Why Choose the Australia MATES Visa?
✓ Live and work in Australia for up to 24 months
✓ No employer sponsorship required
✓ Gain valuable international work experience
✓ Work anywhere in Australia
✓ Travel in and out of Australia during the visa period
✓ Eligible family members may be included
✓ Explore possible future skilled migration pathways
Australia plans to provide up to 3,000 MATES places each year for eligible Indian nationals.
01
Who Can Apply?
Applicants generally need to:
Hold a valid Indian passport
Be between 18 and 30 years of age at the start of the ballot registration period
Have recently graduated from an eligible Indian institution
Hold a qualification in an approved field
Meet the required English-language standard
Satisfy health, character and visa requirements
Eligibility conditions, approved institutions and qualification dates are determined by the Australian Government and may change.
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Eligible Fields of Study
Eligible qualifications may include:
Engineering
Information and Communication Technology
Artificial Intelligence
Financial Technology
Renewable Energy
Mining
Agricultural Technology
Applicants should confirm that both their institution and qualification are included in the official eligible list.
Process
How the MATES Ballot Works
The MATES programme uses a random ballot system. Applicants cannot lodge the visa application directly without first being selected.
1
Register
Register for the MATES ballot during the official registration period.
2
Ballot
Applicants are selected through a random ballot conducted by the Australian Government.
3
Invitation
Selected applicants receive an invitation to submit their visa application.
4
Apply
Lodge the MATES visa application after receiving the invitation.
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English-Language Requirement
Applicants must meet the English-language requirement specified by the Australian Government.
Accepted tests, minimum scores and exemption rules should be confirmed before applying, as requirements may be updated.
Can the MATES Visa Lead to Permanent Residency?
The MATES visa is a temporary visa and does not directly provide permanent residency.
However, after gaining Australian work experience, some participants may later become eligible for other pathways, such as:
Eligibility for a future visa depends on the applicant’s occupation, qualifications, work experience, age and immigration rules at that time.
The MATES visa can be a valuable opportunity for eligible young Indian graduates to gain international exposure and build their careers in Australia.
Possible Future Pathways
✓ Skilled migration visas
✓ Employer-sponsored visas
✓ State or territory nomination
✓ Other permanent residency programmes
