Working in Australia

If you wish to work in Australia, you will have to apply for a permission to work, on your student visa. You can only to do it once you have started your classes here in Australia.

You have the permission to work up to 20 hours per week, perhaps you can work as many hours as you want during your school holiday period.

PS: People granted student visas on or after 26 April 2008 will receive permission to work with their visa grant. 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.

Previously most student visa holders paid a total of $490 - an initial $430 for their visa application and $60 in Australia for the separate permission to work. Now student visa holders will pay only one charge of $450 for the combined visa application and permission to work.

*Work rights for student visa holders haven't changed. Students are still not allowed to work until the have started their course and the hours they can work have not changed. They can work up to 20 hours a week while their course is in session and they can work unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.

Applying for Work Permission

1. You need to see at your College/ School before apply for the work permission. Your College/ School will then start you at the immigration web site in their on System.

Important: Allow at least one hour for the transfer of this information into the department's system before going to Step 2.

2. You will need:

• Your passport, visa label number (if you have one)

• Your credit card

• WORK PERMISSION COSTS AU$ 60.00

  HOW TO APPLY:

• CONNECT to the Australian Immigration website: www.immi.gov.au
• Click in "Visas & Immigration"
• Click in "Students"
• Click in "More information for Students"
• Click in "Work While Studying"
• Click in "HOW APPLY FOR PERMISSION TO WORK" and than in "Applying on line"
• Inside the table click in "ON LINE APPLICATIONS - STUDENTS"
• Scroll down the page and click in "Work Permission"
• Click on ‘ I am the primary student visa holder (that is, I am the student who is studying)'
• And click in "I AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS"
• Fill out the form application entering your personal details
• Remember to write down the reference number and keep it in a safe place unit you receive a letter from the immigration department
• NOMINATING A PASSWORD WITH TE DEPARTMENT: You must nominate a password. If you have any problems with receiving your permission to work, you must quote you reference number and password.