Your Complete Work Rights Guide
Understand your limits, stay compliant, and make the most of your allowed hours and earnings during your studies in Australia.
Work Rights Overview
As a Student Visa (Subclass 500) holder, you have the right to work in Australia, but there are strict limits you need to follow to keep your visa valid.
What is a Fortnight?
A rolling 14-day period, counted from the very date your course commences (not a standard calendar fortnight).
What is a Scheduled Break?
Published university or institution break periods between terms or semesters, strictly as listed on your education provider's official calendar.
Rules & Obligations
How Fortnight Counting Works
The 48-hour limit applies to rolling 14-day periods starting from the date your course commences. This isn't aligned to calendar weeks; it's a rolling 14-day cycle.
Calculation Scenario
If your course started on Monday, each fortnight runs Monday to the second Sunday. If you worked 30 hours for Employer A and 15 hours for Employer B in that period, your total is 45 hours — leaving only 3 hours available before breaching your cap, regardless of the job.
Total Across All Jobs
The 48-hour limit is your total across every job you hold. If you have two part-time jobs, the hours from both count toward your shared fortnight limit.
What Constitutes "Work"
Counts Toward Your Limit
- Paid employment of any type (cash, TFN, ABN)
- Volunteer work that would normally attract a wage
- Formal labor in family businesses
Doesn't Count
- Unpaid internships that form a registered, mandated credit portion of your actual university syllabus.
Breach Penalties
Working beyond 48 hours is a hard breach of Condition 8105 on your visa. Consequences cascade severely.
Formal Warning
The Department of Home Affairs issues a formal warning and flags your record.
Visa Cancellation Risk
Section 116 of Migration Act invokes visa cancellation for condition breaches.
3-Year Exclusion Period
You may be banned from applying for any Australian visa for 3 years.
How WHV Platform Solves This
Our tools are built to help student visa holders avoid accidental breaches.
Automated Tracking
Aggregates exact worked hours across every platform employer automatically against your rolling 14-day limit.
Smart Scheduling
Enter your term and break dates once, and we'll adjust your limits automatically.
Active Blocks
Displays live warnings to both you and your employers before rostering would exceed limits.
Plan Your Next Visa
When you finish studying, we'll help you switch to a Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417/462) with much of the work already done.
DisclaimerInformation current as of 2026. This content is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, immigration, or professional advice. Always verify with theDepartment of Home Affairs.