Overview
The Subclass 500 student visa is Australia’s primary visa for international students enrolled in registered courses. As of December 2025, approximately 580,000 international students held active Subclass 500 visas, according to Department of Home Affairs data. A student visa carries mandatory conditions (numbered 8104, 8105, 8202, 8501, 8516, 8517, 8532, 8533) that govern what visa holders can and cannot do. Breaching these conditions can result in visa cancellation, detention, and removal from Australia. This article explains each condition in plain language, covering work rights, course progression, changing education providers, dependent family members, and what to do if you suspect you may have breached a condition.
Work Rights: Condition 8105
Condition 8105 governs work rights for Subclass 500 visa holders. As of 2026, the standard work limit is 48 hours per fortnight during course sessions (academic terms). A fortnight is defined as any 14-day period starting on a Monday. The 48-hour cap applies from the date the course commences — it does not apply during scheduled course breaks, recognised holidays, or the period between finishing a course and the visa expiry date.
During course breaks (mid-year and end-of-year holidays), student visa holders can work unlimited hours. The Department of Home Affairs considers a “course break” as a period when the education provider is not running classes and the student is not expected to be attending. For students enrolled in courses that run year-round without standard semester breaks, the 48-hour fortnightly cap applies continuously.
For research students (PhD and master’s by research), work is unlimited once the thesis has been submitted for examination. During the research candidature period, the 48-hour fortnightly limit applies unless the work is directly related to the research project (e.g., tutoring, research assistance, lab demonstrating).
Work rights for family members (dependants on the student’s visa) differ: dependants of students enrolled in a master’s by coursework or higher degree can work unlimited hours. Dependants of students enrolled in undergraduate, diploma, or VET courses are generally limited to 48 hours per fortnight, same as the primary student visa holder.
Breaching the work limit is a serious visa condition violation. The Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force actively monitor compliance through data matching with the Australian Taxation Office, tip-offs from employers, and targeted compliance operations. In 2024-25, approximately 1,200 student visas were cancelled for work-related condition breaches.
Course Requirements: Condition 8202
Condition 8202 is the most frequently breached student visa condition. It requires visa holders to remain enrolled in a registered course (CRICOS-registered), maintain satisfactory course attendance (generally 80% or higher, though institutions may set higher internal thresholds), and achieve satisfactory course progress as defined by the education provider’s academic progress policy.
Satisfactory course progress typically means passing at least 50% of enrolled units each semester and not failing the same unit more than twice. Each education provider has its own academic progress policy registered with the regulator. Students who receive warning letters about attendance or academic progress should treat them seriously — these are precursors to the education provider reporting the student to the Department of Home Affairs via PRISMS (the Provider Registration and International Student Management System).
If an education provider reports a student for unsatisfactory attendance or progress, the Department may issue a Notice of Intention to Consider Cancellation (NOICC). The student has a right to respond, typically within 14 days, explaining why the breach occurred and providing supporting evidence (medical certificates, compassionate circumstances, etc.). If the Department cancels the visa, the student must depart Australia or apply for review at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) within strict time limits.
Changing Courses or Providers: Conditions 8202 and 8516
Student visa holders are generally free to change courses or education providers, but conditions apply. If a student wants to change to a course at the same or a lower Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level (e.g., from one bachelor degree to another, or from a bachelor to a diploma), they do not need a new visa application — but they must ensure the new course is CRICOS-registered and that they maintain continuous enrolment. A gap in enrolment between courses breaches condition 8202.
If a student wants to change to a higher AQF level (e.g., from a diploma to a bachelor degree), they also typically do not need a new visa, but they must consider whether the extended study period will require a subsequent visa application before the current visa expires.
Students who have completed less than six calendar months of their principal course (the main course for which the visa was granted) cannot transfer to a different education provider without a release letter from their current provider. This policy is set by the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students (the National Code) and is enforced through PRISMS. Education providers may refuse a release if they believe the student has not yet settled into the program, or if the transfer appears to be for non-genuine reasons.
Health Insurance: Condition 8501
Condition 8501 requires student visa holders to maintain adequate health insurance for the entire duration of their stay in Australia. Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is the recognised form of insurance. Students must purchase OSHC covering the period from their arrival in Australia to their visa expiry date before the visa can be granted.
If OSHC lapses while the student is in Australia, this constitutes a breach of condition 8501. The Department of Home Affairs and OSHC providers share compliance data. Students should ensure their OSHC policy is renewed before it expires and that any gap in coverage is avoided. A lapse of even a single day is technically a breach, though minor administrative lapses (e.g., a few days while switching providers) are rarely enforced if promptly corrected.
Other Key Conditions
Condition 8533 requires students to notify their education provider of their residential address within seven days of arriving in Australia. Any subsequent change of address must be notified within seven days. This condition is enforced at the provider level: most education providers have online student portals where address updates can be made instantly.
Condition 8532 applies to students under 18 years of age. They must have appropriate accommodation and welfare arrangements approved by their education provider. Students under 18 cannot change accommodation or welfare arrangements without the education provider’s written approval.
Condition 8303 prohibits students from engaging in activities that are disruptive to, or violent or threatening towards, the Australian community or a group within it. This includes participation in criminal activity, violent protests, and online conduct that could be considered threatening. Visas cancelled under condition 8303 generally carry a re-entry ban.
Condition 8517 requires students to maintain adequate school arrangements for school-age dependants who are in Australia on the student’s visa for more than three months. School-age children of student visa holders must be enrolled in school, and in some states (notably NSW), international student dependants attending government schools must pay tuition fees.
FAQ
What happens if I work more than 48 hours in a fortnight?
The Department of Home Affairs treats exceeding the work limit as a breach of condition 8105. Consequences range from a formal warning letter to visa cancellation, depending on the severity and whether it is a first or repeat offence. If your visa is cancelled, you must leave Australia or appeal to the ART. Cancellation under section 116 of the Migration Act typically carries a three-year re-entry ban. If you realise you have inadvertently exceeded the limit, document the error and reduce hours immediately. It is advisable to seek advice from a registered migration agent before contacting the Department.
Can I take a semester off?
Generally no. Student visa holders must maintain continuous enrolment. Taking a leave of absence is only permitted in limited circumstances approved by the education provider: serious illness or injury (supported by medical evidence), bereavement of an immediate family member, or traumatic events. Approved leave is recorded in PRISMS and the student’s CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment) is adjusted accordingly. Unapproved leave results in a cancelled CoE, which triggers a Section 20 notice and potential visa cancellation.
Does volunteering count towards the 48-hour work limit?
Volunteering (unpaid work for a not-for-profit organisation where no remuneration is received) does not count towards the 48-hour work limit. However, unpaid work experience or internships that are part of the course curriculum are not considered “work” for visa purposes — but any paid component of an internship counts towards the limit. Activities that appear to be volunteering but are actually unpaid work in a for-profit business (e.g., “volunteering” at a cafe in exchange for free meals) may be considered work and count towards the limit.
Can my spouse work full-time on my student visa?
If you are enrolled in a master’s by coursework, master’s by research, or doctoral degree, your dependant spouse or de facto partner can work unlimited hours. If you are enrolled in a bachelor degree, diploma, or VET course, your dependant is limited to 48 hours per fortnight. Dependants should carry evidence of the primary visa holder’s enrolment at all times when working. If the primary student visa holder’s enrolment changes (e.g., from a master’s to a diploma), dependant work rights change accordingly.
What if my education provider closes or loses registration?
If your education provider closes or loses CRICOS registration, you are not in breach of condition 8202 provided you take steps to enrol in an alternative course within a reasonable period (typically 90 days). The Tuition Protection Service (TPS) assists international students in these situations by helping you find an alternative course or providing a refund of unspent tuition fees. Contact the TPS immediately if you learn your provider is closing.
Data Sources
- Department of Home Affairs, Student Visa (Subclass 500) Conditions 2026 (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au)
- Department of Education, National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (legislation.gov.au)
- Migration Act 1958, Part 2 Division 3 Subdivision C (legislation.gov.au)
- Administrative Review Tribunal, Student Visa Cancellation Statistics 2024-25 (art.gov.au)
- Tuition Protection Service, International Student Guide 2026 (tps.gov.au)
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about Subclass 500 student visa conditions and does not constitute legal or migration advice. Visa conditions, work rights, and compliance requirements are governed by the Migration Act 1958 and Migration Regulations 1994 and may change. Individuals should consult a registered migration agent (MARA) or immigration lawyer for advice specific to their circumstances.