Employers must check that they are employing someone who can legally work in Australia. Home Affairs sets out the steps: check citizenship, then permanent residency, then a visa with work entitlements using the Visa Entitlement Verification Online system, VEVO. This is general information, not migration advice.
By CrossNation Editorial Team. Sources checked 6 October 2026.
Employers must check they are employing someone who can legally work in Australia, and people who can prove they are an Australian citizen or permanent resident can work unrestricted.
Source: Home Affairs: Hiring someone in Australia (retrieved 6 October 2026)
A Medicare card, tax file number or driver licence is not enough evidence by itself that a non-citizen can work in Australia.
Source: Home Affairs: Hiring someone in Australia (retrieved 6 October 2026)
If a person holds a bridging visa and VEVO does not show an expiry date, Home Affairs says to check their visa every 3 months to confirm they still have work rights.
Source: Home Affairs: Hiring someone in Australia (retrieved 6 October 2026)
National workplace laws protect all workers, regardless of their immigration status.
Source: Home Affairs: Hiring someone in Australia (retrieved 6 October 2026)
A person can legally work in Australia if they are an Australian citizen or hold a valid visa with permission to work. You must check that you are employing someone who can. Some visa holders can work without restriction, others can work a limited amount, and some cannot work at all. People who can prove they are an Australian citizen or permanent resident can work without restriction. Record the check and the date you did it.
First, check whether the person is an Australian citizen. Second, if not, check whether they are a permanent resident by asking to see their overseas passport and evidence of a permanent visa, which you can check through VEVO. Third, if they are neither, check that they hold a visa with work entitlements. You can ask them to email you their current visa details from VEVO, or use VEVO yourself with their permission.
VEVO shows the visa grant and expiry date and whether the person has work entitlements. If there are no work restrictions on the visa, the person has unlimited rights to work in Australia. Hire someone only if their visa is in effect, the conditions do not say no work, they will not breach any other visa condition, the visa has not expired or been cancelled, and they are allowed to do the type of work you want them to do.
Home Affairs says a Medicare card, a tax file number and a driver licence are not enough evidence by themselves that a non-citizen can work in Australia. A visa holder must not work more hours than their visa conditions allow, so check for hour limits as well as the right to work. Keep the evidence you relied on, because you may be asked to show it.
Make sure the employee has a valid work visa for the whole time they work for you. Diarise the expiry date and check again before it. If a person holds a bridging visa and VEVO does not show an expiry date, Home Affairs says to check their visa every 3 months to make sure they still have work rights. Check again if you learn that their circumstances have changed.
Yes. Home Affairs states that national workplace laws protect all workers, regardless of their immigration status. The pay, leave and other minimum entitlements that apply to any employee under the award, agreement and National Employment Standards apply to a visa holder. For sponsored visas there are extra obligations on the sponsoring employer, covered in our overseas hiring guides.
The fee is 12% of the candidate's annual salary, charged only when a placement succeeds.
You must check that you are employing someone who can legally work in Australia. For an Australian citizen, Home Affairs says to check citizenship. For others, check permanent residency or a visa with work entitlements.
Visa Entitlement Verification Online is the Home Affairs system that lets visa holders, employers and other organisations check visa details and conditions.
Home Affairs lists an overseas passport as evidence for the permanent resident check. Ask for what you need to complete the steps and handle the documents securely.
A visa holder must not work more hours than their visa conditions allow. Check the conditions in VEVO and roster accordingly.
The employer is responsible for checking. CrossNation recruits and shortlists candidates and can tell you what a candidate has told us about their work rights, but the employer must complete its own check.
No. This is general information, not migration advice. Speak to a registered migration agent.
