Your work rights depend on your visa. Check your visa conditions on VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) or your visa grant letter. Employers are legally required to check your work rights before hiring you.
Work Rights
Updated 2026-Q1Work rights by visa type
Student work limits
Student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight during semester and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. Breaching this condition can result in visa cancellation.
Working holiday conditions
Working holiday visa holders can work for the same employer for up to 6 months (unless approved otherwise). Specified regional work may count toward a second or third year visa.
Partner visa work rights
Partner visa holders (subclass 820/801) generally have full work rights with no restrictions while their application is being processed.
Fair Work and minimum wage
The national minimum wage is $24.10/hour (as of July 2025). The Fair Work Ombudsman (fairwork.gov.au) is the government body that ensures workplaces comply with Australian employment law. All workers, including visa holders, are entitled to minimum wage, leave entitlements, and safe working conditions.
Finding a job
Popular job search platforms include Seek, Indeed, LinkedIn, and Jora. Networking is important in Australia — many jobs are filled through referrals. Government-funded job services are available through Workforce Australia. Professional associations in your field can also help with job searching and career advice.