The 48 hours per fortnight cap on student visa work hours remains unchanged on July 1, 2026. The rule (visa condition 8105) is straightforward on paper but has trapped enough students that it's worth a proper walkthrough.

The rule in one sentence

You can work up to 48 hours in any rolling 14-day period during official semester weeks, and unlimited hours during official study breaks — provided your course has actually commenced.

What counts as a "fortnight"

• A rolling 14-day period, not a fixed Monday–Sunday × 2.
• Home Affairs looks at any 14-day window that intersects with your work.
• Example: if you work 30 hours from Mon 1st to Sun 7th, you can only work 18 hours from Mon 8th to Sun 14th.

What counts as "work"

• Paid employment (obviously).
• Unpaid trial shifts and unpaid work that would normally be paid.
• Voluntary work that displaces a paid role.
• On-campus jobs (yes, they count toward the 48).

What doesn't count

• Genuinely voluntary work for a not-for-profit that couldn't afford to pay someone.
• Research work that is part of your course (Master's by Research and PhD).
• Work you do during official study breaks or during the summer holiday break.

Master's by Research / PhD exception

Students on a Master's by Research or PhD have no cap at any time. This is because the research itself is considered work aligned to your course.

The two mistakes that cost students their visas

Mistake 1: Miscounting the fortnight. Working a big weekend shift Fri–Sun and then a big Mon–Wed shift the following week can easily push you past 48 hours in the intervening 14-day window. Employers who use payroll software don't check this — you have to.

Mistake 2: Working before your course starts. The 48-hour cap only kicks in once your course has commenced. Before that, you can't work at all — not even one shift. Many students start jobs during Orientation Week (before official start) and don't realise this breaches condition 8105.

Penalties

• First breach: warning + condition record on file.
• Repeat or serious breach: visa cancellation and 3-year re-entry ban.
• Employers who knowingly employ students beyond 48 hours can be fined up to $99,000 per breach.

Track your hours

Use a simple spreadsheet, our free wage calculator, or an app like When I Work. Screenshot your roster fortnightly. If Home Affairs ever asks, contemporaneous records are decisive.

Course completion + waiting for graduate visa

Between your course completion date and the day your 485 visa is granted, you're on a bridging visa with the same work conditions. The cap continues to apply until you either:

• Are granted the 485 (no cap), or
• Depart Australia.

For everything else changing on July 1, 2026 — visa fees, financial capacity, minimum wages, OSHC — see our full July 1, 2026 update.