Many Nepali students planning study in Australia ask the same practical question: can I work while I study, and how do I find part-time jobs for international students Australia without risking my visa? The short answer is yes—most Subclass 500 student visa holders can work within set limits—but your primary purpose must remain full-time study. Treat work as support for living costs and skills, not as a substitute for the financial capacity Home Affairs expects you to show before arrival.

This guide is for students and families preparing from Kathmandu, Pokhara, Beni, Dhangadhi, Janakpur, and elsewhere in Nepal, and for students already settling in Perth or Sydney. It is criteria-first: visa hour rules, where students commonly find work, Fair Work pay basics, and red flags that put visas at risk. Work limits and minimum wages change—verify numbers against Study Australia, VEVO, and the Fair Work Ombudsman before you rely on them.

Visa work rights: the 48-hour fortnight rule

According to Study Australia’s guidance on the Student visa (subclass 500), most student visa holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course of study is in session. A fortnight is a 14-day period. Hours are counted across all employers combined. You generally cannot start paid work until your course has commenced, unless you hold another visa that already allows work.

Verify-on-publish: Confirm the exact work condition on your own visa grant letter and in VEVO. Most primary student visas carry condition 8105 (work limitation). Do not rely on WhatsApp summaries from seniors.

When the hour cap applies

The 48-hour limit typically applies:

• During study terms and semesters, including exam periods

• Before your course starts (you usually cannot work yet on a student visa alone)

• When you take another course during a break that counts toward your main course—unless that extra study is a mandatory CRICOS requirement of your main course

When you can work unlimited hours

Study Australia lists times when the fortnightly limit does not apply, including:

• During scheduled course breaks (official university or college holiday periods on your provider’s calendar)

• If your course was deferred or suspended under Standard 9 of the National Code (provider-approved)

• If you hold a valid student visa and have completed your course as listed on your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)

• If your enrolment was cancelled because of provider default, until you start a new enrolment

Research and doctoral exception: Students who have started a Masters by research or Doctoral degree generally have no work-hour limit after the course has commenced. Coursework Masters and bachelor degrees still sit under the 48-hour rule unless your grant says otherwise.

Breaching work conditions can lead to visa cancellation. That is not a rumour—Study Australia states clearly that failing to comply with the work limit may result in cancellation. Track hours every fortnight in a simple spreadsheet if you have more than one job.

What “part-time” usually looks like for Nepali students

In practice, most international students work casual shifts that fit around lectures: evenings, weekends, and denser hours in semester breaks. Common sectors include:

SectorTypical rolesWhy students choose it HospitalityCafé, restaurant, kitchen hand, barista, waiterFlexible shifts; high volume of openings in Perth and Sydney RetailSupermarket, fashion, pharmacy assistantRegular weekend hours; clearer rostering Aged care / disability supportSupport worker (with required certificates)Strong demand; often needs Certificate III / police check Cleaning / facilitiesCommercial or residential cleaningEarly or late shifts that avoid class clash Campus jobsLibrary, student services, tutoring, research assistantOn-campus convenience; sometimes preferential hours Delivery / rideshareApp-based delivery (where visa and licence rules allow)Flexible—but still count toward the 48-hour fortnight

Perth vs Sydney note: Both cities have dense hospitality and retail corridors. Sydney CBD, Rockdale, Parramatta, and university precincts often show more openings but also more competition. Perth’s Northbridge, CBD, and campus-adjacent suburbs (near UWA, Curtin, ECU, Murdoch) are common starting points. Match commute cost and night-shift safety to your housing plan.

Pay and workplace rights (Fair Work basics)

International students are protected by Australia’s workplace laws. You are entitled to at least the legal minimum for your job type—award rates or the National Minimum Wage if no award or agreement covers you.

Verify-on-publish (from Fair Work Ombudsman / Fair Work Commission, from 1 July 2026):

• National Minimum Wage for award/agreement-free adult employees: AUD$26.44 per hour (or AUD$1,004.90 per week based on 38 hours)

• Casual loading for award/agreement-free casuals entitled to the National Minimum Wage: 25%, so at least AUD$33.05 per hour

• Many café, retail, and hospitality jobs are covered by modern awards, which can set higher rates, weekend penalties, and overtime rules—use the Fair Work Pay Calculator for your role

Never accept “cash in hand under the table” that is below award rates or that asks you to hide hours. Underpayment and unpaid trial work that goes beyond a short skills demonstration can be unlawful. If something feels wrong, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman or your education provider’s student support service.

You will usually need:

1. A valid student visa with work rights (check VEVO)

2. A Tax File Number (TFN) from the Australian Taxation Office

3. An Australian bank account for payroll

4. Superannuation details (employers pay super on eligible earnings)

5. Proof of identity and right to work for onboarding

How to find your first job (a practical sequence)

1. Confirm your work condition in VEVO before you apply anywhere.

2. Update a one-page Australian-style CV with education, skills, availability, and any Nepali or Australia volunteer experience. Keep it factual—no invented titles.

3. Start with campus career portals and noticeboards; then Seek, Indeed, Jora, and employer career pages.

4. Walk in with your CV to cafés and retailers near campus during quieter mid-morning hours—still common and effective.

5. Ask about roster flexibility before you accept: can they keep you under 48 hours per fortnight during semester?

6. Read the contract (casual vs part-time permanent). Casuals get loading; permanents get leave entitlements. Know which you are.

7. Log every hour across all jobs. If a second employer offers more shifts, decline before you breach the fortnight.

Balancing work, study, and Genuine Student expectations

Paid work does not replace the need to show genuine study intent. For Nepali applicants, Home Affairs and education providers still expect:

• Attendance and course progression that meet provider rules

• Realistic living-cost planning that does not assume you will fund tuition from part-time wages alone

• Clear answers in Genuine Student (GS) statements about why this course, why Australia, and how you will support yourself

A strong application story usually frames part-time work as skills and living support after arrival, while family funds, savings, or scholarships cover tuition and the early months. Everest Global Education counsellors in Nepal and Australia help students align course choice, GS narrative, and pre-departure budgeting so work hours stay secondary to study.

Red flags that put your visa or safety at risk

Walk away if an employer or agent:

• Asks you to work more than 48 hours per fortnight during semester “because everyone does”

• Pays only in cash with no payslip and refuses a TFN declaration

• Demands a large upfront “placement fee” for a guaranteed job

• Offers accommodation tied to unpaid or illegal work

• Asks you to pretend you are a tourist or use someone else’s identity

• Pressures you to drop classes to cover shifts

Your visa is worth more than any short-term shift pattern. If you are unsure whether a roster is compliant, check VEVO and your provider’s international student advisory team before you say yes.

FAQ

How many hours can international students work in Australia in 2026?

Most Subclass 500 holders can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session, and unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks. Masters by research and Doctoral students generally have no hour cap after their course starts. Always verify on VEVO and your grant letter.

Can I work before my course starts?

Usually no on a student visa alone. Study Australia notes the work limit (and the restriction on starting work) applies before your course starts unless you hold a different visa that already permits work.

Do part-time wages replace the money I must show for a student visa?

No. Visa financial capacity and Genuine Student assessment are separate from onshore work rights. Plan for tuition and living costs with funds you can evidence; treat part-time income as supplementary after you arrive and your course has commenced.

What is a fair hourly pay for a casual café or retail job?

It depends on the modern award covering that industry. As a floor reference only, from 1 July 2026 the National Minimum Wage for award/agreement-free adult employees is AUD$26.44/hour, or AUD$33.05/hour with the 25% casual loading for eligible award/agreement-free casuals. Award rates and weekend penalties are often higher—check Fair Work tools for your role. Verify-on-publish.

Where should Nepali students look first in Perth and Sydney?

Start with campus jobs and cafés/retail near your campus or transport hub. In Sydney, corridors around the CBD, Rockdale, Parramatta, and university precincts are common. In Perth, Northbridge, the CBD, and campus-adjacent suburbs are frequent starting points. Prioritise safe night travel and a roster that protects your study hours.

Soft next step with Everest Global Education

If you are still choosing a course, intake, or city—or you want a pre-departure plan that includes realistic budgets for Perth or Sydney—talk to a counsellor who understands both Nepal and Australia. Everest Global Education provides education consultation, student visa support with MARA-aware pathways, IELTS/PTE prep guidance, and pre-departure support across our Nepal offices (Kathmandu, Pokhara, Beni, Dhangadhi, Janakpur) and Australia offices in Perth (102 James St, Northbridge WA 6003) and Sydney (Level 1 / 483 Princes Highway, Rockdale NSW 2216).

Enquire so the team can call or email you: Student enquiry form · +61 8 6157 0080 · info@everestglobal.com

This article is general information, not immigration or employment advice. Visa conditions and workplace laws change—confirm current rules with the Department of Home Affairs, VEVO, Fair Work, and a registered migration agent (MARA) where advice is required.