Part-Time Work Rights for International Students in Australia

International students in Australia on a Student visa (Subclass 500) can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, and unlimited hours during official course breaks, under visa condition 8105.

Getting these numbers wrong is one of the easiest ways to put your visa at risk, and it’s one of the biggest sources of stress for international students juggling study, work and rent.

This guide covers who can work, how many hours, typical pay, where to find a job, and what happens if you go over the limit, so you can plan your part-time work safely and with confidence. If you’re still deciding on a destination, our guide to why study in Australia is a good place to start.

Your Work Rights at a Glance

Can International Students Work Part-Time in Australia?

Yes. If you’re on a Student visa (Subclass 500) and meet visa condition 8105, you can work part-time in Australia. A couple of things to keep in mind:

• Your Subclass 500 visa needs to stay tied to a registered course. Our Australia student visa guide covers the full Subclass 500 requirements if you’re still applying.
• You can only start working from the course start date on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), unless you already held a different visa that allowed you to work.

How Many Hours Can You Work as an International Student?

Under visa condition 8105, most Subclass 500 holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, combined across every job you hold. That cap disappears during scheduled breaks, approved deferrals or suspensions, and after course completion while your visa is still valid. Once you’re on a master’s by research or doctorate, the 48-hour cap doesn’t apply at all, from the moment your course officially starts.

A fortnight is a 14-day period, but guidance on exactly how it’s counted varies slightly: some sources treat it as any rolling 14-day window, while other legal commentary treats it as a fixed block running from Monday to the second following Sunday. Either way, you can’t average your hours across fortnights; going even one hour over 48 in a single fortnight counts as a breach.

Quick tip: Check your CoE start date and your university’s official academic calendar before you accept any job. That’s the easiest way to know which weeks are “in session” (capped) and which are official breaks (uncapped), without accidentally breaching your visa conditions.

There’s also a proposal on the table to raise the fortnightly cap from 48 to 60 hours from around 1 July 2026, but it isn’t law yet. Until it’s confirmed, the current 48-hour limit still applies.

What Can You Earn? Minimum Wage and Typical Pay

Understanding pay matters just as much as understanding your hour limits, both for budgeting and for spotting underpayment. Australia’s National Minimum Wage is $26.44 an hour, or $1,004.90 a week for a full-time 38-hour week. This is the legal minimum base rate, though some casual or award-based roles carry different loadings, and employers must pay at least the rate set by the Fair Work Commission.

Actual pay depends on industry, award, location and experience, but here’s what to expect in the roles students take on most:

• Hospitality (cafes, restaurants): Pay sits at or above the national minimum wage, with potential penalty rates for weekends, nights and public holidays.
• Retail: Pay sits near or above minimum wage, with penalty rates for certain hours under the relevant award.
• Tutoring and academic support: Paid per hour, and can run higher for specialised subjects or private tuition.
• Campus roles: Usually aligned with public sector or university agreements, often above the basic minimum wage.

A couple of things to check on every payslip: if you earn above the relevant threshold and meet eligibility, your employer must contribute a percentage of your ordinary earnings to superannuation, and every employer must issue regular payslips showing hours worked, pay rate, tax withheld and super contributions.

For a fuller picture of how this pay stacks up against everyday expenses, see our guide to the cost of studying in Australia.

Popular Part-Time Jobs for International Students

Most students look for jobs that fit around classes and build local experience along the way. Common options include:

• Hospitality (cafes, restaurants, bars): Flexible evening and weekend shifts, and a solid way to build customer service and communication skills.
• Retail (supermarkets, clothing stores, convenience stores): Regular shifts, often in shopping centres, that build sales, merchandising and teamwork skills.
• Campus roles: Library assistant, student ambassador, peer mentor or research assistant roles, all conveniently close to your academic environment.
• Tutoring and academic support: Helping other students in subjects you’re strong in, often paid well and aligned with your own expertise.
• Delivery and gig economy work: Food delivery or platform-based gigs. These still count towards your 48-hour cap even if you’re working under an ABN, so track hours carefully.

Once you’ve graduated, the job market shifts again. Our guide to in-demand jobs in Australia after study covers where the strongest long-term opportunities are.

How Do You Find a Part-Time Job in Australia?

Finding work is easier when you use several channels at once rather than relying on just one, and when you tailor each application to the Australian job market.

• University career services and job boards: Most universities run dedicated job boards, careers portals or email lists for student-friendly roles.
• Online job platforms: Sites such as Seek and Indeed list a wide range of part-time and casual jobs across hospitality, retail and other industries.
• On-campus recruitment drives and events: Career fairs, employer presentations and on-campus interviews are a great way to meet recruiters directly.

A few resume and cover letter tips worth following:

• Use a clear, concise resume highlighting local experience, language skills and relevant part-time roles.
• Include a short cover letter tailored to the job, showing you understand the business and how you can help.
• Emphasise soft skills: reliability, customer service, communication and the ability to work in a team.

What About Tax and Superannuation?

International students generally pay tax on income earned in Australia based on residency and tax rules, and at the end of the financial year, you may need to lodge a tax return to reconcile your income and tax withheld. Many students get a refund if too much tax was taken out.

If you make superannuation contributions while working and later leave Australia permanently, you may be eligible for a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP), depending on your eligibility and any applicable fees. And if you’re ever underpaid, unfairly dismissed, or working in unsafe conditions, the Fair Work Ombudsman can advise and support you; keep your payslips, rosters and records of communication, since they’re useful if you need to make a complaint.

What Happens if You Work More Than the Limit?

Working over 48 hours in a fortnight while your course is in session breaches visa condition 8105, and it can carry real consequences: warnings or added scrutiny of your case, potential visa cancellation in serious or repeated cases, and difficulty getting future Australian visas.

The Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) share data to monitor compliance, so your tax records, superannuation contributions and employer reporting can all reveal if your hours don’t line up with your visa conditions. Staying within your limits also protects your eligibility for longer-term pathways, including options like PR in Australia for students, if that’s part of your plan down the line.

A few practical habits keep you on the right side of the rules:

• Keep a detailed log of every job, including casual, part-time and ABN contract work.
• Track your hours per fortnight, not just per week.
• Coordinate across multiple employers so your combined hours never exceed 48 during study periods.

FAQs

How many hours can international students work in Australia?

Most international students on a Student visa (Subclass 500) can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.

Can international students work unlimited hours during holidays?

Yes. When your course isn’t in session, whether that’s an official break, an approved deferral, or after completion while your visa is still valid, condition 8105 doesn’t impose a work-hour cap.

Do international students pay tax in Australia?

Generally, yes. If you earn income in Australia, you’re usually required to pay tax and may need to lodge an annual tax return, just like domestic workers, depending on your tax residency and income level.

Can international students work before their course starts?

In most cases, no. You can’t work in Australia before your course starts, unless you already held another visa that permitted work at the time you applied for your student visa.

Is the 48-hour work limit changing in 2026?

There’s a proposal to raise the limit to 60 hours per fortnight from around 1 July 2026, but it hasn’t been approved or legislated yet. The current 48-hour cap still applies until any official change is confirmed.