Temporary relaxation of working hours for Australian student visa holders

To support the supply of certain services during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Home Affairs and Australian Border Force will take a flexible approach to the Australian student visa holders, including those working beyond their usual work limitations, but only in the sectors below.

Australian Students can work for more than 40 hours a fortnight if they are employed:

1. By an aged care Approved Provider or Commonwealth-funded aged care service provider with a RACS ID or a NAPS ID, before 8 September 2020;
2. by a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme provider
   enrolled in a health care related course and you are supporting the health effort against COVID-19, as directed by health officials;
3. in the agriculture sector;
4. in the tourism and hospitality sector.

These are temporary measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, and will be reviewed by the Government. Check for updates on these arrangements.

Information for students

You must continue to balance your study and work commitments even though there is more flexibility in work hours in certain sectors.

Students who work more than 40 hours per fortnight in the above sectors, must:

1. maintain their course enrolment
2. ensure satisfactory course attendance, and;
3. ensure satisfactory course progress.

Student visa holders who cancel their enrolment and stop attending classes, or fail to meet satisfactory course progress, may be in breach of their visa conditions.

If you are working or have an offer of employment in one of the sectors above, and you have finished your course, you may be eligible for a COVID-19 Pandemic (Subclass 408) visa. You can only apply for this visa 90 days before your student visa is due to expire.

Australian student visa holders do not need to contact DoHA if they wish to work more than 40 hours per fortnight in one of the sectors listed above.