Introduction
International Students are allowed to work to gain valuable work experience and support living expenses while studying in Australia. However, many student visa holders are breaking the permitted work hours, leading to the possibility of visa cancellation. To enforce compliance, Australian authorities have currently increased their monitoring of businesses that employ international students. It’s advisable that international students must strictly follow the student visa conditions, ensuring to stay lawfully in Australia.
Work Rights for Student Visa Holders (subclass 500) in Australia
Work Hour Limitations
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- International students who are holding a Student Visa (Subclass 500) are allowed to work up to 48 hours per fortnight (two weeks) during the study period.
- However, during semester breaks and holidays, they can work with unlimited hours.
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- Master’s by research and PhD students can work with unlimited hours once they start their research.
Work Rights for Dependents of Student Visa Holders
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- Dependents of an undergraduate degree students have the same work limits as a student visa holder. They can work up to 48 hours per fortnight.
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- However, dependents of a Master or PhD student can work without any time limitation.
Unpaid Work and Volunteer
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- Unpaid work or volunteer work is generally not counted towards the 48 hour limitation if it is a unpaid role.
Tax File Number and Australia Business Number
Before entering the workforce in Australia, international students must apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). A TFN is essential for legal employment, tax compliance, and claiming tax benefits in Australia.
Alternatively, students can register for an Australian Business Number (ABN). Holding an ABN classifies them as self-employed, meaning they must comply with self-employment tax regulations, including reporting income and managing their own tax obligations.
Some international students mistakenly believe that the work hour limitation does not apply to those holding an Australian Business Number (ABN). However, this is a misconception. The 48-hour per fortnight work limit applies to all student visa holders, whether they are employed or self-employed.
Consequences of Breaking Work Conditions
Violating work conditions (e.g., working more than 48 hours per fortnight during the academic term) may result in:
- Fines or legal action
- Visa cancellation
- Deporting from Australia
- Difficulties in obtaining future Australian visas
Post-Study Work Opportunities (Visa subclass 485)
If you wish to work unlimited hours in Australia to gain more experience, you can do so after completing your studies.
All you need to do is to enroll in a two-year course in Australia, successfully complete the course, and then apply for a Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485). With a 485 visa, you can stay, work, and study in Australia for:
- Up to 18 months if you have completed a vocational course.
- Up to 3 years if you have completed a higher education course.
Contact SOL Edu at 07 3003 1899 or hello@soledu.net or fill out the enquiry form to learn more!