Start freelancing in Australia as an international student and you’ll quickly realise nobody prepares you for the tax forms, ABN confusion, or the reality of finding clients who’ll actually pay on time. I learned this the hard way when I tried to continue my web development work after landing in Melbourne for my Master’s degree.
Back home in Bangladesh, I’d been doing WordPress projects and SEO work for years through my own platform. I assumed I could just keep doing the same thing in Australia. Turns out, there’s a bit more to it than just creating an Upwork profile and calling it a day.
Two years into juggling freelance work with my IT degree at the University of Melbourne, I’ve figured out what works and what’s a waste of time. This is everything you need to know about starting freelancing in Australia as an international student, minus the BS.
Understanding Student Visa Work Restrictions for Freelancing
Here’s what nobody tells you clearly: freelancing counts toward your 48 hours per fortnight work limit during semester. Every hour you spend on client work, whether it’s coding, writing, designing, or consulting, goes into that bucket. The Department of Home Affairs doesn’t care if you’re sitting at a café or working from your bedroom.
I made the mistake of thinking freelance hours were somehow different from regular employment hours. They’re not. If you’re earning money for your time or output, it’s work, and it counts toward your limit.
The good news? During official university breaks, you can freelance unlimited hours just like any other work. I usually ramp up my project load during winter and summer breaks to make up for the restricted semester hours.
⚠️ Important: Keep detailed records of your freelance hours. If immigration ever asks, you need proof you stayed within your visa conditions. I use a simple spreadsheet to track every project hour.
Do You Need an ABN or TFN for Freelancing?
This confused me for weeks when I first started. You need both, but they serve different purposes. Your Tax File Number (TFN) is for regular employment where tax is withheld automatically. Your Australian Business Number (ABN) is for operating as a sole trader, which is what freelancing technically is.
Most freelance platforms and Australian clients will ask for your ABN. Without one, they’re required to withhold nearly 47% of your payment for tax. With an ABN, you invoice them the full amount and handle tax yourself at the end of financial year.
Getting an ABN is free and takes about 10 minutes online through the Australian Business Register. I got mine approved within two business days. The key is making sure you’re legally allowed to work in Australia before you apply, which you are on a student visa.
If you haven’t sorted your TFN yet, read my guide on applying for a Tax File Number in Australia. You’ll need it regardless of whether you freelance or work regular jobs.
Where to Actually Find Freelance Work in Australia
Forget those articles that list 50 freelance platforms. In reality, you’ll probably use three or four max. Here’s where I’ve actually found paid work:
Upwork and Fiverr are the obvious starting points. Yes, they’re competitive and take hefty commissions, but they work for building initial experience. I landed my first Australian client through Upwork by undercutting local rates slightly. Not ideal long-term, but it got me started. I’ve written more about using Upwork and Fiverr as an international student if you want specific platform strategies.
LinkedIn is surprisingly effective if you actually engage with it properly. I’ve picked up two ongoing clients just by commenting on industry posts and having a decent profile. Australian businesses seem more willing to hire students with relevant skills than I expected. Check out my guide on using LinkedIn effectively for professional jobs in Australia for the full approach.
Facebook groups and university networks have been goldmines for small projects. Melbourne has active groups for web development, content writing, and design work where people post gigs regularly. Your university’s alumni network is also worth tapping into, though it takes time to build those connections.
Direct outreach works better than you’d think. I’ve emailed small Australian businesses offering specific services with examples of my work. The response rate is maybe 5%, but those clients tend to stick around longer than platform finds.
Setting Rates Without Underselling Yourself
This is where most international students, including me initially, completely mess up. You see Australian freelancers charging $80-150 per hour and think there’s no way you can compete. So you offer $15 per hour and wonder why clients don’t respect your work.
Here’s what I learned: charge based on value, not desperation. Start lower than established locals, sure, but not insultingly low. I began at $35 per hour for web development work and gradually increased to $50 as I built my portfolio. For fixed-price projects, I estimate hours and add 30% buffer for revisions and scope creep.
Project-based pricing usually works better than hourly rates for students. Clients know exactly what they’re paying, and you’re not penalised for getting faster at your work. I charge $500-800 for a basic WordPress site now, which takes me maybe 12-15 hours including client communication.
The reality is you’re competing on flexibility and hunger, not just price. Australian freelancers often have minimum project sizes or monthly commitments. You can take smaller jobs and be more responsive, which matters to some clients.
“Don’t race to the bottom on pricing. I did that for six months and attracted nightmare clients who expected infinite revisions for peanuts. Not worth it.”
Managing Freelance Clients While Studying
Balancing client work with assignments and lectures requires brutal honesty about your capacity. I’ve learned to never promise quick turnarounds during exam periods, no matter how tempting the project sounds. Clients appreciate transparency way more than missed deadlines.
Set clear boundaries from day one. I only take client calls between 6-8pm on weekdays or weekend mornings. My email auto-responder explicitly states I respond within 24-48 hours, not immediately. Most reasonable clients are fine with this if you communicate it upfront.
Use contracts for everything, even small jobs. I found a simple freelance contract template online and adapted it for Australian law. It saves so much headache when clients try the “just one more small change” trick three months after project completion. You’d be surprised how often that happens.
Project management tools help keep you sane. I use Trello for tracking all client work and deadlines separately from university stuff. When everything’s in one system, I inevitably miss something important. Separation of concerns, as we’d say in programming.
For more on juggling multiple commitments without burning out, I’ve covered balancing side gigs with study and mental health in detail.
Tax Obligations for Freelance Income
This is the part that scared me most initially, but it’s honestly not that complicated once you understand the basics. As a student on a working visa, you’re considered an Australian resident for tax purposes if you’re here for more than six months, which you definitely are.
All your freelance income gets declared in your annual tax return, same as regular employment income. The difference is nobody’s withholding tax for you automatically. You need to set aside roughly 20-30% of your freelance earnings for tax time, depending on your total income for the year.
I keep a separate savings account just for tax money from freelancing. Every time I get paid, I immediately transfer 25% into that account and pretend it doesn’t exist until tax return time. Saved me from a nasty surprise in my first year.
You can claim deductions for freelance-related expenses: laptop depreciation, internet costs, software subscriptions, home office usage, even a portion of rent if you work from home. Keep every receipt and track everything. I use a simple Google Sheet to log all expenses monthly.
My article on tax basics for side hustles and online income goes deeper into what you can and can’t claim. Also worth reading about ABN work and tax obligations if you’re serious about freelancing long-term.
Building a Portfolio That Actually Gets You Clients
Your portfolio matters more than your resume for freelance work. I spent way too long perfecting my CV before realising clients just want to see proof you can deliver what you’re selling. If you’re a writer, they want writing samples. Designer? Show designs. Developer? Show working projects.
Start with personal projects if you don’t have client work yet. I built three demo websites using different technologies and hosted them on GitHub Pages. Cost me nothing except time, and I could point potential clients to actual working examples of my code.
Testimonials from anyone, even classmates or friends, beat no testimonials. My first “client testimonial” was technically from a university group project partner who I’d helped with web design. It counted enough to get me past the “zero social proof” stage.
Keep your portfolio simple and focused. I see students creating these elaborate portfolio sites with every single thing they’ve ever done, including that Year 10 Photoshop project. Pick your best 4-6 pieces of work and showcase those properly. Quality over quantity actually works here.
I wrote a full guide on building a simple online portfolio for freelance work while studying if you want the step-by-step approach.
Using Skills from Home to Earn in Australia
One advantage you have as an international student is cultural and linguistic diversity that Australian-born freelancers don’t. If you speak multiple languages, know specific regional markets, or have skills from back home, leverage that.
I’ve picked up projects specifically because I understand South Asian markets and can create content that resonates there. Australian companies wanting to expand internationally actually value that perspective. It’s not always about competing directly with local freelancers on the same services.
Translation and localisation work is consistently available. If you’re fluent in languages beyond English, plenty of Australian businesses need help adapting their content for different markets. Rates are usually better than general writing or data entry work too.
Cultural consulting might sound fancy, but it’s just helping businesses understand your home market. I’ve been paid to review marketing materials for cultural appropriateness and provide feedback on product positioning for specific countries. Easy money if you know your culture well.
Check out my thoughts on using existing skills from your home country to earn side income in Australia for more ideas along these lines.
Common Freelancing Mistakes to Avoid
Working without written agreements is the biggest mistake I see students make. A client says “just send me your bank details, we’ll sort out a proper contract later.” That contract never materialises, and suddenly they’re disputing the scope of work or payment terms. Get everything in writing before you start, every single time.
Underestimating how long projects take is my personal weakness. I still occasionally quote 10 hours for something that realistically needs 15. Build buffer time into all estimates and don’t feel bad about it. Clients would rather have you finish early than constantly ask for extensions.
Not tracking hours properly comes back to bite you during tax time and visa compliance checks. I use Toggl to track every freelance hour, even for fixed-price projects. It helps me understand which types of work are actually profitable and keeps my visa hours documented.
Chasing too many different income streams at once dilutes your effort and confuses your positioning. When I started, I tried to offer web development, SEO, content writing, and graphic design all at once. Turns out clients prefer specialists, even student freelancers. Pick one or two related services and get known for those.
For broader context on common pitfalls, my article on realistic side hustles for international students covers what actually works versus what’s a waste of time.
Balancing Freelancing with Academic Performance
Let me be honest: freelancing will eat into your study time if you let it. I’ve had weeks where client deadlines clashed with assignment due dates, and something had to give. Usually, it was my sleep schedule, which isn’t sustainable.
Set hard rules about peak academic periods. During exam weeks, I don’t take new client work or commit to urgent deadlines. Existing clients know I need two weeks’ notice for any work during those times. If they can’t work with that, they’re not the right clients for a student freelancer.
Your degree should always take priority over freelance income. I know that sounds obvious, but when you’re choosing between a $500 project and studying for an exam, the money is tempting. Remember why you’re in Australia in the first place. The visa you’re on literally requires you to maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Use freelancing strategically to complement your studies, not compete with them. I take projects that let me apply what I’m learning in my IT courses. Building web applications for clients while studying web development actually reinforces the concepts. It’s not always possible, but when it aligns, both benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can international students legally freelance in Australia?
Yes, freelancing is legal on a student visa and counts toward your 48 hours per fortnight work limit during semester. You need an ABN and must track your hours carefully to stay within visa conditions. During official university breaks, you can freelance unlimited hours just like regular employment.
How much can I realistically earn from freelancing as a student in Australia?
It varies wildly by skill and time invested. I’ve averaged $800-1,500 per month from freelancing while studying full-time, working maybe 6-8 hours per week during semester. Some students doing specialised work like software development or design make significantly more, others less. Don’t expect it to fully fund your living costs initially.
Do I need to register a business to freelance in Australia?
Not really. You operate as a sole trader under your own name, which just requires an ABN (free to get). You don’t need to register a company name unless you want to trade under something other than your personal name. Most student freelancers stick with sole trader status, which is simplest for tax purposes.
How do I handle tax on freelance income in Australia?
Set aside 20-30% of every payment for tax, track all income and expenses, and declare everything in your annual tax return. You’ll likely owe tax on your freelance income unless it’s very low. Keep detailed records and consider using accounting software or consulting with a tax agent for your first return. More details in my tax basics guide for side hustles.
What happens if I work more than 48 hours in a fortnight as a freelancer?
You’re breaching your visa conditions, which can lead to visa cancellation in serious cases. Immigration rarely checks every student’s hours, but if they do investigate and find violations, consequences range from warnings to deportation depending on severity. It’s not worth the risk. Track your hours honestly and plan your workload accordingly.
Should I focus on Australian clients or international clients while studying here?
Both have advantages. Australian clients pay better typically and provide local references, but they often expect Australian-hours availability and familiarity with local business culture. International clients might be more flexible with timing and leverage your existing networks from home. I do a mix of both, which spreads risk and maximises opportunities.
Final Thoughts
Starting freelancing in Australia as an international student isn’t as simple as opening a laptop and collecting money, but it’s definitely doable if you understand the visa rules, tax obligations, and client management basics. The flexibility is worth the administrative hassle, especially during semester breaks when you can really ramp up the hours.
I still make mistakes with pricing, occasionally take on nightmare clients, and sometimes underestimate project timelines. That’s part of figuring it out. The key is learning from each project and gradually building a client base that respects your time and skills.
If you’re thinking about freelancing, start small with one or two projects while you sort out the ABN and tax setup. Don’t quit any regular part-time work immediately. Build it gradually alongside your studies, and see if it’s actually sustainable for you personally.
For more on managing work alongside your degree, check out my guides on work-study-life balance and understanding work rights for international students. And if you need help presenting your freelance experience professionally, my Australian resume guide covers how to frame that work for future employers.
Starting freelancing in Australia as an international student takes effort to set up properly, but once you’ve got the systems in place, it’s one of the more flexible ways to earn while studying. Just don’t expect overnight success, and keep your degree as the priority. Everything else is bonus.