work.
More information
How is 40 hours per fortnight calculated?
A fortnight is a 14-day period which starts on a Monday and ends on a Sunday. You may not work more than 40 hours during any fortnight.
For example, if you worked the following hours:
- Week 1: 10 hours
- Week 2: 30 hours
- Week 3: 20 hours
- Week 4: 20 hours
You would have worked more than 40 hours during the second fortnight (weeks 2 and 3) and would be in breach of visa conditions.
When is my course in session?
Your course is considered in session:
- For the duration of advertised semesters, including examination periods (even if you do not have any exams) and mid-semester breaks
- Any time you are enrolled in one or more subjects which will count as credit towards your main course.
To find out the Semester 1 and Semester 2 dates, as well as the examination period dates, see your University/college dates page.
How can someone else check my work restrictions?
Many organisations across Australia, including employers, recruitment agencies and banks, can also check your work conditions after getting your consent.
If someone wants to you to verify your work rights, provide them with a copy of your visa grant letter or a link to Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO).
Working in Australia after you graduate
If you’re interested in staying in Australia to work after you graduate, you’ll need to get a new working visa before your student visa expires. As a graduated international student you may be eligible for:
- The Post-Study Work stream of the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) if you have completed a Bachelor, Masters or Doctoral degree.
- To submit an Expression of Interest through the Australian Government’s SkillSelect, seeking approval to stay in Australia as a professional worker.
- State and territory government nomination for skilled and business migration.
International Students – Visas and compliance
In a joint media release Minister’s Clare, O’Connor and O’Neil announced a number of changes within the international student sector.
Increase in savings required
Evidence of savings for international students will need to show evidence of $24,505 in savings from October 1, 2023.
This is a 17% increase on the current levels and amounts to the equivalent of indexation since 2019 and reflects the increases in living expenses since that time.
Changing courses
Taking effect immediately, the Government has changed the ability of international students who have been in Australia for less than six months, to change from genuine study to arrangements such as ‘concurrent enrolment’ that facilitated working in Australia.
Fit and proper persons
Suspension certificates can be issued under s97 of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act (ESOS Act) to high-risk education providers. The Government has identified more than 200 providers with visa refusal rates higher than 50%.
An Instrument has also been released that strengthens the fit and proper persons standards for persons who exercise a degree of control or influence over the management or operation of a training organisation. The purpose of these changes is to increase public confidence in their suitability to manage, or be involved with, an organisation that provides or assesses national VET qualifications.
Aged care work concessions
Members have enquired whether student visa holders working in the aged care sector, who are eligible for the concession to the working hours cap until the end of December 2023, can change employers during this period.
The Department of Home Affairs have confirmed that a change of employer is acceptable provided all other relevant criteria are met.
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