topic Selling as an international student in Selling

Selling as an international student

abdul-2306 — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 06:07:00 GMT

Hello All,

I’m an international student here living in Melbourne. I’ve been here for over a year and a half and I have an address here ABN, Australian bank account. Will there be any issues for me to sell products here in Australia. I’ll be sourcing them from China.

I’m selling products that are obviously legal and don’t have any special restrictions on them.

Thanks in advance

Re: Selling as an international student

imastawka — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 06:15:52 GMT

The items that you are sourcing from China must comply with Australian Standards - especially electrical items.

Registering as a seller | eBay

Re: Selling as an international student

imastawka — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 06:20:01 GMT

Actually, it would be better if you didn't sell electrical items at all.

There have been way too many instances of Chinese electrical items/batteries setting fire to homes and insurance companies won't cover them.

Re: Selling as an international student

*casey* — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 06:25:15 GMT

To add, if you're thinking about dropshipping any of the items, read this:

https://www.ebay.com.au/help/policies/selling-policies/third-party-fulfilment-policy?id=4718

Re: Selling as an international student

*casey* — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 06:34:52 GMT

@abdul-2306 wrote:
ABN, Australian bank account

If you're planning on opening a business account, you can't revert back to a personal account

Re: Selling as an international student

domino-710 — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 06:38:56 GMT

Why - as a student - would you need an ABN number.

Re: Selling as an international student

gutterpunkz05 — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 11:43:26 GMT

Have you checked with immigration

Re: Selling as an international student

eskays15 — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 03:13:32 GMT

Yes, an international student here to study should not have an ABN number

Re: Selling as an international student

domino-710 — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 03:22:56 GMT

An international student can acquire an ABN - but first have to get a TFN - tax file number.

They still have to abide by their Visa - ie - 40 hours of work per fortnight.

But let's face it - ' stuff ' from China - well - a saturated market already - and think of all those red dots. LOL

Re: Selling as an international student

*casey* — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 04:32:06 GMT

To add, I'm not an expert and happy to be corrected so hopefully the OP will come back and give us more information.

But visa / legalities permitting and as a general comment , international students can get an ABN as long as working hours (48 per fortnight) during the term time are complied with.

This can vary with a masters / doctorate degree.

As to why a student would need an ABN, many years ago one of my own family members , not an international student, registered a business name with an ABN and successfully freelanced throughout 3 years of Uni.

These days with everything online, plenty of young people and students are now successfully running small businesses online in many areas. Visa allowing, international students are no exception.

However, I don't recommend opening a business acount with eBay.