MATES Visa scheme
What is MATES Visa ?
The MATES Visa (Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme) is a special work visa program by the Australian Government for young Indian professionals. It allows selected Indian graduates aged 18–30 with recent qualifications in fields like Engineering, ICT, AI, FinTech, AgriTech, Mining, and Renewable Energy to live and work in Australia for up to 2 years without employer sponsorship. The scheme aims to strengthen India–Australia mobility and professional exchange under the Subclass 403 (MATES Stream). Each year, only 3,000 applicants are selected through an online ballot system.
This year registration will start from 01 November 2025 to 14 December 2025. Results will be issue from 15 December 2025 to 30 June 2026.
Who can Apply ?
Indian citizens aged 18 to 30 years who have graduated within the last two years from an eligible Indian institution in fields such as engineering, ICT, AI, fintech, mining, renewable energy, or agritech can apply for the MATES visa. Applicants must meet English language, health, and character requirements and register through the official ballot system for selection.
How to Apply ?
To apply for the MATES visa, first register in the online ballot through the Australian Government’s ImmiAccount by paying a AUD 25 fee. If selected, you’ll receive an invitation to apply for the Subclass 403 (MATES stream) visa.
Announcement
USA is going to add $250 "Visa Integrity Fee" to be added to existing ($185) application fees from January 2026. This is the right time to apply your visa with same old embassy fee.