Migration advisory firm RACC has obtained a copy of the Parliamentary Budget Office’s 2025 Election Commitments Report revealing that the Coalition is considering a 25 percent increase to international students’ allowable work hours—from 48 to 60 per fortnight. Although still a proposal, the document—published late on 19 February 2026—sets out costings and compliance assumptions, bringing the idea into mainstream policy debate.
Employer groups in hospitality, aged care and agriculture immediately welcomed the move, saying labour shortages persist despite record domestic participation. Universities Australia, however, cautioned that excessive work could jeopardise study outcomes and risk Australia’s reputation for high-quality education.
The Albanese Government restored the 48-hour cap in July 2025 after a pandemic-era waiver, arguing it strikes a balance between financial support and academic focus. The Coalition’s plan would require legislative amendment to the Migration Regulations 1994 and an uplift in Fair Work Ombudsman funding to police exploitation.
![Coalition proposal would lift student-visa work cap to 60 hours per fortnight]()
Students and prospective applicants needing clarity on how any future adjustment might affect their visa status can consult VisaHQ’s Australia portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/). The platform tracks regulatory changes, provides personalised guidance on Student-visa conditions and compiles checklist tools that simplify compliance—ensuring both scholars and their employers stay ahead of evolving rules.
If adopted, the higher ceiling would align Australia with Canada’s current temporary pilot (up to 24 hours a week) and sit below the 30-hour cap under New Zealand’s post-study work visa. Analysts at HSBC Global Research estimate the change could add up to AU$580 million a year in consumer spending by 2027.
For current Student-visa (subclass 500) holders the headline message is that nothing changes yet: the 48-hour limit continues through Semester 1. However, education providers are urged to brief students on the policy trajectory and to reinforce record-keeping of hours worked in case a retrospective compliance check is introduced.
Employer groups in hospitality, aged care and agriculture immediately welcomed the move, saying labour shortages persist despite record domestic participation. Universities Australia, however, cautioned that excessive work could jeopardise study outcomes and risk Australia’s reputation for high-quality education.
The Albanese Government restored the 48-hour cap in July 2025 after a pandemic-era waiver, arguing it strikes a balance between financial support and academic focus. The Coalition’s plan would require legislative amendment to the Migration Regulations 1994 and an uplift in Fair Work Ombudsman funding to police exploitation.
Students and prospective applicants needing clarity on how any future adjustment might affect their visa status can consult VisaHQ’s Australia portal (https://www.visahq.com/australia/). The platform tracks regulatory changes, provides personalised guidance on Student-visa conditions and compiles checklist tools that simplify compliance—ensuring both scholars and their employers stay ahead of evolving rules.
If adopted, the higher ceiling would align Australia with Canada’s current temporary pilot (up to 24 hours a week) and sit below the 30-hour cap under New Zealand’s post-study work visa. Analysts at HSBC Global Research estimate the change could add up to AU$580 million a year in consumer spending by 2027.
For current Student-visa (subclass 500) holders the headline message is that nothing changes yet: the 48-hour limit continues through Semester 1. However, education providers are urged to brief students on the policy trajectory and to reinforce record-keeping of hours worked in case a retrospective compliance check is introduced.
