Can I work in Australia? 

• As a general rule, only Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents - ie, migrants who are not yet Australian citizens - and New Zealand citizens who have entered Australia on a valid passport, have unrestricted rights to employment in Australia. Any other foreign national who wants to work in Australia must have a temporary visa that allows employment.

• People working illegally are subject to immediate removal from Australia. Their visas can be cancelled and they can be precluded from coming back to Australia for periods of up to three years.

• From November 2000, DIMA will issue written warnings to employers and labour suppliers of illegal workers. When you apply for a job, employers and labour suppliers will be asking you to prove that you have the right to work in Australia before they give you the job. Be prepared to show them your passport and your valid visa stating your work rights.

• When in doubt, you or an employer can call the work rights information line on 1800 040 070. You can also complete an 'Authority to Obtain Details of Work Rights from DIMA' form. With this form you give DIMA permission to disclose to employers and labour suppliers information on your work status. Completed forms can be faxed to 1800 505 550.

What do the conditions on my visa mean?

• Temporary visas are granted subject to conditions. While some are mandatory and appear on all the visas of a certain class, for example the "no work" condition on tourist visas, others may only apply in certain circumstances. All conditions shown in the visa must be observed.

• A list of the conditions appearing on temporary visas can be found here. Check the condition numbers on your visa against the explanations on the list.

I am a visitor. What can I do?

• You Can _Shop until you drop Help in the shop. Visit Uluru Lead the tour. Visit your relatives and friends Help in their restaurant . Do a scuba course Teach the course.Go to the opera Sing the aria  Have plastic surgery (medical treatment visitor visa only ) Perform the operation.

• You Cannot _ Remember: Visitors/tourists cannot do any work. Work means any activity for which a person would normally be paid, irrespective of whether you are paid or given some other kind of reward.Working without permission is an offence that attracts a fine of up to $10,000.A breach of the NO WORK condition can result in your visa being cancelled and your holiday being cut short.

I am an overseas student. What can I do?

• You Must You Must Not  Remain for the first 12 months of your course or for the duration of the course, if the course is of less than 12 months, with the education provider with whom you originally enrolled. Change education provider within the first 12 months of any preliminary or principal course for which you were originally enrolled, unless the course is less than 12 months, in which case you cannot change provider for the duration of the course.  Advise your education provider if you wish to change after 12 months. 

• Maintain enrolment in a registered course, attend classes and have academic results that satisfy your provider. Work if your visa has the NO WORK condition.Notify changes of address to DIMA if your visas granted before 1 November 2000. Work for more than 20 hours per week during any week your course is in session if your visa has the WORK LIMITATION condition. 

• Notify your education provider of your address and any changes if your visa was granted on or after 1 November 2000. Leave Australia at the completion of your course or before if you decide not to continue study. Remain in Australia upon expiry of your visa or if you decide not to continue your course. Maintain your overseas student health cover during your stay in Australia as a student. Let your overseas student health cover lapse.

I am an overseas student. I am still studying, but my visa has expired. What do I do? 

• You must approach DIMA immediately to discuss your eligibility to apply for a further student visa. 

I am an overseas student. I changed course/institution. What do I do now?

• If your visa is subject to condition 8206, you are not permitted to change institution/provider during the first 12 months of your course without DIMA permission. You should apply for a student visa with permission to change provider on form 157C. You will need to give reasons for changing your institution/provider and will be permitted to change only if you can show exceptional circumstances.
• If your visa was granted on or after 1 November 2000 and you are undertaking prerequisite studies you must complete that course and 12 months of your principal course before being permitted to change institution/provider. If your principal course is for a period of less than 12 months duration you cannot change provider prior to the end of that course.
• If you have completed the first year of your principal course you do not have to have DIMA permission to change provider. You should advise your old institution/provider and DIMA that you are moving to a new institution/provider. Otherwise your old institution/provider may report you to DIMA as not satisfying course requirements and your visa may be subject to cancellation action.
• I am an overseas student. I finished my course/I stopped studying, but I am still in Australia. _ You should depart Australia within one month of finishing or stopping your course. If your visa is still valid you have one month to depart or to enroll in another course if you wish to continue studying in Australia. If for some reason you cannot or may not want to depart you must contact DIMA immediately to discuss your personal circumstances. If your visa has expired you are an unlawful non-citizen.
  

I have a temporary resident visa. I have changed my employer or activity. What is my position now? 

• The work condition on your visa does not allow you to change employer or activity without prior authority from DIMA. If your employment with your original employer has finished earlier than the validity of your visa, you should depart without delay. If you wish to continue to work in Australia and you have another employer prepared to sponsor you, you have 28 days from the end of your previous employment to lodge a new visa application. After the 28 days your visa may be cancelled and you may be required to leave Australia immediately.

• I would like to stay longer or live in Australia._ There are some options available to you if you want to stay longer or remain permanently, but you have to apply for a new visa. For information on the various visa classes check the relevant titles shown on this site or visit a DIMA office. Remember, don't let your visa expire. Make your inquiry and lodge your new visa application while your current visa is valid.

I have a four-year temporary resident visa but my employer no longer needs me. What are my options? 

• The temporary residence program allows employers to overcome temporary skilled labour shortages by recruiting key personnel from overseas, for a period of up to four years.
• Many people enter Australia on a temporary basis, for a range of specialised purposes under the temporary residence program, which may require sponsorship or nomination from the employer in Australia. In all cases the programs are designed to allow overseas people to come to Australia for specific purposes which will result in some benefit to the Australian community.
• Visas are available under arrangements for
• sponsorship by an Australia or overseas business - If your business is unable to meet its skill needs from within the Australian labour force, you can sponsor personnel from overseas on a temporary basis, to work in Australia for up to four years.  labour agreements - a formal agreement negotiated between the Australian Government, employers (including industry or employer associations) and other interested parties (for example, unions or professional associations). regional headquarters agreements - for overseas companies that plan to establish their headquarters for the Asia-Pacific region in Australia. service sellers - for representatives of overseas suppliers of services negotiating, or entering into, agreements to supply their services in Australia.