Can You Work on an Australian Student Visa?
Working while studying is a popular option for international students, but there are strict rules that must be followed.
Currently, students can work a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight during term time and unlimited hours during study breaks. But from 2023, the government will cap the number of hours student visa holders can work.
Student visas
Australia offers several types of student visas, some of which allow students to work while studying in Australia. This is a great way to earn money while you’re in Australia, but there are certain rules that must be followed.
The Australian government has introduced a Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement which means that applicants must demonstrate they have a genuine intention to study in Australia and not be staying in the country for a permanent residency purpose or for their family to join them. This is a great integrity measure that’s aimed at keeping student visas from being used for other reasons.
In order to meet the GTE requirements, you’ll need to show that you have a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from your chosen education provider, and that you have paid the tuition deposit. The CoE confirms that you’ve been accepted into a course at an Australian university, and is necessary to apply for your student visa.
Once you’ve obtained your CoE, you can then apply for your student visa online. All international students will need to complete an application form, pay the application fee and possibly attend an interview.
One of the biggest challenges in obtaining a student visa is proving that you have enough funds to support yourself during your studies. This includes proving that you have money to pay for your tuition fees, travel costs and living expenses during your stay in Australia.
To prove this, you’ll need to provide evidence of your income. This can be a bank statement or other financial documents that prove you have sufficient money to cover your expenses during your stay in Australia.
You’ll also need to provide a criminal clearance certificate and a health check-up to prove that you’re in good physical condition and don’t have any medical conditions that could affect your ability to complete your studies. You should also ensure that you have valid Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your studies in Australia.
During your studies in Australia, you can only work up to 40 hours per fortnight. If you’re taking an internship subject as part of your course, it will count towards this limit.
Working holiday visas
Working holiday visas are designed to help young people (aged 18 to 30 years) travel and work in Australia for up to a year. They provide a unique opportunity for young travelers to immerse themselves in the country, meet locals, and gain work experience in their field.
The program allows young people from certain countries to apply for one of two visas–Working Holiday (subclass 417) or Work and Holiday (subclass 462). These visas allow young travelers to travel, work in Australia, and support themselves during their stay.
In order to be eligible for a working holiday visa, applicants must have a valid passport and meet certain health and criminal background requirements. They also need to have sufficient funds to live on during their time in Australia, and they can’t have a prior conviction that may disqualify them from receiving a visa.
Currently, the biggest groups of entrants to the program come from the UK, followed by Germany, Taiwan, South Korea and France. The largest employer industries are tourism, hospitality and agriculture, although it’s possible to find work in other sectors as well.
A Working Holiday Visa is a great option for those on a budget or on a gap year. These visas let you work to pay for your travel and accommodation, which is ideal for backpackers and travelers with limited funds.
You can apply for a second Working Holiday visa if you’re planning to stay in Australia longer than the initial period, as long as you can prove that you’ve worked in a similar industry for at least six months. In the past, the vast majority of second Working Holiday visas have been granted to those employed in agriculture, but this has changed in recent years.
The first year of a Working Holiday visa has restrictions that limit your ability to work with a single employer for more than six months, though you can return to the same employer in the following year. In 2006 the option of a second visa was extended to those employed in any regional primary industry, and in 2008 it was expanded to construction industries in regions of regional Australia.
Post-study work visas
If you’ve graduated from a higher education institution in Australia, you may be eligible for a post-study work visa. The visas allow you to stay in the country and look for a job after you graduate, with durations ranging from 18 months up to 6 years.
There are two types of post-study work visas: the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) and the Skilled Independent Graduate visa (subclass 476). The former is for international students who have recently completed a qualification relevant to an occupation on the Skilled Occupation List. The latter is for graduates of all other disciplines.
The temporary student visa allows you to work part-time during term time and full-time over the summer holidays. You can find out more about this by visiting the Department of Home Affairs website.
While a student visa allows you to work up to 20 hours a week, it does have some restrictions. These limits are in place to protect students from working in industries that can harm their studies and future job prospects.
These restrictions include no more than 40 hours a fortnight, working from a different location every week, and no more than 20 hours a week in any one industry. If you’re looking to earn some extra cash during your studies, it’s best to seek out jobs in sales, hospitality, retail, or customer service.
However, there are some exceptions to these rules. For instance, if you’re studying a health care related course and are supporting the government’s COVID-19 pandemic effort, you can work up to 40 hours a fortnight on top of your student visa requirements.
You must also have a tax file number when you’re working in Australia to be paid the right amount of tax. This is a unique number that stays with you, even if you change your employer, location or residency status.
From July 2023, the Australian government will reinstate the cap on student visa working hours. This move aims to tackle the country’s ongoing worker shortages. It will be a win-win for both international students and employers who are struggling to fill the gap in their workforces.
Work permit
Australia is a popular study destination for international students and it offers several work visa options for those who want to stay in the country after graduation. These include the Temporary Graduate visa (Subclass 485) and Skilled Recognised Graduate visa (Subclass 476) which allow students to stay in the country for up to 18 months after finishing their studies.
These visas are meant for international graduates who have skills and qualifications that are closely related to occupations that are in need in the Australian labour market. They also provide students with an opportunity to improve their English language skills if they’re enrolled in ELICOS.
If you’re planning to get a student visa in Australia, it is important to know that it is not an unlimited visa and there are rules that you must follow. This includes making sure that you’re attending your classes regularly and that you are completing your course in a timely manner.
It is also crucial to understand that you are allowed to work for a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight while studying in Australia, and no more than 20 hours during recognized school holidays. This is because you are still expected to maintain satisfactory course attendance and course progress while working, and if your work hours exceed this, you could be removed from the visa.
However, if you decide to pursue a post-study work permit, it is essential to remember that it should only be used as a temporary measure to assist you in getting an appropriate job. You should have a job in hand before you apply for a work permit, as it could take several months to receive the results of your application.
The main reason why many people choose to work on an Australian student visa is because they can make a lot of money while there. The Australian economy is very receptive to overseas workers, and it has many growth opportunities for those who have the right skill set and experience.
In the past, student visas were limited to 20 hours a fortnight while studying in Australia, but in November of last year the government introduced a new policy that allows students to work more than 40 hours a fortnight. This has been a controversial change and has been criticised by universities for its potential to divert student attention away from their studies.