The Government has announced that a new Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) will be open to applications from late 2024. This new scheme is designed to enable the temporary mobility of Indian University graduates and early career professionals. It aims to encourage mutually beneficial skills and knowledge transfer between Australia and India.
MATES will provide Indian university graduates and early career professionals with the opportunity to live and work in Australia for up to two years and to gain employment and valuable experience in their areas of expertise.
Eligible fields will include renewable energy, mining, engineering, information and communication technology, artificial intelligence, financial technology and agricultural technology.
Primary applicants will be able to apply to bring eligible family members with them to Australia as dependent visa holders.
MATES has been established under the Australia-India Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA), which was co-signed by both nations on 23 May 2023. The MMPA is a bilateral framework that supports and promotes two-way migration and mobility between Australia and India.
The MATES program will commence as a pilot with 3,000 places available for primary applicants per program year.
In this article, we take a look at how the MATES program will work, including the eligibility criteria to qualify for a visa under MATES, what program participants will be able to do in Australia and how long they will be able to stay in Australia under this visa program.
Who Will Be Eligible To Qualify For A Visa Under MATES?
The MATES program will be open to Indian nationals who meet the following eligibility criteria:
- are aged 30 or younger (inclusive) at the time of application;
- have not previously participated in MATES;
- have proficient English language skills;
- have graduated within two years from an eligible educational institution at the time of application; and
- hold a qualification (Bachelor’s degree or higher) in one of the following areas:
- renewable energy;
- mining;
- engineering;
- Information Communications Technology (ICT);
- artificial intelligence (AI);
- financial technology (FinTech); or
- agricultural technology (AgriTech).
What Is Proficient English Under MATES?
To meet the English language requirement to participate in the MATES program, applicants must achieve an overall IELTS or equivalent score of at least 6, with a minimum score of 5 in each of the four test components.
Do You Need To Be Sponsored By An Employer Under MATES?
There is no requirement for sponsorship by an Australian employer to be eligible to apply for a visa under the MATES program.
What Will MATES Visa Holders Be Able To Do In Australia?
Participants in the MATES program will be permitted to live and work in Australia for up to two years.
Although there will be no strict requirement for visa holders to work in their nominated field of study, the program is designed to support young professionals to expand their skills and networks, particularly in the sectors listed above under eligibility criteria.
Will MATES Applicants Be Able To Bring Their Family To Australia?
Yes, MATES participants will be able to apply to bring dependants (spouses and dependent children) with them to Australia.
Dependants will have work rights in Australia.
How Many Places Will Be Available Under MATES?
The MATES program will commence as a pilot program with 3,000 places for primary applicants per program year.
Dependent visa holders will not count towards the annual cap as the cap only applies to primary visa holders.
How Long Will MATES Visa Holders Be Apply To Stay In Australia?
Visa holders under the program will have 12 months to make their first entry into Australia and may stay in Australia for 24 months from the date of first entry.
The visa will allow multiple entries to Australia.
Will MATES Visa Holders Be Able To Extend Their Stay In Australia?
MATES participants will not be eligible to take part in the MATES scheme more than once.
Therefore, if participants wish to extend their period of stay in Australia, they will need to apply for another visa permitting temporary or permanent residence, provided they meet all eligibility requirements for the relevant visa.
How Much Will It Cost To Apply For A Visa Under MATES?
The Department of Home Affairs will release more information about the MATES visa subclass and associated application fees soon.
There may be an additional fee to add subsequent dependent family members to the MATES application.
Also be mindful that applicants may be liable for other costs related to their application, including English language testing fees.
When Will MATES Commence?
Although there is no set timeframe for the implementation of MATES, in a media release by the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Giles, he states that the MATES program will be open for applications from late 2024.
For further information and advice about the MATES program, please contact us at PAX Migration to book your initial consultation today.
Get More Information
Subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates and additional information.
Contact us to book a no-obligation consultation to find out more about applying for an Australian visa, including under the MATES program.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Australia’s migration laws are complex, and each case is different. We recommend that you seek professional advice if you are interested in applying for an Australian visa, as being fully informed will give you the best chance of achieving a successful outcome on your case. A migration professional can help you to do this. There are several terms that are defined in the migration law. Detailed advice about these is beyond the scope of this article and we would therefore recommend that you seek further information in this regard.
For up-to-date advice on your eligibility for an Australia visa, including under the MATES program, contact PAX Migration Australia, a leading immigration service providing advice on a range of visas. Contact us for a no-obligation discussion on how we may be able to assist you to achieve your migration goals in Australia.