Skip to main content
CrossNation logo
CrossNationGlobal Recruiter

For people already in Australia

Already in Australia? Finding work with the visa you hold

If you already live in Australia and can legally work, recruiters can often move faster because there is no overseas hiring step. Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens on a Special Category visa generally have no work conditions. Other visa holders should check their conditions in VEVO first and share the result with the recruiter.

Create your candidate profileBrowse open jobs

Who this guide is for

This guide is for people living in Australia who want work in aged care, nursing, allied health, hospitality, trades or medical imaging. You might be a citizen or permanent resident, a New Zealand citizen, or on a temporary visa such as a Skills in Demand, Temporary Graduate, student or Working Holiday Maker visa. We only need to know what work rights you hold, not where you are from.

Choose your situation

Why does having work rights already make a difference?

When an employer hires someone who already lives here and can legally work, the main steps are the usual ones: application, interview, reference and background checks, and any registration or licence the role needs. There is no overseas recruitment step to arrange. That is why recruiters, including CrossNation, can often put onshore candidates forward sooner. It does not guarantee a job or a start date, because each employer runs its own process and some roles need registration with a body such as Ahpra or a state licensing authority. Work rights also affect which shifts you can take. A candidate with no work conditions can usually accept any roster offered, while a candidate with limits on hours or employers needs a role that fits those limits. Telling a recruiter your exact conditions at the start saves time and helps you avoid an offer you cannot legally accept.

How do I check my work rights with VEVO?

Visa Entitlement Verification Online, known as VEVO, is a Home Affairs service that shows the visa you currently hold, when it ends and the conditions attached to it, including any limits on work. You can check your own details online using your passport and visa information, and you can share the result with an employer. Many employers check VEVO before a start date, so it helps to look first and make sure the result matches what you expect. If you hold a bridging visa, read its conditions carefully, because they can differ from the visa you held before. If something in VEVO looks wrong, contact Home Affairs or a registered migration agent rather than guessing. CrossNation can ask about your conditions when matching you to roles, but we cannot interpret them for you or advise on which visa to apply for.

What if my visa has conditions on work?

Most temporary visas allow some work, but many come with conditions. Common examples include a limit on hours while your course is in session on a student visa, a limit on how long you can work for one employer on a Working Holiday Maker visa, and a requirement to work for your approved sponsor on a Skills in Demand visa. Home Affairs notes that only Australian citizens, permanent residents and New Zealand citizens holding a Special Category visa (subclass 444) have no conditions placed on working in Australia. Whatever your visa, you have the same workplace rights as anyone else, including correct pay, your entitlements and a safe workplace. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes guidance for visa holders and migrants. The guides below explain the main rules for four common situations in plain language, with links to the official pages.

Which guide fits my situation?

Choose the guide that matches the visa you hold now. If you are on a Skills in Demand visa, or an older Temporary Skill Shortage visa with the same subclass 482, and want a new employer, read the 482 change-employer guide. If you have finished study and hold a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485), read the graduate jobs guide. If you are studying on a Student visa (subclass 500), read the student work rights guide, which covers part-time roles that fit around classes. If you are on a Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) or Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462), read the working holiday guide, including how the one-employer limit works. Each guide shows matching CrossNation roles, but a listing is not an offer and does not mean an employer can sponsor you. If your situation is unusual, speak with a registered migration agent before changing jobs.

Which open roles could suit you?

These counts are live from the CrossNation job board. A listing is not a job offer, and it does not mean the employer sponsors visas. Check that a role fits your work rights before you apply.

Open roles in these sectors

Frequently asked questions

Is CrossNation a migration agent?

No. CrossNation is a recruitment agency, not a registered migration agent. We match people with roles that suit the work rights they already hold, but we cannot give visa advice. For that, use a registered migration agent or an Australian legal practitioner, or check the Home Affairs website.

What do you need to know about my visa?

We ask what work rights you hold and whether any conditions apply, such as limits on hours or employers. A VEVO result is the simplest way to show this. We do not need to know your nationality to consider you for a role.

Can CrossNation sponsor me or get me a visa?

No. CrossNation does not grant visas and cannot promise sponsorship. Sponsorship is the employer's decision, and the employer must meet Home Affairs requirements. If a role interests you, ask whether the employer sponsors before you rely on it.

Do visa holders have the same rights at work?

Yes. Workers in Australia have the same workplace rights and protections whatever their citizenship or visa status. The Fair Work Ombudsman's page for visa holders and migrants explains pay, entitlements and how to ask for help if something goes wrong.

Sources (accessed 2 October 2026)