Australia's work-hour rule for international students has changed direction twice in the last four years, which is exactly why so many students are still working from outdated information. This guide gives you the current, verified rule for 2026, the full history of how we got here, and everything else — minimum wage, tax setup, and compliance risk — that determines how much you can actually earn while studying in Australia.
For a side-by-side comparison against the USA, UK, Canada, Germany, Ireland, and New Zealand, see our general guide to part-time work rules by country. This article goes deeper on Australia specifically.
The Current Rule (2026)
Subclass 500 student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session, and unlimited hours during officially scheduled course breaks.
| Detail | Rule |
|---|---|
| Hours during term ("in session") | 48 hours per fortnight (averages to roughly 24 hours/week) |
| Hours during official course breaks | Unlimited |
| Basis | Fortnightly (14-day rolling or fixed period, not weekly) |
| On-campus vs. off-campus | Counted together — no separate allowance for on-campus work |
| Multiple employers | Hours across all jobs are added together toward the same 48-hour cap |
| Masters (research) and PhD students | Not subject to the fortnightly cap — no restriction on work hours during study |
Because the limit is fortnightly rather than weekly, you can legally work more hours in one week and fewer in the next — as long as your total across any two-week period doesn't exceed 48 hours. Averaging across a whole semester is not permitted; the government looks at the fortnightly total.
How We Got Here: A Short History
| Period | Rule | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Before January 2022 | 40 hours per fortnight | The long-standing standard limit |
| January 2022 – June 2023 | Unlimited hours | Temporary pandemic-era measure to address labour shortages, especially in hospitality, aged care, and agriculture |
| From 1 July 2023 | 48 hours per fortnight | The unlimited-hours waiver ended; the government reinstated a cap, but set it higher than the pre-pandemic 40-hour limit |
| Proposed from 1 July 2026 | 60 hours per fortnight (not enacted) | A government proposal to raise the cap to 60 hours per fortnight has been discussed but has not become law — the 48-hour limit remains the binding rule as of late 2026 |
Always check the current figure before relying on it. Because this number has moved twice already and a further change has been publicly proposed, confirm the live rule on the Department of Home Affairs website before planning your semester's work schedule, especially close to a new term or a proposed policy start date.
Minimum Wage and What You Can Realistically Earn
Australia's National Minimum Wage increased on 1 July 2026 to AUD 26.44 per hour (up from AUD 24.95), one of the highest minimum wages of any major study destination. Casual workers — the employment type most international students are hired under — also receive a minimum 25% casual loading on top of the base rate, since casual roles don't include paid leave entitlements.
| Work Pattern | Approx. Weekly Earnings (AUD, before tax) | Approx. Annual Earnings (36 teaching weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| 24 hrs/week (full 48-hour fortnightly cap, casual rate) | ~AUD 793 | ~AUD 28,550 |
| 20 hrs/week | ~AUD 660 | ~AUD 23,760 |
| 15 hrs/week | ~AUD 495 | ~AUD 17,820 |
These are gross estimates using the casual minimum wage; many hospitality, retail, and tutoring roles pay above the minimum, especially with penalty rates on weekends and public holidays. Actual take-home pay is lower after tax withholding — see the Tax File Number section below.
Setting Up to Work Legally: TFN and Superannuation
You can start job hunting the moment your visa is granted, but two administrative steps affect how much you actually take home:
- Tax File Number (TFN): Not legally compulsory, but without one your employer must withhold tax at the top marginal rate (47%) instead of your correct rate. Apply for your TFN through the Australian Taxation Office once you've arrived in Australia — you cannot apply from overseas. See our bank account setup guide for Australia for how this fits into your broader financial setup.
- Superannuation: Employers must pay compulsory superannuation (retirement savings) contributions on top of your wages if you earn above a minimal threshold, regardless of your visa status. When you permanently leave Australia, you can generally claim this back via the Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) scheme.
Where International Students Typically Work
| Sector | Notes |
|---|---|
| Hospitality (cafés, restaurants, bars) | The largest employer of international students; flexible casual shifts, tips in some venues |
| Retail | Common in shopping centres near campus; predictable rosters |
| Campus roles | Library assistants, tutoring, student ambassador roles — often through your own university |
| Aged care and disability support | Growing sector with strong demand; some roles require a certificate |
| Tutoring and freelance work | Popular among postgraduate students, particularly in STEM and language subjects |
| Delivery and gig work | Flexible but classified differently for tax and, in some cases, visa-compliance purposes — confirm how gig platform hours are counted before relying on this as your main income |
What Counts as a Violation
| Violation | Risk |
|---|---|
| Working more than 48 hours in a fortnight during term | Treated as a breach of visa conditions — can lead to visa cancellation |
| Not adding hours across multiple jobs correctly | Still a violation even if it wasn't intentional — you're responsible for tracking your own total |
| Working during a period incorrectly assumed to be a "break" | Some institutions have staggered or non-standard semester breaks — confirm official dates with your provider, not just the general academic calendar |
| Not declaring income for tax purposes | A separate issue from visa compliance, but creates its own legal exposure |
Visa condition breaches are taken seriously in Australia's system: a history of non-compliance can affect not just your current visa but future visa applications, including the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) post-study work visa.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming the cap resets weekly. It doesn't — it's a genuine fortnightly total, and working 30 hours one week and 18 the next is fine, but 30 and 30 is not.
- Forgetting that on-campus work counts toward the same limit. Unlike some countries, Australia doesn't give you a separate on-campus allowance.
- Relying on the "60-hour proposal" as if it's already law. It isn't, as of late 2026 — plan around the confirmed 48-hour limit, not a proposed future change.
- Skipping the TFN application. Working without one for even a few weeks means losing a large chunk of your pay to top-rate withholding that you'll need to claim back at tax time.
- Not confirming your own institution's official break dates, especially for students on trimester or accelerated calendars that don't align with the standard semester system.
FAQ
How many hours can international students work in Australia in 2026? Up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during official course breaks. This has been the rule since 1 July 2023, after a temporary pandemic-era unlimited-hours policy ended.
Is the cap really going to rise to 60 hours per fortnight? It has been proposed for 1 July 2026, but as of late 2026 it has not been enacted into law. Always confirm the current figure on the Department of Home Affairs website before relying on it.
Do Master's by research and PhD students have a work-hour limit? No — research higher degree students are generally not subject to the fortnightly work-hour cap that applies to coursework students.
Do I need a Tax File Number before I can start working? No, you can start work without one, but your employer will withhold tax at the top marginal rate (47%) until you provide a TFN, so apply as soon as possible after arriving in Australia.
Does on-campus work have a separate, higher limit? No — Australia counts on-campus and off-campus hours together toward the same 48-hours-per-fortnight cap, unlike some countries that treat them separately.
What happens if I accidentally work more than 48 hours in a fortnight? It's treated as a breach of your visa conditions and can put your current and future visa applications at risk. If it happens, keep records and speak to your university's international student office or a registered migration agent promptly rather than ignoring it.
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