Student visa holders were given the opportunity to work beyond their usual 40 hours per fortnight limit during the pandemic, and this rule was made permanent in January 2022 to help address labor shortages.
From 1 July 2023, student visa holders will be able to work up to 48 hours per fortnight. This measure ensures that students can focus on their studies while also gaining valuable work experience and contributing to Australia’s workforce needs. This increase in working hours allows student visa holders to support themselves financially and further their education in Australia.
Students must :
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maintain their course enrolment
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ensure satisfactory course attendance, and
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ensure satisfactory course progress.
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Student visa holders who discontinue their studies and stop attending classes, or fail to make satisfactory course progress, may be violating their visa conditions.
While these measures are in place, the Australian Department of Home Affairs and Border Force:
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exercise their discretion under s116(1)(b) of the Migration Act 1958. This is not a visa cancellation for students who work more than 40 hours a fortnight to support an organization
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not refer student visa holders for investigation of any potential offense under s235 of the Migration Act 1958. This might relate to the number of hours worked by a student visa holder which violates their visa regulations.
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not refer you or relevant third-party labor-hire companies, as an employer, for investigation of any potential offense under s245AC of the Migration Act 1958. This could pertain to permitting a student visa holder to work in violation of their visa requirements.
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