Working Legally in Australia

Working in Australia is a privilege, not a right. Most temporary visa holders have work rights, although some classes of visas only allow limited work rights.
Example: Working Holiday visas and Student visas

Illegal workers can be:

• people in Australia unlawfully (mainly those who have overstayed their visa expiry date) and who are working to support themselves
• temporary residents who are here lawfully, but are working although they do not have work rights, or are working more than allowed by their visa conditions.

Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO)

The department's online facility that allows visa holders to enquire about their visa status, entitlements and conditions.

Employing Legal Workers

This page contains information for employers on hiring legal workers. It includes information and support material on employer sanctions including the civil penalties and infringement notices that will commence in 2013.

Your Rights and Obligations - Immigration Facts for Workers

An information booklet has been produced to assist workers from overseas to know their rights and help reduce the incidence of exploitation.

2010 Howells Review of Employer Sanctions

The report of the independent 2010 Review of the Migration Amendment (Employer Sanctions) Act 2007, which was released on 21 July 2011 and concerns the Employer Sanctions Provisions in the Migration Act 1958.

1999 Review of Illegal Workers

A publication released on 17 December 1999 about the illegal workers in Australia and the key issues relating to this subject.
See: 1999 Review of Illegal Workers (606KB PDF file)