Part-Time Work Rules and Realistic Earnings for ASEAN Students in Australia
By Muntasir • Published Jul 11, 2026 • Updated Aug 08, 2026 • Money & Budgeting
ASEAN students on an Australian student visa work up to 48 hours a fortnight once classes start, and full time during scheduled course breaks. At the national minimum wage of A$26.44 an hour (from 1 July 2026), a full 24-hour week earns about A$634 before tax.
🎓 Cap: 48 hours per fortnight during term, no cap during scheduled breaks
💵 National minimum wage: A$26.44/hour from 1 July 2026
⏱️ 24 hrs/week average earns about A$634/week gross, around A$2,540/month
📩 The hour limit (condition 8105) applies to Subclass 500 visa holders once their course starts
🏠 Hospitality, retail, and on-campus jobs hire the most international students
Part-time work rules for ASEAN students on an Australian student visa
Most Subclass 500 student visa holders are allowed to work part time once their course starts, under a fixed hour cap known as condition 8105. The cap applies during term and lifts completely during scheduled course breaks, so full-time work is open over the Australian summer (December-February) or the mid-year break.
The rule applies the same way to students from Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and every other ASEAN country studying in Australia. Your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) and visa grant letter show whether condition 8105 applies to your course.
How many hours you are allowed to work
The current cap is 48 hours per fortnight (a two-week period) while your course is in session, according to the Department of Home Affairs . This replaced the old 40-hour cap and has applied since 1 July 2023. There is no daily limit, so spread the 48 hours unevenly across the fortnight, for example more shifts on weekends and fewer on weekdays with classes.
Doctoral and masters-by-research students are exempt from the cap entirely once their course starts, since their research counts as full-time study rather than a timetabled course. Check your visa grant notice to confirm which condition applies to you.
What you realistically earn
Australia's national minimum wage is A$26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026, set by the Fair Work Commission's Annual Wage Review and published by the Fair Work Ombudsman . Casual jobs, the most common type for students, add a casual loading of at least 25% on top of the base award rate, so casual hospitality and retail roles often pay closer to A$30-33 an hour once evening, weekend, and public holiday penalty rates apply.
| Hours per fortnight | Weekly average | Gross weekly pay | Gross monthly pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 (full cap) | 24 hrs | ~A$634 | ~A$2,540 |
| 32 | 16 hrs | ~A$423 | ~A$1,690 |
| 20 | 10 hrs | ~A$264 | ~A$1,060 |
These figures use the base minimum wage and are before tax. Australia's tax-free threshold is A$18,200 a year, so most part-time student earnings fall under it unless the full cap is worked for most of the year.
Where ASEAN students find part-time work
Cafes, restaurants, and fast food chains hire the most international students because shifts are flexible and English requirements are lower than office roles. Retail, especially around university precincts and shopping centres, is another common entry point. Universities also run their own casual pools for library, tutoring, and campus ambassador roles, which count toward the 48-hour cap the same as external jobs.
Apply directly through employer websites, Seek, Indeed, and your university's careers portal. Many hospitality employers ask for a Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate, completed online in a few hours before job hunting starts.
Staying compliant with the hour cap
Employers report hours through Single Touch Payroll, and Home Affairs cross-checks this data against visa conditions. Working beyond 48 hours a fortnight during term breaches condition 8105 and puts your visa at risk of cancellation, even if the breach happens across two different jobs. Track your own hours if you hold more than one job, since no single employer sees your total across both.
Report a start date, an end date, and hours worked accurately if your university or the government asks. Keep payslips as your own record in case a discrepancy comes up later.
Tax file number and superannuation
Apply for a Tax File Number (TFN) online through the Australian Taxation Office before starting your first job. Without one, employers withhold tax at the highest rate, cutting your take-home pay until you provide a TFN.
Most casual and part-time employees also receive superannuation, a compulsory retirement contribution employers pay on top of wages as a percentage of ordinary earnings. This money sits in a super fund you cannot touch while working in Australia, but you can claim it back as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP) once you leave the country for good.
Lodge an annual tax return through myTax between July and October each year you work, even if your income was low. Most part-time student workers get a partial or full refund of the tax withheld during the year.
Building a job search that works
Australian employers generally expect a short resume, one to two pages, with a brief summary, work history, and references, rather than a photo or personal details common in some ASEAN countries. Mention your visa work rights directly in your cover letter or application, since employers ask about this early in the hiring process.
University orientation weeks often include job fairs with local employers looking specifically for casual student staff, one of the fastest ways to land a first role without existing local references. Part-time hospitality and retail hiring also picks up before the November-December holiday season, a good window to start applying.