Permission to Work

Applying for Permission to Work

People granted student visas on or after 26 April 2008 will receive permission to work with their visa grant. This will apply to both the primary student and any family members travelling with them on their student visa. As a result, most student visa holders will no longer need to apply separately in Australia for permission to work. The new arrangement will save student visa holders time and money.

Students are not allowed to work until they have started their course. You can work up to 20 hours a week while their course is in session (excluding any work undertaken as a registered component of their course of study or training) and you can work unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Family members of students are not allowed to work until the student begins their course. They are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week at all times. Family members of students who have started a masters or doctorate course may work unlimited hours.

If you were granted a Student visa before 26 April 2008 and have not yet applied for Permission to Work, you and your family members may only apply for Permission to Work after you have started your course in Australia.

Note: If you were granted a Student visa on or after 26 April 2008, you and your dependent family members will already have Permission to Work automatically included with your visa.

Applying online is the quickest way for students and their family members to lodge Permission to Work applications. Applications received by post may take up to seven (7) days to process and applications lodged in person may take longer.

Refer to http://www.immi.gov.au for further info and to apply online.