One of the great perks of studying in Australia is the ability to work part-time while you're there. Whether you want to earn extra income to support your living costs, gain local work experience, or simply get more involved in your new community, Australia offers international students real, meaningful work opportunities — all backed by some of the world's strongest workplace protections.
This guide covers everything you need to know: how many hours you can work, what you'll earn, your legal rights, and how to stay on the right side of your visa conditions.
Disclaimer: This article is intended as general information only and is subject to change as policies are updated. For the most current and official guidance, always check the Australian Department of Home Affairs and the Fair Work Ombudsman.
The 48-Hour Fortnight Rule: What You Need to Know
If you hold an Australian Student Visa (Subclass 500), you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session. A fortnight is defined as any consecutive 14-day period beginning on a Monday.
Here's what that looks like in practice:
You don't need to split your hours evenly — you could work 30 hours one week and 18 the next, as long as the combined total across any 14-day period doesn't exceed 48 hours.
Watch out for rolling fortnights. The 48-hour limit applies to any consecutive 14-day window — not just calendar fortnights. For example, if you work 25 hours in Week 2 and 30 hours in Week 3, that's 55 hours across those 14 days — a breach — even if each individual fortnight looks fine on paper. Track your hours carefully.
During Semester Breaks
Great news: once your official semester break begins, you can work unlimited hours. This applies to scheduled course holidays, inter-semester breaks, and public holidays that fall within a break period.
Postgraduate Research Students
If you're completing a Masters by Research or a PhD, you have unlimited work rights throughout the year — including during your course sessions — once your degree has officially commenced.
Before Your Course Starts
You cannot begin working until your course has officially started. This applies even if you arrive in Australia early. All paid work — casual shifts, part-time roles, contract work under an ABN — counts toward your 48-hour limit. Unpaid volunteering for approved non-profit organizations typically does not count.
Understanding Your Visa Conditions: 8105 vs 8104
If you've been searching for information about work rights and come across the terms "condition 8105" or "condition 8104," here's what they mean:
Condition 8105 applies to the primary student visa holder (that's you). It limits you to 48 hours of work per fortnight while your course is in session, with unlimited hours during official breaks. Masters by Research and PhD students are exempt from the hourly limit once their course commences.
Condition 8104 applies to dependents (family members) travelling with you on a secondary visa. It also limits them to 48 hours per fortnight — but unlike 8105, the unlimited break-time work rights do not apply to dependents, unless the primary student is completing a Masters or doctoral degree.
If you're unsure which conditions apply to your visa, check your visa grant notice or use the government's VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) tool.
What You'll Earn: Minimum Wage in Australia (2026)
Australia has one of the highest minimum wages in the world — and as an international student, you're entitled to the exact same pay rates as local workers.
As of 1 July 2025, the National Minimum Wage is AUD $24.95 per hour (or $948.00 for a 38-hour week), set by the Fair Work Commission following its Annual Wage Review.
What does that mean in practice? If you work the maximum 48 hours per fortnight at the minimum wage, you'd earn approximately $1,197.60 before tax every two weeks — around $2,395 per month. In reality, many students earn more than this, as most casual roles in hospitality and retail are covered by award rates that sit above the minimum wage.
Penalty Rates: Earning More on Evenings and Weekends
One of the best things about working in Australia as a student is penalty rates — higher pay rates that apply when you work outside standard weekday hours. Many student-friendly industries like hospitality and retail have generous penalty rates, meaning your weekend shifts can pay significantly more than your weekday ones.
Exact rates depend on your Modern Award, but typical rates include:
For example, a hospitality worker earning $25/hour on a weekday could earn around $37.50–$50/hour on a Sunday or public holiday.
You can use the Fair Work Ombudsman's free Pay and Conditions Tool to look up the exact award rates for your industry.
Casual Loading
Most student workers are employed casually, which comes with an additional 25% loading on top of your base rate to compensate for the lack of leave entitlements. So if the minimum casual hourly rate is $24.95, casual employees are entitled to at least $31.19 per hour (Fair Work Ombudsman).
Common Jobs for International Students
The most popular industries for student workers in Australia offer flexible shifts that can easily be scheduled around your classes:
- Hospitality — cafés, restaurants, bars, and hotels
- Retail — clothing stores, supermarkets, and shopping centres
- Food delivery — flexible gig-economy options with apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats
- Tutoring — on-campus or online, particularly for students with strong academic results
- On-campus roles — library assistants, student ambassadors, and administrative positions
Tax: Getting Your Tax File Number (TFN)
Before you start work, you'll need a Tax File Number (TFN) — a unique identifier issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) that allows your employer to withhold the correct amount of tax from your pay. Without one, your employer is legally required to withhold tax at the maximum rate of 47%, so getting your TFN sorted early is essential.
How to Apply for Your TFN
International students on a Student Visa (Subclass 500) can apply for a TFN online through the ATO's Individual Auto Registration (IAR) system:
- Go to the ATO TFN application page
- Complete the online form — takes around 20 minutes; have your passport and visa details ready
- Provide an Australian postal address — your TFN will be mailed to this address
- Allow up to 28 days for processing and delivery
Applying is completely free. Be wary of any third-party websites charging a fee for this — always apply directly through the ATO.
You must already be in Australia to apply. You can't apply from your home country before you arrive.
Staying Compliant: What Happens If You Exceed Your Hours?
Breaching visa condition 8105 is serious and can have significant consequences, including visa cancellation. The Department of Home Affairs monitors compliance through tax records, ABN activity, and employer reporting — so breaches are more traceable than many students realize.
Here's how to stay on track:
- Track your hours in real time — use a simple timesheet app or spreadsheet. Log every shift as it happens, not at the end of the week
- Know your fortnight start date — your fortnight resets every Monday. Keep a rolling count across the current 14-day window
- Count all paid work — this includes hours across multiple employers. If you have two part-time jobs, your hours from both count toward your 48-hour limit
- Confirm your semester dates — make sure you know exactly when your course sessions begin and end so you can switch to unlimited hours accurately during breaks
- Use VEVO — employers can verify your work rights using the VEVO system, and you can use it too to double-check your own conditions at any time
Your Rights as a Worker in Australia
This is worth saying clearly: international students have exactly the same workplace rights as Australian workers under the Fair Work Act. Your visa status does not reduce your entitlements.
That means you're entitled to:
- The National Minimum Wage (or applicable award rate, whichever is higher)
- Penalty rates for evenings, weekends, and public holidays
- Superannuation contributions (12% of your earnings from 1 July 2025, paid into a super fund by your employer)
- Safe working conditions
- Protection from unfair dismissal
- The right to report workplace issues without fear of visa consequences
If you believe you're being underpaid or treated unfairly, you can contact the Fair Work Ombudsman confidentially. The FWO has resources specifically for international students and offers support in multiple languages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. International students on a Subclass 500 Student Visa can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, and unlimited hours during official semester breaks.
As of 1 July 2025, the National Minimum Wage is $24.95 per hour. Most casual student workers are also entitled to a 25% casual loading on top of this, bringing the minimum casual rate to $31.19/hour.
Up to 48 hours per fortnight (any consecutive 14-day period starting on a Monday) while your course is in session. There is no limit during official semester breaks.
It means you can work a total of 48 hours across any 14-day window beginning on a Monday. You don't need to split this evenly across both weeks — but you need to track your hours on a rolling basis to ensure you never exceed the cap in any 14-day period.
Yes — once your official semester break begins, there is no cap on your working hours. This is a popular time for students to pick up extra shifts and build savings.
Condition 8105 is the work restriction that applies to primary Student Visa holders. It limits you to 48 hours of work per fortnight during course sessions. Note that Masters by Research and PhD students are exempt from this limit once their degree commences.
Condition 8105 applies to the primary student. Condition 8104 applies to dependents (family members). While both generally limit work to 48 hours per fortnight, dependents of Masters by Coursework, Research, or PhD students typically have unlimited work rights once the primary student's course begins.
Breaching your visa conditions can result in visa cancellation. The Department of Home Affairs monitors compliance strictly. Always track your hours using a logbook or app to stay safe.
Yes. Once a Masters by Research or Doctoral degree has officially commenced, the primary visa holder has unlimited work rights year-round with no hourly cap.
Yes. You should apply for a TFN through the ATO website as soon as you arrive. Without one, your employer is legally required to withhold tax at the highest marginal rate. Applying is free and essential for receiving your correct pay.
Working in Australia is a genuinely rewarding experience — not just for the income, but for the friendships you'll build, the skills you'll develop, and the confidence that comes from navigating a new professional environment. With the right information in your corner, you can make the most of every hour.
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Last updated April 2026. Visa conditions, wage rates, and tax rules can change. Always verify current requirements with the Australian Department of Home Affairs, the Fair Work Ombudsman, and the Australian Taxation Office.