Work rights explained
Your work rights are set by the conditions attached to your visa. Breaching them can lead to cancellation. Here is how the main work conditions actually operate.
Know your conditions
Work conditions appear as numbered codes on your visa grant. The four you are most likely to meet are 8101, 8104, 8105 and 8107.
8101 — No work
Common on visitor and some bridging visas. You must not work in Australia at all. In some contexts unpaid or trial work also counts as work.
8104 — Limited hours
Applies to certain temporary visas (for example some 485 dependants). Work is capped at a set number of hours per fortnight — check the exact limit on your grant.
8105 — Student work
Applies to Subclass 500 students — typically up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks.
8107 — Sponsored work
Common on 482 visas. You may only work for your sponsoring employer in your nominated occupation. If that employment ends, a limited period applies to find a new sponsor or depart.
A public sponsor register
From April 2026, legislation enables publication of approved work-sponsor details — including business name, ABN, postcode and nomination activity. For sponsored workers it can help confirm a prospective sponsor is approved; for employers it raises the compliance stakes. We advise on both sides.
Breach has consequences
Working beyond your conditions can lead to visa cancellation, which in turn can trigger re-entry bars and problems for future applications. Employers have obligations too — checking a worker’s conditions through VEVO before and during employment helps prevent unintentional breaches on both sides.
If you have breached
Get advice before you respond to any notice of intention to consider cancellation. How you address it can shape the outcome — we act in cancellation matters.
Visa Cancellations →Employer compliance
Sponsors carry ongoing obligations. We advise employers on work-rights checks, record-keeping and nomination compliance.
Employer Sponsored →Work rights FAQ
How many hours can a student work?
Under condition 8105, Subclass 500 students are typically limited to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session, with unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. Confirm the exact condition on your visa grant.
Can I work on a bridging visa?
It depends on the bridging visa and its conditions. Some carry a no-work condition (8101); others allow work, sometimes only after demonstrating financial hardship. Check the conditions on your grant, or ask us to review them.
What happens if I breach a work condition?
A breach can lead to visa cancellation and may affect future applications and re-entry. If you receive a notice about your visa, get advice before responding — the way a breach is addressed can change the outcome.
How does an employer check work rights?
Employers use VEVO (Visa Entitlement Verification Online) to confirm a person’s visa conditions and work entitlements. Checking before hiring, and re-checking as visas change, is the practical way to avoid unknowingly employing someone without the right to work.
Stay on the right side
Whether you need to understand your own conditions or run a compliant sponsorship, we act on work rights and cancellations for clients Australia-wide.