Work Rights on the Student Visa (Subclass 500): How Many Hours?
Can international students work?
Yes. The subclass 500 (Student) visa allows international students to work in Australia — one of the things that makes studying in Australia appealing compared with some other countries.
However, work rights are not unlimited and come with mandatory conditions. Breaching the work rules is a breach of a visa condition — and it can lead to visa cancellation.
The work-hour limit
The work-hour rules for the subclass 500 visa have changed several times in recent years. As of mid-2026:
While your course is in session: The Australian Government adjusted the work-hour limit after the COVID period. Check the specific conditions on your own visa through ImmiAccount — the hour limit is stated in your visa grant letter.
During an official course break (vacation period): There is generally no hour limit during your institution’s official break — but you need to confirm how your provider defines a break.
Important note: Check your visa conditions at the time you lodge and when you are granted the visa — do not rely on old information from forums, because the rules change frequently. The official website is immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
How are work hours counted?
When an hour limit applies, DHA counts work hours per fortnight (a period of 14 calendar days), not per single week or per month. This means:
- If the limit is X hours per fortnight, you cannot work X+Y hours in one week and then fewer the next week to balance it out
- Each fortnight is counted independently
Many students misunderstand this and breach the limit by accident — especially when working casual shifts with variable hours.
What counts as “work”?
All paid work counts towards the hour limit:
- Employment (working for a wage)
- Contract work (as a contractor)
- Self-employment, in some cases
Volunteer work (unpaid): Does not count towards the hour limit — but it must be genuine volunteering, not economically valuable work labelled as volunteering.
Compulsory placement/internship that is part of your course: A placement that is a required part of your study program usually does not count towards the hour limit — check with your provider and DHA to confirm for your specific program.
Are any occupations restricted?
The subclass 500 visa does not restrict the type of work you can do — you can take any lawful job in Australia within the permitted hour limit.
That said, from a permanent-residence perspective, working in your field of study is a far better investment than taking any job just to earn money:
- Experience related to your field of study can count in a skills assessment
- Australian experience under the right ANZSCO code can earn points in a later EOI
- A reference letter from an employer in your field is worth more than a reference from a restaurant
Consequences of a breach
Working more than the permitted hours breaches a visa condition. The consequences can include:
- Cancellation of your current subclass 500 visa
- An effect on future visa applications (a history of breaches is recorded)
DHA can check through tax records (ATO) and information from employers. Not every breach is detected immediately, but when it is detected — often when you lodge a new visa and DHA reviews your history — the consequences are serious.
Work rights while waiting on a bridging visa
If you are in Australia on a bridging visa while waiting for a new subclass 500 visa or a subclass 485 visa to be processed, your work rights depend on the conditions of that bridging visa — they are not automatically the same as the subclass 500. Check your bridging visa grant letter.