403 Temporary Work (International Relations) visa (subclass 403) – Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	MATES, Subclass 403 stream
Purpose	Indian graduates and professionals
Stay	Up to 2 years
Cost	From AUD470 main applicant
Eligibility timing	Graduate within two years
Ballot requirement	Random selection required
Age	18–30 inclusive
Passport	Valid Indian passport required
Work rights	Any kind of work
Study	Any study permitted
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Health insurance	Required for entire stay
Travel facility	Multiple entries while valid
Family sponsorship	Include family unit members
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Visa record	Electronically linked to passport

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Purpose

The Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) stream is a temporary visa for eligible Indian graduates and early career professionals to live and work in Australia.

You may apply only if randomly selected in the MATES ballot and issued a Notification of Selection letter.

Eligibility

You must:

• Be randomly selected in the MATES ballot.
• Apply online within 30 days of selection, by the date in your Notification of Selection letter.
• Lodge by 11:59 PM AEDT on the final day.
• Hold a valid passport issued by India when registering and applying.
• Be aged 18 to 30 inclusive when the ballot registration period opens.
• Be outside Australia when applying and when the application is decided.
• Not have previously entered Australia on a Subclass 403 MATES stream visa.
• Intend to stay in Australia temporarily.
• Have repaid, or arranged repayment of, Australian Government debts.
• Meet health and character requirements.
• Have adequate health insurance for the entire stay.

Your immigration history is considered. A previous visa cancellation or refusal may affect eligibility.

Qualification requirements

You must have graduated:

• From an eligible institution within two years of ballot opening; and
• On or after 1 November 2023.

The institution must be one of the Top 100 on India’s NIRF India Rankings Overall 2024 List. Affiliated institutions not specifically listed do not qualify.

Your qualification must be equivalent to an Australian Qualifications Framework Bachelor degree or higher:

• Bachelor degree
• Bachelor degree (honours/research)
• Postgraduate diploma
• Masters degree
• Doctoral degree

It must relate to one of these industries:

• Renewable energy
• Mining
• Engineering
• Information communications technology
• Artificial intelligence
• Financial technology
• Agricultural technology

English language requirement

You must complete an approved English test within one year before either application lodgement or decision, if evidence was not provided at lodgement.

Test	Minimum result
IELTS	Overall 6.0; each component 5.0
OET	At least C each component
TOEFL iBT	Overall 64; component minimums apply
PTE Academic	Overall 50; each component 36
Cambridge C1 Advanced	Overall 169; each component 154

Test results must be from one sitting, except OET.

Financial capacity

You must be able to support yourself and accompanying family members.

You may provide:

• A written Australian employment offer or contract; or
• Evidence of funds, usually about AUD5,000 for your initial stay.

An employment offer must state the position, wages and conditions, and employer ABN and contact details. Pay and conditions must be no less favourable than for an Australian citizen performing equivalent work at the same location.

Stay and travel

The visa starts when you first enter Australia and allows a stay of up to 24 months.

• Your first entry must be within 12 months of visa grant.
• If you do not enter by that date, the visa ceases.
• You may leave and re-enter Australia as often as you wish while the visa remains valid.
• Time outside Australia does not extend the 24-month stay.
• You cannot extend this visa or obtain another Subclass 403 MATES stream visa.
• Apply for another visa if you want to remain longer.

Rights and conditions

With this visa, you can:

• Live in Australia.
• Do any kind of work.
• Undertake any study.
• Travel in and out of Australia while valid.
• Include eligible members of your family unit.

You and your family members must comply with all visa conditions and Australian laws. Check individual visa conditions through VEVO.

Australian workplace laws apply to visa holders. Employers may need to pay compulsory superannuation if you earn over the relevant threshold.

Family provisions

You may include members of your family unit in your application. Family members must meet health and character requirements.

You may add family members after lodgement but before a decision. If they are not included, they must apply separately as subsequent entrants.

For dependent children under 18, provide consent from non-migrating persons with legal authority over the child, using:

• Form 1229; or
• A statutory declaration giving consent.

Alternatively, provide an applicable court order or evidence that home-country laws permit the child to migrate.

Required documents

Prepare clear colour scans of all documents. Translate non-English documents into English and provide both originals and translations. Documents do not need certification.

Identity and qualification

Provide:

• Passport pages showing photo, personal details, issue and expiry dates.
• Passport rear page showing family details.
• PAN ID and other national ID cards.
• Name-change evidence, if applicable.
• Qualification certificates and academic transcripts.
• CV or résumé.
• Required registration or licensing evidence, if applicable.
• Approved English test results.

Financial evidence

Provide either:

• An Australian employment offer or contract; or
• Evidence of accessible funds.

Funds evidence may include bank funds held by you or a close family member for the three months before application, government financial support, or a loan from a financial institution in your name.

Family and character evidence

As applicable, provide:

• Marriage certificate or evidence of a de facto relationship of at least 12 months.
• Dependent identity and relationship evidence.
• Australian Federal Police complete disclosure National Police Certificate if you spent 12 months or more in Australia during the last 10 years since turning 16.
• Police certificates from each country where you spent 12 months or more during that period.
• Military records or discharge papers, if applicable.

Australian police certificates are valid for 12 months. State or territory Australian police certificates are not accepted for this purpose.

How to apply

1. Register in the MATES ballot.
2. If selected, access the application link through your ballot registration or ImmiAccount.
3. Gather supporting documents.
4. Complete the online application.
5. Attach documents and pay the visa application charge.
6. Record the transaction reference number (TRN).
7. Check ImmiAccount for requests, health examinations, biometrics, or further information.

The Department may decide the application without asking for further documents.

Cost and processing

The visa application charge starts from AUD470 for the main applicant. Additional charges apply for family members.

Other possible costs include:

• Health examinations
• Police certificates
• Health insurance

Processing times vary by individual circumstances, document completeness, responses to requests, and health, character and security checks. The processing-time guide is indicative only.

Obligations and important warnings

• Be outside Australia when applying and when a decision is made.
• Keep adequate health insurance for your full stay; you are personally liable for healthcare costs.
• Tell the Department promptly about changes to contact details, passport, relationship status, or a child’s birth.
• Correct application mistakes through ImmiAccount or Form 1023.
• Removing an application from ImmiAccount does not withdraw it.
• The visa application charge is not refunded if the application is refused.
• Keep a copy of the visa decision while in Australia.
• Your visa is electronically linked to your passport; no visa label is issued.