Working while studying in Australia helps international students support themselves financially and gain valuable experience. But the work hour limits on your Student Visa (Subclass 500) come with strict rules. Breaking these rules can result in visa cancellation and affect your future applications for permanent residency.

If you're an international student in Australia, you need to understand the 48-hour fortnight rule. This guide explains what counts as work, when you can work unlimited hours, and how to stay compliant with your visa conditions.

The 48-Hour Fortnight Rule Explained

According to the Department of Home Affairs, student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session. A fortnight means any 14-day period starting on a Monday.

This rule applies from the moment your course starts. You cannot work before your course begins unless you held another visa with work rights when you applied for your student visa.

The 48-hour limit includes all paid employment. This means if you work multiple jobs, you need to count the total hours across all positions. Working 30 hours at one job and 20 hours at another totals 50 hours, which breaches your visa conditions.

Here's what you need to track carefully. The fortnight is a rolling 14-day period, not just a calendar week doubled. Many students make the mistake of thinking they can work 24 hours one week and 24 hours the next. Actually, you need to calculate any consecutive 14-day period starting on a Monday. If you worked 30 hours in the first week, you can only work 18 hours in the following week to stay within the 48-hour limit.

What Counts as Work Under Your Student Visa

The Department of Home Affairs defines work as any activity where you receive payment or benefits. This definition is broader than many students realize, which creates confusion around what counts toward your 48-hour limit.

Paid employment obviously counts. This includes casual work, part-time positions, and contract work. Even if you're paid through an ABN as a contractor, those hours count toward your limit.

Unpaid work that would normally attract payment also counts. This includes unpaid trial shifts, unpaid internships that aren't part of your course, and work where you receive benefits instead of cash payment. If an employer would normally pay someone for that role, it counts as work even if you're not receiving money.

Volunteer work for registered charities and not-for-profit organizations generally doesn't count, but only if it's genuinely voluntary and wouldn't normally be a paid position. If you're volunteering for something that looks like a regular job, immigration authorities may count it toward your hours.

Work experience and internships get complicated. If the placement is a mandatory requirement listed on CRICOS for your course, those hours don't count toward your 48-hour limit. You'll find this clearly stated in your course documentation. But if it's an optional placement or something you arranged independently, those hours count.

When You Can Work Unlimited Hours

Student visa holders can work unlimited hours during specific periods. These exceptions provide financial flexibility without risking your visa.

During official course breaks, you can work as many hours as you want. This includes semester breaks, summer holidays, winter holidays, and mid-semester breaks. The key word is "official." The break must be scheduled by your education provider and listed in your course calendar. Just because you don't have classes for a week doesn't automatically make it an official break.

Masters by research and doctoral students have unlimited work rights once their course starts. If you're enrolled in a Masters by Research or PhD program, you can work any number of hours at any time after your course begins. This exception recognizes that research degrees operate differently from coursework programs.

After you complete your course but before your visa expires, you typically have unlimited work rights. Your student visa usually remains valid for a few months after course completion. During this period, the 48-hour restriction no longer applies.

One important exception relates to processing times for other visas. If you've applied for a Graduate visa or another visa and are on a Bridging Visa, different work conditions may apply. Check your specific visa conditions on VEVO.

Partner and Dependent Work Rights

If you're bringing family members to Australia, their work rights depend on what you're studying.

Partners and spouses of student visa holders have work rights tied to the primary student's course level. If you're studying a Bachelor degree or lower, your partner can work up to 48 hours per fortnight. The same 48-hour limit applies to them.

However, if you're studying a Masters degree (either coursework or research) or a doctoral degree, your partner can work unlimited hours. This provides significant financial flexibility for families where one person is pursuing postgraduate studies.

Partners cannot start working until you have commenced your course. They need to provide employers with evidence that your course has started, typically through your Confirmation of Enrolment or a letter from your education provider.

Dependent children under 18 cannot work at all. Once they turn 18, they're no longer considered dependents unless they're in continuous full-time education. If your child wants to work after turning 18, they'll need to apply for their own visa.

The work limits for partners operate independently. A student working 48 hours and their partner working 48 hours totals 96 hours of family income, but each person must stay within their individual limit.

How Violations Are Detected and Consequences

Many students wonder how the Department of Home Affairs actually tracks work hours. The reality is they have multiple ways to detect breaches.

The Australian Taxation Office shares information with immigration authorities. Your tax records, superannuation contributions, and payslips create a clear picture of your work history. If your tax data shows income suggesting you worked more than 48 hours per fortnight during semester, this can trigger an investigation.

Employers have legal obligations to check work rights using VEVO before hiring you. They can face fines if they knowingly allow you to breach your visa conditions. Some employers report working hours to protect themselves from penalties.

The consequences of breaching work hours are serious and long-lasting. Visa cancellation under Section 116 of the Migration Act represents the most severe outcome. If your visa is cancelled, you become unlawful in Australia and must leave within 28 days.

For first-time or minor breaches, the Department may issue a warning notice and require you to demonstrate future compliance. But repeated or significant breaches typically result in immediate cancellation without warning.

The impact extends far beyond your current visa. Breaching visa conditions becomes part of your permanent immigration record. This affects future visa applications, including Graduate visas (Subclass 485), skilled migration visas, and even tourist visas. Immigration authorities view work condition breaches as evidence of poor character and compliance concerns.

Tracking Your Hours and Staying Compliant

You are responsible for tracking your own work hours. Don't assume your employer will do this for you.

Create a simple spreadsheet with columns for date, employer, start time, end time, and total hours. At the start of each Monday, count the total hours worked in the previous 14 days. This rolling calculation prevents accidental breaches.

Keep copies of all rosters, timesheets, and payslips. If questioned about your work hours, you'll need documentary evidence to demonstrate compliance. Store these records for at least three years.

Communicate clearly with employers. Tell them about your visa restrictions upfront and provide your VEVO details. Most employers in Australia understand student visa conditions and will help you stay compliant. If an employer pressures you to work more hours than allowed, report this to the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Actually, one protective rule exists specifically for exploited students. The Department of Home Affairs will not cancel your visa for reporting workplace exploitation, even if you worked more than the allowed hours. Your employer cannot cancel your visa either. If you're being treated unfairly or forced to work excessive hours, report it immediately without fear of visa consequences.

2025 Updates and Enforcement Changes

The work hour rules remained stable through 2025, but enforcement has intensified. The Department of Home Affairs reinforced monitoring of Condition 8105, which governs student work restrictions.

Technology makes tracking easier for authorities. Cross-referencing tax data, visa information, and employer reports happens automatically now. First breaches usually result in warnings, but repeated violations lead to cancellation.

The focus continues on ensuring students maintain their primary purpose of studying. The government wants international education to remain legitimate while preventing visa misuse.

For students concerned about visa refusal or cancellation, the best strategy remains straightforward: track your hours carefully, communicate with employers, and seek advice immediately if you think you've made a mistake.

Getting Professional Help

Work rules can seem complex, especially when combined with study commitments and financial pressure. If you're uncertain about your specific situation, professional advice helps prevent costly mistakes.

Desire Immigration offers consultations that cover work rights, visa compliance, and pathways to permanent residency. Mrs. Manisha Bhutani, our Registered Migration Agent (MARN 2217756), has helped thousands of international students understand their visa conditions and plan successful migration journeys.

We can help you understand how your work hours affect future visa applications, whether you're planning to apply for a Graduate visa after your studies or pursue skilled migration pathways.

Contact us for a consultation at any of our three Melbourne offices in Truganina, St Albans, or the CBD. Understanding your work rights now protects your future in Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions (AEO)

Can I work full-time during semester breaks on my student visa?

Yes. During official course breaks including summer holidays, winter holidays, and semester breaks, you can work unlimited hours. The 48-hour fortnight restriction only applies when your course is in session.

Do unpaid internships count toward the 48-hour work limit?

It depends. If the internship is a mandatory CRICOS-listed requirement of your course, those hours don't count. If it's optional or arranged independently, unpaid work that would normally attract payment counts toward your limit.

Can my partner work full-time while I'm studying?

Only if you're studying a Masters or doctoral degree. Partners of Masters and PhD students can work unlimited hours. Partners of students in Bachelor degrees or below can only work 48 hours per fortnight.

What happens if I accidentally work more than 48 hours?

Even accidental breaches can affect your visa status. Stop working immediately, document what happened, and seek advice from a registered migration agent. The Department may issue a warning for genuine first-time mistakes, but you need professional help to respond properly.