A new stream was added to the subclass 403 – Temporary Work (International Relations) visa to facilitate the Mobility Arrangements for Talented Early‑professionals Scheme (MATES) program, a mobility partnership between the Australian and Indian governments agreed to in May 2023. A maximum of 3,000 places will be available for the current program year.

Several instruments were registered recently and came into effect from 12 November 2024 providing key criteria for this visa.

The first is that this stream is subject to a visa pre-application process, aka a ballot or lottery. This will be the third visa subject to the randomness of a computer program behind the subclass 192 – Pacific Engagement Visa and the subclass 462 – Work and Holiday visa for China, India, and Vietnam, which was introduced within the last 2 months.

Whether the MATES program will attract similar overwhelming demand remains to be seen. It was reported that 40,000 Indian nationals entered the ballot for a 462 visa within 2 weeks for only 1,000 visas. The ballot for 462 visas has already closed for all three countries.

The cost to enter the ballot will be AUD 25, which is the same for the other ballots.

Small amendments will require the visa application under the MATES stream to be lodged through an Internet form and allow subsequent visa applications by family members.

The major instrument adding to the regulations sets out the following main requirements for applicants to validly lodge this visa application. They must:

• Be outside Australia when the application is made,

• Not have entered Australia as the holder of a MATES visa,

• Hold a valid Indian passport and held one at the time they registered for the ballot,

• Have been selected in the ballot,

• Were between 18 and 30 years old at the beginning of the relevant registration period for the ballot,

• Graduated from certain foreign educational institution and within 2 years of the beginning of the ballot open period,

• Have lodged their visa application on your before the date specified in the notice they were selected in the ballot.

To be granted this visa, the requirements a primary visa applicant must meet are that they must:

• Hold a relevant qualification from a specified foreign educational institution which relates to a specific industry,

• Meet certain English requirements,

• Meet heath requirements, which will include a visa medical.

The qualification and English requirements are in a separate instrument.

The qualification must be equivalent to at least a bachelor’s degree and relevant to one of the following industries:

•  renewable energy;

•  mining;

• engineering;

• information communications technology;

• artificial intelligence;

• financial technology;

• agricultural technology.

A comprehensive list of institutions is in the instrument.

Importantly, and similar to the subclass 485 – Temporary Graduate visa, the English language test is only valid for 1 year immediately before the date of visa application. However, unlike the 485 visa if evidence of the test is not provided at the time the visa application is made, it can be provided before a decision is made. This means a test can be submitted post-lodgement.

The scores must be in a single test other than for a OET test. The scores required are:

• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) – an overall band score of at least 169; and a score of at least 154 for each test component.

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – an overall band score of at least 6; and a score of at least 5 for each test component.

• Occupational English Test (OET) – a score of at least C for each test component.

• Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) – an overall band score of at least 50; and for the listening, reading, speaking, and writing test components a score of at least 36 in each.

• Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-based Test (TOEFL iBT) – a total overall score of at least 64; for the listening and reading test components a score of at least 4 in each; and for the speaking and writing test components a score of at least 14 in each.

There are also common criteria for all streams that must be met. This includes:

• adequate arrangements for health insurance,

• having a genuine intention to stay temporarily in Australia, and having been substantially compliant with the visa conditions of their last substantive visa, or any subsequent bridging visa,

• adequate means to support themselves,

• meeting character and special return criteria.

This visa will be valid for 2 years from the date of first arrival, which must happen within 12 months after the visa is granted.

Mandatory visa conditions include:

• Not being involved in disruptive or violent threatening harm to the Australian community or a group within the Australian community,

• Holding adequate health insurance, and

• Continue to be a person who would satisfy the criteria for grant.

There are a few discretionary visa conditions, which of note may be a no further stay condition.

Importantly, there are no visa restrictions relating to work. Therefore, it is conceivable that any visa holder, despite their qualifications, may decide to work in an unrelated field to their qualification.

Registrations for the first ballot will open in December 2024.