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Registrations are now open for the MATES visa ballot for Program Year 2025-26
We are pleased to announce that registrations for the MATES (subclass 403) visa ballot for program year 2025-26 are now open for India for a period of six weeks.
Online registrations are open from 01 November 2025 to 14 December 2025 AEST. You can register only once when the registrations are open during this six-week period. You cannot register before or after this period.
These registrations are valid until 30 June 2026, when all registrations for this program year expire.
A visa ballot gives those registered the possibility to be randomly selected to apply for a MATES (subclass 403) visa to Australia.
We will conduct the first random selection on 15 December 2025, and we will conduct future random selections throughout the program year until all registrations expire on 30 June 2026.
MATES is a temporary mobility pathway for Indian graduates and early career professionals with knowledge and skills in targeted fields of study to live and work in Australia for up to two years. Eligible fields of study are renewable energy, mining, engineering, information and communications technology, artificial intelligence, financial technology and agricultural technology. More information is available in the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) Factsheet (558KB PDF).
For more information on the ballot and visa application process, see Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme 403 and How to Apply Guide (121KB PDF).