VEVO: how visa holders can check and share their visa conditions

Once you hold an Australian visa, questions come up quickly. Can I work? For how many hours? Can I study? Rather than relying on memory or a screenshot of an old email, there is an official way to check.

What VEVO is

Visa Entitlement Verification Online, known as VEVO, is run by the Department of Home Affairs. It allows visa holders, employers, education providers and other organisations to check visa conditions.

For visa holders

You can use VEVO to check your own visa details and conditions. You can also use it to send proof of your visa conditions to others, for example employers, landlords or the government of a country you plan to visit.

For employers and providers

Organisations can use VEVO to confirm what a visa holder is entitled to do. Keeping this check in writing helps both sides.

A few limits to know

• VEVO shows current visa information only for people whose details are in the department's systems. Home Affairs notes that some people who migrated before 1990 and have not travelled out of Australia may not have a searchable record, and may need to request an electronic record of their permanent visa.

• VEVO cannot be used to confirm Australian citizenship. Citizens can use a citizenship certificate or an Australian passport instead.

Workplace rights apply to everyone

Home Affairs also points out that everyone working in Australia has basic rights and protections at work, including minimum pay and conditions, regardless of visa status.

This article is general information, not migration advice. For your own circumstances, check official sources or speak with a registered migration agent.