Previous Year Question
With reference to “Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme” (MATES), which of the following statements is/are correct?
This is a bilateral framework between India and Australia.
In this scheme Indian graduates (aged 18-30) with knowledge and skills in specific fields of study will be offered to live and work in Australia for up to two years.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Only 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Only 1
Both 1 and 2
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is correct. MATES, or the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme, was established under the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement (MMPA) between India and Australia. This bilateral arrangement was signed by the two countries on 23 May 2023.
Statement 2 is also correct. MATES provides eligible Indian university graduates and early-career professionals an opportunity to live and work in Australia for a maximum of 24 months, i.e. two years. The eligible age is 18 to 30 years.
The Scheme primarily covers graduates/professionals from targeted fields such as renewable energy, mining, engineering, information and communications technology, artificial intelligence, financial technology and agricultural technology.
MATES provides eligible candidates a temporary mobility pathway without the usual requirement for employer sponsorship. Up to 3,000 primary-applicant visa places are available in each programme year. Selection is conducted through a pre-application ballot system.
Current Status (2026): MATES is no longer merely a proposed arrangement; it is operational as Australia's Subclass 403 MATES stream. For the latest published 2025-26 programme year, ballot registration ran from 1 November to 14 December 2025, while the selection period continued until 30 June 2026. The Australian Government makes available up to 3,000 MATES places per programme year.