New ‘MATES’ stream of the Temporary Work (International Relations) (Subclass 403) visa for Indian passport holders
On 23 May 2023, the Australian Government entered into the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (the MMPA) with the Indian Government, a bilateral framework that supports and promotes two-way migration and mobility between the two countries. Through this bilateral agreement, it was agreed to establish the Mobility Arrangements for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) in Australia, allowing Indian graduates and early career professionals with knowledge and skills in targeted fields of study to live and work in Australia for up to two years. The MATES scheme is also intended to benefit Australian industry sectors and businesses from their access to India’s talented graduates with in-demand knowledge and skills.
On 7 November 2024, a new Mobility Arrangements for Talented Early-professionals (MATES) visa stream was introduced under the Temporary Work (International Relations) (Subclass 403) visa, with the relevant legislative changes coming into effect on 12 November 2024. Under the new MATES stream of the Subclass 403 visa, 3,000 recent Indian graduates (eligible Indian nationals) with prescribed qualifications from a specified foreign education institution, may be eligible for the grant of a 2-year Subclass 403 visa to come and live and work in Australia.
How do I apply for the MATES visa?
Selection for the MATES stream of the Subclass 403 visa will be conducted through a ballot system (MATES ballot), whereby eligible Indian nationals must first register in a pre-application ballot to be considered for random selection to apply for the Subclass 403 visa.
The first MATES ballot will open for registration on a date to be confirmed in December 2024, and there will be a ballot registration fee of AUD25.
To be eligible for registration in the MATES ballot, eligible Indian nationals must meet the following requirements, amongst other requirements:
hold a valid Indian passport
hold a valid permanent account number (PAN card) issued by the Indian Government
be aged between 18 - 30 years (inclusive) at the beginning of the ballot registration open period for that process
not already be registered in the MATES ballot
have a valid email address
agree to registration form declarations
pay the ballot registration fee (AUD25)
create an ImmiAccount to register in the MATES ballot
Eligible Indian nationals registering in the MATES ballot must also provide the following details in the ballot registration form, to demonstrate whether they would meet the requirements of the MATES stream of the Subclass 403 visa:
your name
your date of birth
your valid passport details
your permanent account number (PAN)
your email address to contact you
your eligible qualification
your eligible field of study
declare you understand the eligibility requirements to register in the ballot
After being selected in the pre-application ballot, eligible Indian nationals will generally then have 30 days to lodge an application for the Subclass 403 visa in the MATES stream.
Is there an age limit for the MATES visa?
Eligible Indian nationals must be aged between 18 to 30 years (inclusive) when registration for the ballot opens.
What are the specified related industries for the new MATES visa?
The following industries are specified for the MATES stream of the Subclass 403 visa:
renewable energy
mining
engineering
information communications technology
artificial intelligence
financial technology
agricultural technology
What are the prescribed qualifications and specified foreign education institutions for the MATES visa?
Eligible Indian nationals must have at least one of the following qualifications obtained from one of the 100 specified Indian universities, to be eligible for the grant of a 2-year Subclass 403 visa in the MATES stream:
Bachelor Degree
Bachelor Degree (Honours/ Research)
Postgraduate Diploma
Masters Degree
Doctoral Degree
These qualifications must also relate to one of the industries as specified above.
What are the required English language test scores for the MATES visa?
Applicants for a Subclass 403 visa in the MATES stream must provide evidence of an overall IETLS band score of at least 6 (with a score of at least 5 in each test component) or equivalent.
Should you wish to discuss your eligibility for the grant of a Subclass 403 visa in the MATES stream, please email info@inclusivemigration.com.au or submit an enquiry using the contact form on our website. You may otherwise subscribe to our mailing list to stay updated about upcoming migration updates including the opening of the MATES ballot for registration.
