Australia/India: Agreement Signed to Promote Mobility of Students, Graduates, Academic Researchers and Professionals

Update - November 13, 2025: The Australian government has announced 3,000 visa places for the 2025–26 program year under the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES), a stream under the Temporary Work (International Relations) (Subclass 403) visa. To ensure fair access to the limited places, applicants must participate in a pre-application ballot process, which opened on November 3, 2025 and closes on December 14, 2025. Eligible individuals must register via ImmiAccount, pay a registration fee of AUD 25 and await random selection. Those selected will receive an email notification and have 30 calendar days from the date of notification to lodge their visa application. The MATES stream removes the need for employer sponsorship and aims to promote mutual skills development between the two countries. 

Update - November 14, 2024: As of November 12, 2024, the government implemented the Mobility Arrangements for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES), a new visa stream under Australia’s Temporary Work (International Relations) (subclass 403) visa. To be eligible, applicants must be ages 18-30, hold a valid Indian passport, and be outside of Australia at the time of application. Additionally, applicants must have graduated within the past two years from an approved foreign institution in an eligible field and hold a qualification in a specified industry, as determined by the Australian Minister. They must meet English language requirements and satisfy standard visa criteria, including health, character, and national security checks. The program uses a random ballot system, providing a fair and objective selection process for eligible individuals.

June 9, 2023: On May 24, 2023, the leaders of Australia and India signed a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement to promote the mobility of students, graduates, academic researchers and professionals between the two countries.  According to the agreement, beginning July 1, 2023, Indian nationals graduating from Australian higher education institutions will be eligible for extended post-study work visa options of up to eight years.

Further, a new pilot program will be launched in Australia, called the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-Professionals Scheme, which will provide 3,000 places for Indian national early professionals in renewable energy, mining, engineering, information, communications, technology, artificial intelligence, FinTech, and AgriTech. The Indian government has not yet released any details on the programs they will implement, but such information is expected to be forthcoming.