Can international students work while studying in Australia? Learn the 48-hour fortnight rule, exemptions for PhD students, breach consequences, and how Australian Immigration Consultants helps you stay visa-compliant while earning.
Yes — but only within limits set by the Department of Home Affairs, and getting them wrong can cost you your visa. If you hold a Subclass 500 Student Visa, you're allowed to work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during official breaks. This guide breaks down the current 2026 work rights rules, who's exempt, what counts as a breach, and how to stay compliant while you earn.
Under visa condition 8105, Subclass 500 holders can work:
| Situation | Work Hours Allowed |
|---|---|
| Course in session (term time) | Up to 48 hours per fortnight |
| Official scheduled breaks | Unlimited hours |
| Before course commencement | No work permitted |
| Master's by Research / PhD students | Unlimited, once course has started |
A "fortnight" isn't your calendar fortnight — it's any rolling 14-day period starting on a Monday. That distinction trips up more students than any other part of the rule, because working slightly over in one rolling window can technically breach your visa even if each individual pay cycle looks fine.
Not every hour you spend earning money counts the same way toward your cap. Generally included:
Generally excluded:
If you're unsure whether a placement or unpaid role counts, check with your education provider or confirm your specific conditions via VEVO before assuming it's exempt.
Because the 14-day window rolls continuously rather than resetting on a fixed calendar date, it's possible to breach the cap without realising it. For example, working 25 hours in one week and 30 hours in the following week totals 55 hours across that rolling fortnight — a breach — even though neither individual week looks alarming on its own.
Not every student visa holder is bound by the same limit:
Your specific entitlements are always confirmed on VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online), which reflects your individual visa grant conditions.
Speak directly with registered migration professionals to evaluate your visa pathways.
Exceeding your permitted hours is a breach of visa condition 8105, and Home Affairs actively monitors compliance through employer reporting and data matching. Consequences can include:
A single accidental overage is treated differently to a pattern of repeated breaches, but neither is worth the risk when the fix — simply tracking your hours — is straightforward.
As of the current Fair Work minimum wage, casual student workers are entitled to at least $24.95 per hour, plus a 25% casual loading, bringing the minimum casual rate to roughly $31.19 per hour. At the full 48-hour fortnightly cap, that translates to meaningful supplementary income — though Home Affairs is clear that your financial capacity evidence at application stage should not rely on future part-time earnings; you must already demonstrate genuine access to living cost funds independently of any job.
Australian Immigration Consultants can review your visa conditions and help you set up a simple tracking system so you never risk a condition 8105 breach. Call +61 424 295 050 or email contact@australianimmigrationconsultants.com.
Balancing study, work, and visa compliance is one of the most common stress points for international students — and one small miscalculation can put your entire stay at risk. Australian Immigration Consultants supports students by:
Getting clear, accurate guidance before you start work is far easier than untangling a visa condition breach after the fact.
Expert guidance tailored to your unique journey. Get a personalized roadmap from a Registered Migration Agent today.
