Australian Immigration Daily News

Australia's latest move in streamlining visa applications has introduced the Migration (Subclass 403 (MATES Stream) Visa Pre-application Process) Determination (LIN 24/069) 2024. This legislative change focuses on the new Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES), specifically targeting young Indian professionals.

Under this scheme, participants aged 18 to 30 can apply for the Subclass 403 visa, allowing them to live and work in Australia for up to two years. The application process involves a pre-registration ballot system, where eligible candidates are randomly selected to submit their visa applications. This mechanism aims to ensure a fair allocation of the 3,000 annual visa spots available under the scheme.

The key requirements include holding a valid Indian passport and meeting specific age criteria at the time of registration. The government hopes this initiative will attract top talent from India, contributing to sectors where Australia faces skill shortages.

The randomised selection process is designed to be transparent, with clear guidelines published on the Department of Home Affairs' website, ensuring a level playing field for all applicants. 

The Australian government remains optimistic that the MATES scheme will strengthen bilateral ties with India, promote skill transfer, and address immediate labour shortages in targeted sectors. Whether this will truly streamline immigration and fill skills gaps remains to be seen, but the intention is clear: leveraging skilled young talent to benefit both nations.

Source: LIN24069.pdf and

LIN24069-Explanatory-Statement.pdf