australiavisasworkingstudent 500
Australia raises student work hours to 48 per fortnight
Subclass 500 student visa holders can now work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session — up from the previous 40-hour limit. Outside scheduled course time, there’s still no cap.
What changed
The 48-hour fortnight cap replaces the temporary uncapped arrangement that was in place during the pandemic, and the original 40-hour limit before that. It applies to all primary 500 visa holders during teaching weeks.
Who it affects
- All current Subclass 500 student visa holders.
- Dependent partners on student visas may have different work conditions depending on the primary applicant’s course level.
What hasn’t changed
Unrestricted hours during recognised course breaks, course attendance requirements, and the obligation to maintain satisfactory academic progress.
For the full visa breakdown see our Subclass 500 visa guide or the section on working in Australia.