Introduction of the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-Professionals Scheme (MATES) 

The Department of Home Affairs has released the legislative requirements and process in relation to the new Mobility Arrangements for Talented Early-Professional Scheme (MATES) pathway, introduced as a stream under the Temporary Work (subclass 403) International Relations visa. 

This new visa stream has been established under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA) between Australia and India. 

The legislative amendments commenced on 12 November 2024 and will allow Indian graduates and early career professionals with skills in targeted fields to live and work in Australia for a period of up to two years. 

To be eligible for the MATES stream under the Temporary Work (subclass 403) International Relations Visa, primary applicants must: 

• Hold a valid Indian passport; 

• Be outside of Australia at the time of application; 

• Not currently a holder or a pervious holder of the visa; 

• Between 18 and 30 years of age at the time of the application; 

• Satisfy the English language requirements; 

• Hold a qualification (bachelor’s degree or higher) in the targeted industries, and 

• Have graduated within 2 years from an eligible educational institution at the time of the application.  

Visa holders under this stream will have 12 months to make their first entry into Australia from the date of their visa grant and can remain in Australia for up to 24 months from the date of their first entry. 

The Pre-Application Process (Ballot) 

This stream utilises a pre-application process in which the primary applicant must be registered for a ballot.  Each program year, there will be 3,000 allocations available under the MATES stream. 

Currently, the applicable fee is A$25.00 fee for each registration in the pre-application ballot. 

To register as a registered participant in the MATES stream pre-application process, the primary applicant must: 

• Register online using a computer program available on the internet; 

• Include a declaration that they meet the eligibility requirements for that process; 

• Not to be already registered as a participant in the program; and 

• Register within the registration period for that process. 

Qualification and Education Requirements for the MATES stream 

The Migration Instrument specifies that qualifications must be equivalent to an AQF Level 7 Degree (bachelor’s degree) or higher from an approved foreign educational institution that is listed in this legislative instrument. 

The legislative instrument that contains the approved foreign educational institutions also lists the targeted skilled industries which include: 

• Renewable energy; 

• Mining; 

• Engineering; 

• Information communications technology; 

• Artificial intelligence; 

• Financial technology; and 

• Agricultural technology. 

English Language Requirements 

The MATES stream of the visa instrument specifies that applicants must meet the following English requirements: 

The accepted English language testing providers are: 

• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) 

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)*; 

• Occupational English Test (OET); 

• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE); 

• Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) 

All test scores, excluding the Occupational English Test (OET), must be achieved in a single sitting.  

*The IELTS test has a minimum overall band score of 6 required and at least 5 in each individual component of the IELTS. 

Applicants must have completed the language test and obtained the necessary scores within one of the below timeframes: 

• Within 1 year immediately before the day on which the application is made, if evidence of the test is provided at the time that application is made; or 
   

• Within 1 year immediately before the day on which a decision is made on the application, if evidence of the test is not provided at the time the visa application is made. 

Secondary Applicants – Partners & Children 

Secondary applicants can be in or outside of Australia but not in immigration detention/clearance. They are not required to partake in the ballot process and will not be counted towards the 3,000-spot allocation. Secondary applicants will have unlimited work rights in Australia.  

Further Information & Assistance 

If you are a young university graduate from India and would like to explore this pathway further, please contact Ethos Migration Lawyers by making an online enquiry or calling our office on 1300 083 843.