Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES)

The Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) is a stream of the Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) for Indian nationals, established under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA) between Australia and India. Launched in 2024, MATES gives talented early-career professionals and recent graduates the chance to live and work in Australia for up to 2 years — with no employer sponsorship required. Places are allocated through an annual pre-application ballot, with up to 3,000 primary places each program year.

🎓 Who is MATES for?

MATES targets recent graduates in fields that support Australia’s future economy. To register for the ballot, you must have graduated within the last 2 years with a bachelor’s degree or higher from a Top 100 NIRF-ranked Indian institution, in one of the following areas: renewable energy, mining, engineering, information and communications technology (ICT), artificial intelligence (AI), financial technology (FinTech) or agricultural technology (AgriTech).

✅ Eligibility requirements

• Be an Indian national aged 18 to 30 (inclusive) at the time the ballot opens, holding a valid Indian passport
• Hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an eligible Top 100 NIRF-ranked Indian institution, completed within 2 years of the ballot opening, in a qualifying field
• Have English language proficiency — IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.0 in each component (or equivalent TOEFL iBT / PTE Academic scores), from a test taken within 12 months of applying
• Be selected in the MATES ballot and invited to apply
• Apply from outside Australia, and meet health and character requirements

🎲 How the ballot works

Registration for the ballot costs AUD $25. For the 2025–26 program year, the ballot was open from 1 November to 14 December 2025, with selected registrants invited to apply between December 2025 and 30 June 2026. If you are selected, you will be notified by the Department of Home Affairs and invited to lodge a visa application — the visa application charge is AUD $375 for the main applicant (fees are indexed on 1 July each year). The ballot runs annually, so if you miss out one year you can register again the next.

💼 What does the MATES visa offer?

• 2 years to live and work in Australia from first entry
• No employer sponsorship required — work for any employer, in any role, anywhere in Australia
• Multiple entry, so you can travel in and out of Australia during your stay
• Family members can be included — your spouse or partner and dependent children can join you, with work rights, and they do not count towards the 3,000-place cap

🔀 Other subclass 403 streams

The subclass 403 visa also includes the Government Agreement stream, the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) stream, the Foreign Government Agency stream, the Domestic Worker (Diplomatic or Consular) stream and the Privileges and Immunities stream. Learn more on our subclass 403 visa page.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Do I need a job offer or sponsor to apply?
No. MATES does not require employer sponsorship or a job offer. Once in Australia, you can work for any employer in any field.

When does the next ballot open?
The ballot runs once each program year — the 2025–26 ballot ran from 1 November to 14 December 2025. Registration dates for the next program year are announced by the Department of Home Affairs.

What are my chances of being selected?
Selection is random among eligible registrants, with up to 3,000 primary places available each year. Registering does not guarantee an invitation to apply.

Can my family come with me?
Yes. Your spouse or de facto partner and dependent children can be included in your application, they receive work rights, and they do not count towards the annual cap.

Can I extend my stay or apply for another visa afterwards?
MATES is a temporary visa. Depending on your circumstances, you may become eligible for other work or skilled visas while in Australia — speak to a registered migration agent about pathways before your visa expires.

Which institutions are eligible?
Your degree must be from an institution in the Top 100 of India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) at the time you graduated.

📞 Speak to a Registered Migration Agent

Thinking about registering for the next MATES ballot, or been selected and ready to apply? Our team can help you get it right. Book a consultation with VisaEnvoy today.