Working in Australia
Applying for Permission to Work (PDF)
The following comprises selected extracts from the Department of Immigration & Citizenship (DIAC) Website
Before you apply for a student visa with permission to work, please complete a UWS Proof of Commencement of Study Form. This form needs to be signed off by lecturers/tutors and returned to your International Student Advisor. The International Office will then electronically confirm commencement of study to DIMA making it possible for you to apply online for an Evisa.
Once you have had your commencement activated by the ISA, you can lodge your application as explained in the attached DIAC advice sheet.
All initial student visas are granted with the condition 8101, No
Work. You and members of your family can apply for permission
to work only after you have commenced your studies in
Australia.
The information in this area will help you to:
- understand the visa conditions relating to working while studying, and
- apply for permission to work on a student visa.
Maximum hours permitted
If you are given permission to work, there will be restrictions on the number of hours you will be allowed to work in a week. The following table describes the maximum work hours permitted after a permission to work visa has been granted.
See also: Student visa types (subclasses) and conditions
|
If you are granted permission to work as a ... |
Then you may work for ... |
|
student |
a maximum of 20 hours a week during the term, not including work that is a formal registered part of your course, and unlimited hours during recognised periods of vacation. |
|
member of a student's family (condition 8104) |
a maximum of 20 hours a week throughout the year for the duration of your visa. |
|
member of a family unit under visa subclass: |
a maximum of 20 hours a week at all times (condition 8104),
when you are studying any preliminary course, or |
Course practical work
You may undertake a work placement as part of your course requirements as long as it is a registered part of your course. Check with your Head of Degree Program, or UWS International if the work is a registered component of the course.
Volunteer work/unpaid work
If you volunteer or take part in unpaid work, then you must apply for permission to work.
Any volunteer or unpaid work counts towards the limit of 20 hours per week.
New visa label
If you are granted permission to work, a new visa label will be put into your passport.
It will have a work limitation condition (8105 or 8104), instead of the no work condition (8101).
(Exception: if you are a dependant on a subclass 574 (masters/doctorate sector) or subclass 576 (AusAID or Defence-sponsored) student visa and are granted permission to work after the student starts their masters or doctorate course, you will not have any work restriction condition on your visa label.)
Tax file number
You need to obtain a Tax File Number (TFN) to work in Australia. You can obtain a TFN through the Australian Tax Office. You will need to contact them about their requirements and processes. See: Australia Tax Office website
Online services - students
Applications for some
Australian visas can be made using a computer with an Internet
connection. This service is in addition to making applications by
mail or in person at a departmental office in Australia or an Australian Government office
overseas. Please note!
To implement improvements, the eVisa and citizenship eLodgement websites pages may be unavailable every Wednesday between:
06:30 to 07:30 (AEDT) - 19:30 to 20:30 (GMT):
Information on maintenance schedules outside these times will be made available on this page as they are announced. We apologise for any inconvenience.
What you need
To apply for a visa on the Internet, your browser must support 128 bit encryption. You can check your browser now , or later if you experience problems connecting to these services.
Available services
Internet services are being progressively introduced. At present, student-related Internet services are:
Student visa services
For applicants applying
from outside Australia to study in Australia. Services available
are:
For applicants applying from within Australia to study in
Australia. Services available are:
For student visa holders
and accompanying family unit members applying from within Australia for
permission to work. Services available are:
Related visa services
Online visa enquiry
facility Continue application
Continue your partially-complete Internet visa application.
Download student checklists
Download checklists required with your Internet-submitted student visa application
Do you need help?
If you are experiencing difficulty with an online visa application, help is available in the following ways:
- from within the online visa application itself - most fields have associated help that can be accessed by clicking on the symbol or
- take the online Electronic Visa Tutorial or
- email help desk or
- telephone.
If the help within the online visa application does not meet your needs, then please contact the department in the following way:
|
If you are applying online for a |
Contact the department by |
|
Student visa and you are OUTSIDE Australia |
|
|
Student visa and you are IN Australia |
telephone 131 881 during normal Australian business hours |
|
Permission to work on a Student visa and you are IN Australia |
telephone 131 881 during normal Australian business hours |
Important: there is no email help desk for students who are applying for a visa from within Australia. Due to limited resources, messages sent by students within Australia will not be answered. Instead, students should call 131 881 for assistance.