Australia MATES Visa 2025: Indian Graduates & Early Career Professionals Pathway to Work in Australia

What is the MATES Program?

The MATES program, officially the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme under the Subclass 403 visa – is a joint initiative between the governments of Australia and India, designed to allow eligible Indian graduates and early-career professionals to live and work in Australia for up to two years.

Key features:

• Up to 3,000 places annually for primary applicants.
• No employer sponsorship required.
• Applicants can bring dependents (spouse / children) who can also work in Australia; dependents are not counted towards the 3,000 cap.
• Targeted fields of study/skills: renewable energy, mining, engineering, ICT, AI, FinTech, AgriTech.
• Age and qualification restrictions: e.g., up to age 30; recent graduate (within 2 years) etc.

What’s New & Key Updates for 2025?

First Intake & Timelines

• First ballot registrations were announced to open 9 December 2024 and close 7 January 2025 for program year 2024-25 and successful applicants should have received their visa for 2024-25 program year.
• For the program year 2025-26, registrations are slated to open 1 November 2025 and close 14 December 2025.
• Once selected in the ballot, applicants will be invited to apply for the visa.

Eligibility & Fields

• Age: Be aged 18 to 30 years (Inclusive) at the beginning of the ballot registration open period.
• Recent graduate: Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in one of the eligible target fields, within 2 years of ballot registration open period from an eligible educational institution.
• English proficiency: e.g., IELTS overall 6.0 with minimum 5.0 in each band (or equivalent) for some sources.

Benefits & Conditions

• Duration: Stay in Australia for up to 24 months (2 years) after first entry.
• Multiple entries allowed.
• No job offer required. You can work in Australia, potentially in any field (though subject to visa conditions) while you gain experience.
• Opportunity to bring family members (spouse / dependent children).

Why This Pathway is Significant for Indian Graduates & Professionals?

• Australia has launched this pilot with the aim to bring in talent to sectors of high demand while deepening bilateral India-Australia cooperation.
• For recent graduates and early-career professionals, MATES offers a work mobility opportunity without needing employer sponsorship—a rare option.
• Gaining 12-24 months of Australian work experience can strengthen your career profile and potentially feed into future migration pathways (skilled visas, etc.).
• For organisations like Aussizz Group (which has guided around 180,000 applicants through various Australian visas), there is expertise available to help you maximise this opportunity.

How to Apply: Step-by-Step Guide?

Step 1 – Check Your Eligibility & Prepare Documents

• Confirm age, recent graduation status (within 2 years), target field degree, English proficiency, Indian passport, no previous participation in MATES.
• Prepare documents: academic transcripts, English test results, passport, identity/character/medical checks as required.

Step 2 – Register for the Ballot

• Submit your ballot registration at the announced start date (e.g., 1st Nov 2025 to 14th December 2025 for 2025-26). The registration fee is AUD $25.
• Wait for selection. If selected, you receive an invitation to apply for the visa.

Step 3 – Submit Visa Application

• Once invited, apply for the Subclass 403 MATES stream visa as per instructions on the Department of Home Affairs website. Provide all supporting documents and pay the visa application fee.
• Ensure you meet the visa conditions (making first entry within 12 months, staying within allowed period, etc.).

Step 4 – Plan Your Stay & Work in Australia

• Once granted, you can live, work and (depending on visa conditions) study in Australia for up to 24 months.
• Use the time to build professional networks, gain experience, understand the Australian labour market and explore pathways (if applicable) to longer-term visas.
• Consider consulting with Aussizz Group to map out next steps beyond the MATES visa.

How MATES Compares With Other Australian Work & Migration Options?

MATES vs Standard Temporary Work Visas

MATES vs Skilled Migration Visas

• Skilled visas (e.g., Subclass 189, Subclass 190) are designed for long-term/permanent migration, require skilled assessment, points-test, nomination.
• MATES is a mobility program, primarily for gaining experience and temporary stay in Australia, especially for Indian graduates in high-demand fields.
• If your goal is permanent residency, you may use MATES period to gain experience and then transition into a skilled migration stream or employer-sponsored option.

Key Questions Addressed

Q1. What is the MATES Program and who can apply?

The MATES programme is the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-Professionals (under Subclass 403) offered by Australia for Indian nationals. It allows eligible Indian graduates and early-career professionals (18 to 30 years(Inclusive), recent graduates from specified fields) to live and work in Australia for up to two years, under a ballot-based allocation of up to 3,000 places annually.

Q2. How does the ballot and application process for MATES work?

Applicants must first register a pre-application ballot when the registration window opens. A fee of AUD $25 is payable for registration. If selected in the ballot, the applicant receives an invitation and must then lodge the full visa application for the Subclass 403 MATES stream within the timeframe and meet all visa criteria.

Q3. What benefits does the MATES visa provide and are there any restrictions?

Benefits include the opportunity to live and work in Australia for up to 24 months, bring family members (spouse or children) who can also have full work rights, and enter Australia multiple times during the visa period. Restrictions include the age, qualification and field-of-study eligibility, the annual cap of 3,000 applicants, and it being a temporary visa without an automatic pathway to permanent residency.

Q4. Can the time spent on the MATES visa count towards Australian Permanent Residency (PR)?

While the MATES visa itself does not guarantee PR, the time working and living in Australia under the visa can enhance your profile and experience. If you meet the eligibility criteria for a skilled migration or employer-sponsored visa in the future, your Australian experience may strengthen your application—but you’ll still need to meet all requirements of the subsequent visa.

Q5. What role can Aussizz Group play in my MATES visa journey?

With a strong track record of guiding over 180,000 applicants to their Australian visas, Aussizz Group can assist you with eligibility assessment, documentation preparation, ballot registration timing, visa application strategy, and planning next-stage pathways (such as skilled migration) so you maximise your MATES opportunity and beyond.

Take the Next Step Now

The MATES programme is a ground-breaking mobility pathway between India and Australia for 2025, offering Indian graduates and early-care professionals an exceptional chance to live and work in Australia for up to two years-without employer sponsorship. By preparing early, leveraging your eligibility in targeted fields such as engineering, AI, FinTech or renewable energy.

Seize the opportunity by booking a consultation with Aussizz Group and make your Australian dream come true.