How this Visa Works

Before you apply for this visa, you must have applied for and been accepted to study full-time at an educational institution in Australia.

Length of stay

This visa allows you to stay in Australia for the duration of your course. It permits multiple entries to Australia. Dependent family members who come with you to Australia are usually able to stay the same length of time as you, but they cannot stay once you have left the country.

Your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) policy must cover the full period of your visa. Your student visa can be granted up to the maximum duration outlined in the table below.

Duration of course	Duration of visa
Longer than 10 months and finishing at the end of the Australian academic year (November – December)	Your visa will usually be granted to March 15 of the following year.
Longer than 10 months (finishing January – October)	Your visa will usually be granted for two months longer than the duration of your course.
10 months or less	Your visa will usually be granted for one month longer than the duration of your course.

You need to ensure that your OSHC policy covers the entire length of your visa or your visa may only be granted until the expiry date of your OSHC.

Note: If your student visa expires before your graduation, you can apply for a Visitor visa. You will need a letter from your education provider which states the date of your graduation.
See: Visitors

Working while studying

If you have been granted a Student visa on or after 26 April 2008, you and your dependent family members will already have permission to work automatically included with your visa. Further information on the conditions that apply to working while studying is available.
See: Conditions for Working While Studying

If you were granted a Student visa before 26 April 2008 and have not yet applied for permission to work, you and your dependent family members may only apply for permission to work after you have started your course in Australia.
See: How to Apply for Permission to Work

The table below outlines the work entitlements for you and your dependent family members if you have Permission to Work.

Type of applicant	Work entitlement
Students with permission to work	You can work a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight when your course is in session and unlimited hours when your course is not in session. You cannot undertake work until you have started your course in Australia. Exceptions: If you are enrolled in a Masters by coursework or Doctoral degree (subclass 574) you can work unlimited hours when you start your main course. Notes: Work that is a formal registered part of your course is not included in the limit of 40 hours per fortnight. If you are doing voluntary or unpaid work you must apply for permission to work. It is included in the limit of 40 hours per fortnight. A fortnight begins on any Monday and ends on the second following Sunday.
Dependent family members with permission to work	You can work a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight throughout the year. A week begins on any Monday and ends on the second following Sunday. Exceptions: Family members of students can work unlimited hours when the student starts their main course: students enrolled in Masters by coursework (subclass 573) students enrolled in Masters by research or Doctoral degree (subclass 574) students studying a Masters by coursework, Masters by research or Doctoral degree, sponsored by AusAID or Defence (subclass 576). You cannot undertake work until the primary student visa holder has started their course in Australia.

Important: You must also comply with the state and territory laws of Australia. Under all state and territory laws, you cannot work during school hours if you are under the school leaving age, which in most states is 15 years.

When is your course in session?

The department considers your course to be 'in session':

• for the duration of the advertised semesters (including periods when exams are being held)
• if you have completed your studies and your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is still in effect
• if you are undertaking another course, during a break from your main course and the points will be credited to your main course.
  See: How to Apply for Permission to Work

Student visa definitions

Eligible family members

Your partner and your partner's dependent children.

Spouse

A person is the spouse of another person if they are in a married relationship and:

• they are married to each other under a marriage that is valid for the purposes of the Migration Act 1958
• they have a mutual commitment to a shared life as husband and wife to the exclusion of all others; the relationship between them is genuine and continuing
• they live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis.

De facto partner

A person is the de facto partner of another person (whether of the same sex or a different sex) if:

• they have a mutual commitment to a shared life to the exclusion of all others
• the relationship between them is genuine and continuing
• they live together or do not live separately and apart on a permanent basis
• they are not related by family.

For an application for a Student visa the de facto relationship must have existed for at least 12 months immediately preceding the date of application.

Dependent child

The child or stepchild of yourself or your partner who has not turned 18 and is not married, engaged to be married or in a de facto relationship.

Fully funded student

A student whose travel, tuition and living expenses are paid by one of the following:

• the Australian Government or an Australian state or territory government
• the government of a foreign country
• a provincial or state government of a foreign country (with the written support of the national government)
• a multilateral agency
  Examples: United Nations, World Bank or Asian Development Bank or an organisation gazetted by the Minister.
  

Partner

A partner is your spouse or de facto partner (including same-sex partners).