How many hours can a student work in Australia 2021?

International students usually have this query that, “how many hours can a student work in Australia? ” Well, the Australian Government allows overseas students to work for 40 hours per fortnight in Australia. Australia is one of the most popular study destinations for foreign students. Millions of overseas students choose Australia for studies and work.

The Department of Home Affairs offers Student visa 500 to international students. They can study and work in Australia with Student visa 500. The Australian Government provides various benefits to Student visa holders. They can stay in Australia on a Student visa 500 until their course completes.

International students in Australia can work when their course starts. However, they must check the work rights on their visa before they decide to work. So keep reading to know the details about ” How many hours can a student work in Australia?” for overseas students in Australia.

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How many hours can a student work in Australia?

International students apply for Student Visa 500 to study in Australia. Visa 500 provides work rights to overseas students. They’re limited to work for 40 hours per fortnight during their course period. While they can work for unlimited hours during the semester breaks. Fortnight is a 14-days period. International students are allowed to work when their course starts in Australia.

So if you want to work in Australia and need assistance with the application process, then book a consultation with our registered migration agents!

Post-graduate students with Student visa 500 can work for unlimited hours. According to visa 500 conditions, you’re required to complete your course within the period mentioned in Electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE). Moreover, if you’ve added a dependent family member so, he can also work in Australia.

What If International Student Work More Than 20 Hours in Australia?

If international students work for more than 20 hours in Australia so, their Student visa will be cancelled. As it’s against the Australian laws and policies. Student visa 500 allows overseas students to work for only 20 hours during their course. They’re not allowed to work until their course starts. Moreover, if they work voluntarily, it won’t count in the 20 hours work limit.

International students can work full-time after the end of their course in Australia. The Australian Government offers different visas which allow students to work. You can apply to any Australian work visa according to your circumstances. Here’s the list of the top 5 visas to work in Australia.

Temporary Graduate Visa 485

Temporary Graduate visa 485 is a work visa. It’s for overseas students who’ve completed a 2-year study in Australia. If you want to extend your stay period after your course ends, you must apply for visa 485. Temporary Graduate visa 485 allows overseas students to stay for 18 months in Australia.

Applicants must be present in Australia while they apply for visa 485. Further, they must have held a Student visa 500 within the past 6 months when submitting the Temporary Graduate Visa application.

Once you obtain visa 485, you can work for unlimited hours without any restrictions. However, you must be under 50 years of age to be eligible for visa 485. The most interesting advantage of visa 485 is that you’ll get Australian PR. The temporary graduate visa holders can apply for permanent residency in Australia after 5 years.

Skilled Nominated Visa 190

Skilled Nominated Visa 190 is for the nominated skilled employees. The Australian state/territory government nominates highly proficient workers from overseas. It’s a permanent visa. You can live and work in Australia permanently with a visa 190.

If you’re passionate to build your career in Australia, then you must apply for visa 190. You must be under 45 years of age to apply for visa 190. Skilled Nominated Visa is points-based. You must score at least 65 points to obtain visa 190. The Department of Home Affairs asks applicants to submit a relevant skills assessment. Therefore, you must provide a positive skills assessment for your nominated occupation.

Applicants must submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) through SkillSelect. The Australian state/territory government nominates applicants based on their Expression of Interest (EOI). Once you’re nominated, the Department of Home Affairs will invite you to apply for visa 485.

Employer Nominated Scheme Visa 186

The Australian employers nominate the overseas employees to work in Australia under Employer Nominated Scheme Visa 186. It’s a permanent visa. You can permanently live, study, and work in Australia. However, you must have a minimum experience of 3 years in your work field. You’re required to submit a positive skills assessment unless you’re exempt.

You can apply for Australian citizenship if you’re eligible for it. You can also sponsor your family members to visit Australia. Employer Nominated Scheme Visa costs nearly AUD 4,115. You can be settled in Australia permanently after getting visa 186.

Watch “Apply Work Rights in Australia” on Youtube.

Skilled Work Regional Visa 491

Australia offers Skilled Work Regional Visa 491 to people who want to work in Australia. It’s a provisional visa. You can stay in Australia for 5 years with visa 491. Interestingly, this visa provides a pathway to permanent residency in Australia. As you can apply for PR in Australia after 3 years from the date your visa is granted.

Skilled Regional visa 491 allows you to work in the regional areas of Australia. You must be nominated by the Australian state/territory government for visa 491. If you’ve been nominated, the Department of Home Affairs will invite you to apply for a 491 visa. It costs around AUD 4,115. Make sure you meet all the visa conditions when you apply for Skilled Work Regional Visa 491.

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa 187

Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme Visa 187 is a permanent visa. Skilled workers and migrants can apply for visa 187 to work in Australia permanently. You’ve to pay AUD 4,045 to lodge an application for visa 187. You must have an Australian employer nominating you for a particular position in regional Australia.

To obtain visa 187, you must have at least 3 years of work experience in your field of occupation. You can travel from and to Australia for 5 years with visa 187. As you become a permanent resident of Australia when you’re granted visa 187. Therefore, you can avail all the facilities by the Australian Government.

You can enroll in Medicare which is Australia’s public healthcare scheme. You can avail the public healthcare services from Medicare. Moreover, if you’re eligible so you can also apply for Australian citizenship as well.

Conclusion

The Department of Home Affairs offers many work visas to overseas students and migrants in Australia. Each Australian visa has different eligibility criteria and requirements. International students who want to build a career in Australia must meet the visa requirements.

Students are usually concerned about how many hours can a student work in Australia? So, if you’re on Student visa 500 then you can work for 40 hours per fortnight. However, you can work for unlimited hours after completing your studies. Further, there’re many other visas through which you can work in Australia. So, if you want to apply for a work visa in Australia, you can book a consultation with our registered migration agents.

Nasir Nawaz

I’m Nasir Nawaz. I’m a registered migration consultant in Australia. I am based in Sydney. I’ve studied Master of Laws at the University of New South Wales. I’m providing immigration services for several years.

Consult with me for legal advice on Australian visas to permanently live, study, and work in Australia.