Australian Immigration Minister Chris Evans said all international students would be allowed to work up to 20 hours a week while their course is in session.

Under the new rule which came into effect on Saturday, all student visas to foreigners will be granted with work rights attached, removing the need for people to file an additional application.

More than 30,000 Indians were granted student visa in year ending June 2007 and they had to file separate applications for taking up part-time jobs in Australia.

"It (the new rule) is a small relief for us who have to run around the visa office to get work permit which is a bit of a pain in a new place," according to Manish Tikko, a student of Accounts in Swineburne university.

"While it is just a mere saving of Rs 1500-2000, its saves students from doing the leg work."

Rahul Verma, a student of Victoria University, said 'now the new students coming under automatic working visa arrangements do not have to wait for their course enrolment. They can directly start looking for a part-time role which is a bit of respite."

Earlier, students had to wait for their course to begin to apply for the work visa separately. 

Evans said the changes to the student visa system 'will reduce red-tape for students wanting to work in Australia and allow more efficient use of department resources.'

"Making it easier for international students to work while they study will also assist industries currently suffering serious labour shortages," he said.

New streamlined processes for people applying for student visas from India, Indonesia and Thailand have also been introduced.

The Immigration Department had granted 228,592 student visas to people from 191 countries in the year ending June 2007.

India is the second largest source of overseas students and a significant contributor to Australia's international education market, which is worth 12 billion Australian dollars to the national economy.