MATES Visa Australia Guide for Indian Graduates and Early Professionals

The MATES visa Australia is a Subclass 403 work pathway that lets eligible Indian graduates live and work in Australia for up to two years without employer sponsorship. Selection runs through a random ballot, with up to 3,000 places each program year for primary applicants.

• MATES is India-only, built under the India-Australia mobility partnership, not open to other nationalities.
• Entry is a two-stage lottery, so registering in the ballot is not the same as getting the visa.
• The scheme rewards recent graduates in seven target fields from top-ranked Indian institutions.
• No job offer is needed, which makes it a rare unsponsored route compared with skilled migration.

The scheme is informally called the "lottery visa" because selection is random rather than points-tested or employer-driven. For a young Indian engineer or tech graduate, MATES offers two years of Australian work experience that can later support a skilled or employer-sponsored move.

Conversions based on an AUD-INR rate of INR 65.00 as of June 29, 2026. Rates fluctuate; check the current rate before financial planning.

Also Read:

• Latest Australia visa rule changes for 2026
• Top Universities in Australia: Courses, Fees & Eligibility
• Study in Australia: Top Universities, Courses, Cost & Requirements
• Study in Australia after 12th for International Students

What The MATES Visa Is

The MATES visa Australia is a temporary mobility pathway under the Subclass 403 visa, created specifically for Indian graduates and early-career professionals. MATES stands for Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme, and it was set up under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement between India and Australia.

According to the Department of Home Affairs, the scheme lets selected Indian nationals live and work in Australia for up to two years. The department grants up to 3,000 Subclass 403 MATES stream visas each program year, and there is no requirement for an Australian employer to sponsor you.

What sets it apart is the selection method. You cannot apply for the visa directly. Instead, you register in a pre-application ballot, and only those randomly selected receive an invitation to apply.

Key Insight: MATES is not a points-tested visa and not a skilled migration route. It is a fixed-term work experience scheme, so treat it as a chance to build an Australian track record rather than a direct path to permanent residence.

If you are a recent graduate in a target field and under 31, then MATES gives you a low-cost entry into the Australian labour market. That means you can test the market, build networks and earn before deciding on a longer-term plan. The scheme runs as a pilot, so places and timing are reviewed each year.

Who Is Eligible To Apply

Eligibility for the MATES visa is strict, and you must meet every condition at the time of ballot registration. The criteria filter for young, recent graduates from strong Indian institutions in specific sectors.

Core eligibility checklist

• Indian citizen holding a valid Indian passport.
• Aged 18 to 30 at the time of ballot registration.
• Bachelor's degree or higher completed within the last two years.
• English proficiency of IELTS 6.0 overall, with at least 5.0 in each of the four parts, or an accepted equivalent.
• No prior participation in the MATES scheme, which can be used only once.

The two-year graduation window is measured from when the ballot registration period opens, so timing your application soon after you graduate matters. If you graduated more than two years ago, then you do not qualify, regardless of how strong your profile is.

Family members can be included. Selected primary applicants may bring a partner and dependent children, who can also work in Australia and are not counted towards the 3,000-place cap. That makes the scheme workable for young professionals who are already married.

Also Read:

• Student Visa Australia (Subclass 500): Requirements, Fees & Process
• How to Apply for Australian Universities: Application and Process
• Exams Required to Study in Australia

Eligible Fields And Institutions

Your degree must be in one of seven target fields and, in practice, from a top-ranked Indian institution. These sectors map to Australia's current workforce priorities, which is why the scheme is narrow rather than open to all graduates.

The seven eligible fields

Beyond the field, the institution matters. Migration practices report that your degree should be from an institution in the Top 100 of India's National Institutional Ranking Framework Overall list, and that affiliated colleges outside that Top 100 do not qualify. This is one of the most overlooked conditions.

What applicants discuss on forums: "People assume any engineering degree counts, then find out the NIRF Top 100 rule rules them out before the ballot even matters."

If your degree is in a target field but your institution sits outside the NIRF Top 100, then you are not eligible. That means checking the current NIRF Overall list against your institution is the first step, before you think about the ballot. Always confirm the exact list and fields on the Department of Home Affairs fact sheet, since the pilot settings can change between program years.

How The Ballot Works

The MATES visa uses a two-step ballot, where you first register and then, only if randomly selected, receive an invitation to apply. The ballot exists to give every eligible Indian applicant an equal chance, since demand far exceeds the 3,000 annual places.

For the 2025-26 program year, registrations were open from 1 November to 14 December 2025, a six-week window, with the first random selection on 15 December 2025 and further draws running until registrations expired on 30 June 2026. You can register only once per program year, and only during the open window.

• Register once in the ballot during the official window and pay the AUD 25 fee.
• Wait for selection, which is random and conducted electronically by the department.
• Get invited, after which you have a limited window to lodge the visa application.
• Apply offshore, since you must be outside Australia when you submit.

The 2026-27 cycle dates had not been officially announced as of mid-2026, but practices expect a similar timeline. If the pattern holds, then prepare your documents before the window opens so you can act quickly if selected. The official ballot status pages move through pending, active, closed and expired phases.

Also Read:

• Master of Education in Australia
• Study in Australia after 12th for International Students
• BBA in Australia: Top Universities and Admissions
• SOP for Australia: Importance, Sample, Tips & Guideline

Fees And Total Costs

The MATES visa is one of the more affordable Australian work routes, with costs split into a small ballot fee and a larger application charge if selected. You only pay the second stage if your name is drawn.

The Australian government originally set the ballot charge at AUD 25 and the application charge at AUD 365, both indexed to inflation in later years, so the current figure may be slightly higher. There may be an additional charge to add dependent family members to the application.

Beyond government fees, budget for your English test, medical examinations, police clearances and flights. Compared with a points-tested skilled visa, which carries far higher charges and a skills assessment, MATES is light on upfront cost. That said, the AUD 25 ballot fee is non-refundable, so do not enter unless you genuinely qualify.

If finance is a concern once you arrive, then planning for Australian living costs matters more than the visa fee itself. You can review a realistic cost of living breakdown for students and young workers before you commit.

Step-By-Step Application

Applying for the MATES visa follows a clear sequence, from confirming eligibility to lodging the visa offshore after selection. Each stage has its own requirements, and skipping the preparation costs you if you are selected.

1. Confirm eligibility: age, recent graduation, target field, NIRF Top 100 institution, English score and Indian passport.
2. Prepare documents: transcripts, degree certificate, IELTS result, passport and identity papers.
3. Register in the ballot: complete the online form during the open window and pay AUD 25.
4. Await selection: if drawn, you receive a Notification of Selection and an invitation to apply.
5. Lodge the visa: apply through ImmiAccount from outside Australia, attaching all evidence.

Accuracy at registration is critical, because once you submit the ballot form you cannot change details such as your graduation year or passport number. A single error can void your entry or your later application.

Key Insight: Selection does not guarantee a visa. After the ballot, you still need to meet health, character and document requirements. Treat the invitation as the start of a real application, not a finish line.

If you are selected, then you must submit the visa application while physically outside Australia within the timeframe given. That means having your documents, medicals and police checks ready in advance, since the post-selection window is short.

Benefits And What It Does Not Give

The MATES visa gives unsponsored work rights and flexibility, but it is temporary and does not lead directly to permanent residence. Knowing both sides helps you plan beyond the two years.

What MATES gives you:

• Two years of work rights across industries, not tied to one employer.
• No sponsorship needed, so you can change jobs freely.
• Multiple entry, letting you travel in and out during the visa period.
• Family inclusion, with dependents able to work and study.

What MATES does not cover:

• No direct PR, since it is a temporary stream with no built-in residence pathway.
• No second go, as you can join the scheme only once.
• No extension of time abroad, because time spent outside Australia does not extend the visa.

There is no strict rule that you must work in your nominated field, but the scheme is designed to help you build skills and networks in your sector. If your goal is to stay longer, then use the two years to gain experience that strengthens a later skilled or employer-sponsored application.

MATES Versus Skilled Visas

MATES and skilled visas serve different goals, so the right choice depends on whether you want quick experience or long-term migration. The two are not direct substitutes.

Skilled visas such as the Subclass 189 and Subclass 190 are points-tested, require a formal skills assessment and aim at permanent migration. They take longer, cost more and demand work experience and high scores. MATES, by contrast, is a fast, low-cost, temporary entry decided by a lottery.

If you are a fresh graduate who wants Australian experience without committing to the full skilled process, then MATES fits. If you already have years of experience and want PR, then a skilled stream is the stronger route.

The MATES visa is a narrow but valuable door for young Indian graduates who qualify on age, field and institution. Because selection is a lottery, your odds depend partly on luck, but your readiness is fully in your control. Confirm your eligibility against the current rules, especially the NIRF Top 100 and the two-year graduation window, then prepare documents before the ballot opens. Used well, the two years of unsponsored Australian work experience can become the foundation for a longer career or a future skilled migration move.