Visitor visas
Subclass 600, 601, 651. All variants carry 8101 as standard.
Condition 8101 · No Work · Visitor and Bridging Visas
Your visa says 8101. You have been offered work. You need income.
Condition 8101 shuts that door, but not permanently and not without exceptions. This page explains what 8101 actually prohibits, how to apply for work rights lawfully, and what happens if you work anyway.
Quick answer
The holder must not engage in work in Australia.
Condition 8101 applies to most visitor visas, some bridging visas (BVC and BVE by default), and certain specialised visas. Work rights can sometimes be obtained via Form 1005 for bridging visas. Breach leads to cancellation.
Which visas carry 8101
Common 8101 visa types.
Check your grant notice for the exact conditions on your visa.
Bridging Visa C and E
BVC (subclass 030) and BVE (subclass 050/051) carry 8101 by default. Work rights can be requested via Form 1005 on financial hardship grounds.
Specialised visas
Some medical treatment visas and some protection-related bridging visas.
What counts as work
The Migration Act defines work broadly.
Paid, self-employment, cash-in-hand, contractor, gig economy work, and some volunteer arrangements where someone else would normally be paid.
Paid employment and self-employmentSalaried, casual, ABN contractor, and rideshare/delivery platforms all count.
Volunteer work that substitutes paid rolesGenuine volunteer work for registered charities is usually acceptable. Volunteering that substitutes for paid employment is not.
Side income activitiesRunning an Airbnb, selling goods online, occasional tutoring, actively managed trading. The test is whether the activity is commercial.
Detection is aggressiveSingle Touch Payroll cross-referencing, ATO data-matching, Medicare records, and tip lines. Detection rates have climbed sharply since 2020.
Employers face sanctions too.
Hiring someone working in breach of 8101 triggers fines under the Migration Act, and repeat offences trigger criminal prosecution. Businesses that use VEVO to verify work rights before hiring are protected. Breach consequences for the visa holder include cancellation, a 3-year re-entry ban under PIC 4013, and PIC 4020 scrutiny on future applications.
Frequently asked
Condition 8101 questions.
If condition 8101 affects your visa, book a consultation with Sourabh Aggarwal.
Can I volunteer with 8101?
Genuine volunteer work for registered charities is usually acceptable. Volunteering that substitutes for paid employment is not.
Can I study on a visa with 8101?
Can I invest in Australian shares or property under 8101?
Passive investment is generally acceptable. Active management of a business that generates income for you is work.
Can my employer sponsor me while I am on 8101?
Yes. An employer sponsorship lodgement does not require you to work immediately. You start work once the new visa with work rights is granted.
Some information on this page has been sourced from the Department of Home Affairs and has been interpreted and approved by Principal Migration Agent Sourabh Aggarwal (MARN 1462159). Last reviewed: May 2026.