Work Permission and Other Practicalities

Updated on Friday 22 July 2011

Work Permission

In order to work in Australia while you are a student you must have a student visa with work permission. As of April 26, 2008 students will receive permission to work with their visa grant. You no longer have to apply separately in Australia to obtain work permission unless you obtained your visa before April 26, 2008. Receiving the visa and work permission together saves you time and money. In the past, the fee for obtaining a visa used to be $490 ($430 for the visa and $60 for the work permission) and you also had to wait until you were in the country to apply for work. Now, it is $450 with the work attached and you can start working as soon as your courses begin without waiting to get the permission.

To learn more about the process of getting an Australian student work visa, visit the section of the Australian Government website on applying to work while an international student.

After You Have Your Visa

After you have a visa, you or an employer can view your visa information online using Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO). This allows you or someone that may need the information to access your immigration status.

Tax File Number

In order to work or open a bank account in Australia you must obtain a TFN (Tax File Number). Your TFN is confidential, like a social security number in the US , so keep your number secure. You are only issued one in your lifetime and it is used to file tax reports and important government documents.

If you work in Australia , you are required to file a tax return, which is tracked to your TFN. As an international student, you will likely receive a refund when you file your tax return. For more information on your potential tax refund visit Taxback.com.

You can apply online for a TFN only if you are currently in Australia and you have-

• A valid permanent migrant visa, or
• A valid visa with work rights, or
• A valid overseas student visa, or
• A valid visa allowing you to stay in Australia indefinitely.

To apply you'll need your name, address, DOB, Passport, date of arrival and proof of enrollment in school.

Click here for more information on getting a tax file number.