Working while you study in Australia: the 48-hour rule

Student visa holders can work, within limits. The rules changed after the pandemic-era removal of the cap ended.

The cap

Condition 8105 limits you to 48 hours of work every fortnight while your course is in session. A fortnight is a fixed two-week period, not any rolling 14 days. During scheduled course breaks there is no limit.

Exemptions

• Postgraduate research students (masters by research and PhD) have no cap once the course has started.
• Hours in a registered course's mandatory work placement do not count.
• Volunteering for a non-profit, for no pay, generally does not count.

Practicalities

You need a Tax File Number to work and to avoid being taxed at the top rate. Apply online once you arrive using your passport and visa. Superannuation is paid on top of your wage by the employer; you can claim most of it when you leave Australia permanently.

Why the cap is enforced

Exceeding 48 hours a fortnight is a visa breach. It can lead to cancellation and it will surface if you later apply for a graduate or skilled visa, because tax and superannuation records show your hours. Employers who roster international students over the limit are also breaking the law, but the visa consequence lands on you.