Temporary relaxation of working hours for student visa holders
Update: 24 January 2022
On 13 January 2022, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the 40hrs a fortnight work limitation on international students will be temporarily relaxed for all sectors of the economy to help alleviate workforce shortages. This means that from 19 January 2022, all international students will be able to work more than 40hrs a fortnight in any sector.
Department of Home Affairs has also confirmed on their website that new student arrivals can also work before their course commences.
It is important to note that these changes are temporary, and will be reviewed by the Government in April 2022. Therefore, please check regularly for updates in order to ensure you remain complaint with visa conditions.
As a student visa holder, you are required to:
- maintain course enrolment
- ensure satisfactory course attendance, and
- 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
Visa Application Charge Refunds
As an incentive for international students to return to Australia, the government will be providing a refund of the Visa Application Charge, for student visa holders that travels to Australia between 19 January to 19 March 2022.
Students will be able to apply for a refund up until 31 December 2022. Details of how to apply for a refund are yet to be announced.
If you would like discuss these changes with a Registered Migration Agent, please contact us on 1300 98 70 71.