MATES (Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme) Ballot Opens Soon – Here’s Your 2025/26 Guide
The next round of the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) is about to begin!
The 2025/26 pre-application ballot will open on 1 November 2025 and close on 14 December 2025, offering 3,000 visa places for young Indian professionals eager to live, work, and gain valuable experience in Australia.
If you’re a recent graduate or young professional interested in working in Australia, now is the time to get ready. Below, we’ll walk you through what MATES is, who can apply, and how to apply.
What Is the MATES Scheme?
The Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) is a new temporary mobility pathway for Indian graduates and early career professionals with targeted qualifications in identified sectors of demand. MATES will provide young professionals with the opportunity to live and work in Australia for up to 2 years.
Up to 3,000 temporary places will be allocated annually through a visa pre-application ‘ballot’ process, with successful entrants able to apply for a Temporary Work (International Relations) (Subclass 403) visa in the MATES stream (The Subclass 403 visa consists of six streams).
Key Details for 2025/26
- Number of places: 3,000 visas available
- Pre-application ballot opens: 1 November 2025
- Ballot closes: 14 December 2025
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible, you generally need to:
- Be selected in the relevant ballot process
- Be an Indian citizen aged 18 to 30 at the beginning of the ballot registration open period
- Have not previously participated in MATES
- Have graduated on or after 01 November 2023 with an eligible qualification from a Top 100 institution on the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) India Rankings Overall 2024 List
- Hold a qualification (Bachelor degree or higher) that is relevant to one of the following sectors: renewable energy, mining, engineering, information communications technology, artificial intelligence, financial technology or agricultural technology.
- Have proficient English language skills (overall IELTS, or equivalent, of at least 6, with a minimum score of 5 for each of the four components)
- Have the financial capacity to support your stay
- Have adequate arrangements for health insurance
- Meet other visa requirements, including character and health checks
How to Apply?
- Register in the ballot: You can only apply for this visa if you have been randomly selected in the MATES ballot.
- Lodge visa application: If you have been selected in the ballot, you will receive a Notification of Selection letter via email. You must apply for the visa on or before the date specified in this letter.
- After you apply: The Department of Home Affairs will assess your application and will let you know the outcome. If your visa is granted, you will receive a visa grant notice which will contain important details relating to your visa, including your visa conditions, the date you must enter Australia by, period of stay and visa expiry date.
How Does the Ballot Work?
The ballot is a random selection process. The MATES program conducts its selection through an annual ballot designed to ensure fairness and transparency, offering equal opportunity to all qualified applicants. If you miss the registration window this year, you’ll need to wait until the next cycle opens and reapply, as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria.
Why Apply for MATES?
- Work and live in Australia for up to two years
- Travel to and from Australia as many times as you want
- Bring members of your family unit to Australia
- Gain international work experience in your field
- Build global professional networks
- Experience Australia’s diverse culture and lifestyle
This program is a unique bridge for young Indian professionals to enhance their global employability and gain firsthand experience in one of the world’s most innovative economies.
