News
Applications will kick off for the MATES Scheme (Mobility Arrangements for Talented Early-professionals) visa (subclass 403) in December offering a two year stay in Australia for Indian nationals with university qualifications in certain fields.
The visa is open to holders of a valid passport issued by the Republic of India who have an AQF level 7 degree (Bachelor degree) or higher qualification from an accredited educational institution in renewable energy, mining, engineering, information communications technology, artificial intelligence, financial technology and agricultural technology.
Applicants must have achieved an overall band score of 6 in the IELTS English language test which must be achieved in a single sitting with a minimum score of at least 5 for each test component.
Other English proficiency tests which can be used for applications include the Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE), Occupational English Test (OET), Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) and the Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) and tests must be completed both within one year of the application being made and the visa being granted.
There were 3,000 MATES visa places available with an adequate level of health insurance required to apply. Applicants must be outside Australia if they have not previously been in Australia as the holder of a Subclass 403 (Temporary Work (International Relations)) visa in the MATES stream.
Secondary applicants for a visa in the MATES stream can be in or outside Australia, but not in immigration clearance. The age of all applicants is limited to those between 18 and 30 (inclusive) at the time the applicant registers for a visa pre-application process/ballot.
Once the MATES visa has been granted, visa-holders have 12 months to enter Australia and are permitted to stay for 24 months from the time they arrive. Holders of the subclass 403 visa also must not become involved in activities disruptive to, or violence threatening harm to, the Australian community or a group within the Australian community.