All you need to know about Australia's new MATES visa and how it benefits Indian graduates
Australia has introduced a new visa programme for recent graduates and young professionals from India, called the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES). The MATES programme was introduced under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) signed between India and Australia in May 2023 and comes into effect from November 2024.
Who can apply for MATES visa
Under MATES, every year, 3,000 eligible Indian nationals will be able to live and work in Australia for up to two years.
Indian graduates and young professionals between 18 and 30 years of age can apply for the temporary visa programme. Recent graduates from any recognised Indian university, with good proficiency in English, can apply for the MATES visa.
MATES is designed to promote mutually beneficial knowledge transfer, allowing Indian graduates to work in Australia while filling skill gaps in fields such as renewable energy, AI, ICT, and engineering.
MATES visa can be extended beyond two years
Australian Assistant Minister for Immigration, Matt Thistlethwaite, recently said that applicants under MATES can apply up to the age of 30 and still be eligible to work beyond that age during their two-year stay. He also added that while the MATES visa is for two years, participants might have the option to extend their stay by applying for graduate visas or moving to a skilled visa if they meet the necessary requirements.
How MATES visa recipients will be chosen?
The 3,000 MATES visa recipients will be chosen through an annual ballot system to ensure fair access for all eligible applicants, and applicants can only participate in the scheme once.
Are dependents allowed
Under the MATES programme, visa recipients are allowed to bring their dependants, including spouses and children, who will have full work rights.
Unlike other Australian visas, the MATES programme doesn¡¯t require applicants to secure a job offer or sponsorship before applying.
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