From 1 July 2023, the Australian Government will re-introduce limits on the number of work hours allowed for student visa holders (subclass 500) studying and working in Australia.
Student visa work restrictions were relaxed throughout the pandemic, and temporarily removed in January 2022. This temporary arrangement will end on 30 June 2023.
From 1 July 2023, the number of work hours allowed during study terms and semesters will be capped at the increased amount of 48 hours per fortnight, during study terms and semesters.
This ensures that student visa holders can focus on their learning in Australia, but also take up paid employment and gain valuable work experience while they study.
The Australian Government has also announced that student visa holders already working in the aged care sector on 9 May 2023 can continue to work unrestricted hours in the aged care sector until 31 December 2023.
You must continue to balance your study and work commitments even though there is flexibility in the number of hours you can work.
You must still:
If you cancel your enrolment and stop attending classes, or fail to meet satisfactory course progress, you may be in breach of your visa conditions.
International students have the same rights under Australian workplace law as all other employees. Therefore, employers must continue to follow Australian workplace law. Under these laws, employers cannot allow a student visa holder to work in breach of their visa conditions.
If you are not being treated fairly in the workplace, please contact the Fair Work Ombudsman as soon as possible. Your employer cannot cancel your visa, and the Department of Home Affairs will not cancel your visa for reporting workplace exploitation to the Fair Work Ombudsman, even if you have worked more than the allowed number of hours in a fortnight.