Upcoming Changes to Student Visa Work Rights

From 3 November 2025, some important changes will be introduced to the work rights attached to student visas. These changes affect eligible tertiary and senior‐secondary school students, along with other visa-holders.

What’s changing

1. Work-hour increase during term time: eligible student-visa holders (both tertiary students and those in Years 12 or 13 at secondary school) will be allowed to work up to 25 hours per week during semester time — up from the current 20 hour limit. This higherr weekly allowance will apply to all new student visas granted from that date (even if the application was submitted earlier). if you already hold a student visa with a 20-hour per week work condition and you want to move to 25 hours, you’ll need to apply for a variation of conditions or obtain a new student visa. For school students, the requirement that they must have permission from their both their parents (or guardian(s)) and their school still applies, now under the 25-hour cap.

   
   

2. Expanded eligibility for “in-study work rights”: The changes will also extend in-study work rights to all tertiary students who are enrolled in approved exchange or Study Abroad programmes — including those doing just one semester. This means that students on shorter-term programmes, which were previously excluded, will now qualify for these work rights.

   
   

3. Clarification around switching providers or lowering levels The rules will clarify that if you change your education provider or reduce your level of study, in most cases you’ll need a new student visa rather than simply a variation of conditions.

As always, this post is for general information purposes only. If you need immigration advice, you can book in on my website here.