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Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early professionals Scheme (MATES)

On 23 May 2023, Australia and India entered into a Migration and Mobility Partnership
Arrangement (MMPA). The MMPA is a bilateral framework that supports and promotes two-way
migration and mobility between our two countries while addressing issues pertaining to illegal and
irregular migration.
The Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme or ‘MATES’ is a new scheme,
established under the MMPA, to enable the temporary mobility of Indian university graduates and
early career professionals. MATES aims to encourage mutually-beneficial skills and knowledge
transfer between Australia and India.

Understanding the Australian MATES Visa for Indians

Australia and India signed “the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA)” as a bilateral framework on May 23, 2023. This program’s primary objective is to allay worries regarding unauthorized and irregular migration while promoting and facilitating two-way movement between Australia and India.

In order to facilitate the temporary migration of Indian university graduates and early-career professionals to Australia, the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) was developed under the MMPA. The main goal of MATES is to encourage talent and information exchange between India and Australia for the mutual benefit of both nations.

“Australia and India are close mates, and this pilot will bring us even closer through an invaluable exchange of skills, talent, and development opportunities.


Who is eligible?

MATES will be open to Indian nationals who:

  • are aged 30 or younger (inclusive) at the time of application;
  • have not previously participated in MATES;
  • have proficient English language skills (overall IELTS or equivalent score of at least 6, with
  • a minimum score of 5 for each of the four parts);
  • have graduated within 2 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:
  • renewable energy
  • mining
  • engineering
  • Information Communications Technology (ICT)
  • artificial intelligence (AI)
  • financial technology (FinTech)
  • agricultural technology (AgriTech).

Is there Australian employer sponsorship requirement?

There will be no requirement for sponsorship by an Australian employer to be eligible to apply for a
visa as part of MATES.

What are the permitted activities?


MATES participants will be able to live and work in Australia for up to 2 years. Whilst there is no
strict requirement for visa holders to work in their nominated field of study, it is designed to support
young professionals expand their skills and networks, particularly in the sectors listed above.

How many places are available?


MATES will commence as a pilot program with 3,000 places for primary applicants per program
year.


Will MATES participants be able to bring their family to Australia?


Participants will be able to apply to bring dependants (spouses and dependent children).
Dependants will have work rights in Australia, and will not count towards the annual cap.

How long can visa holders stay in Australia?


Visa holders 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?


Participants may extend their period of stay in Australia by applying for another visa permitting
temporary or permanent residence, provided they meet all eligibility requirements for the visa.
MATES participants are not eligible to take part in the Scheme more than once.


How much will the visa cost?


More information about the visa subclass and associated application fees will be available soon.
There may be an additional fee to add subsequent dependent family members to the MATES
application.
Applicants will be responsible for paying for other costs related to their application, including
English language testing fees.

When will MATES commence?

MATES will be open for applications from late 2024.

Conclusion

Both the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early professionals Scheme (MATES) and the Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa have very limited quotas, making them highly competitive. These visas are intended for young immigrants aged 18-30 (under 31). Applicants must submit a pre-application expressing their interest in the EOI (Expression of Interest) pool system.

To address these challenges, the Australian government is introducing a pre-application system, or ballot, for applicants from China, Vietnam, and India seeking a Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa for the 2024-25 program year. This system might also apply to MATES, with the same registration fee of 25 AUD.

Although the exact dates for opening the slots are yet to be confirmed, we at Success Immigration will offer free pre-application services for both categories to our eligible existing PR clients who sign up before the deadlines. Clients will only need to pay the registration fee.

At Success Immigration, we strive to provide our clients with the best opportunities, including applying for multiple occupations and submitting multiple EOIs for both spouses separately. Our dedicated team understands that one happy client equals ten potential new clients!!

If you’re interested in exploring these TRVs along with your PR application, please send your profile to priya@thesuccessimmigration.com.

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