In a recent bilateral agreement between India and Australia, Indian graduates from Australian tertiary institutions will now have the opportunity to work in Australia for up to eight years. This agreement introduces the Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES), which allows 3,000 young professionals from India to spend two years in Australia without requiring a visa sponsorship.
Under the agreement, Australians planning to conduct research in India can now apply for an S-5 visa, granting them a stay in India for up to three years or for the duration of their research project.
The MATES visa is a temporary program that caters to recent graduates from recognized Indian universities in specialized fields of study. Details regarding the fee and visa processing time for the MATES visa are yet to be announced.
Eligible fields for the MATES visa include engineering, mining, financial technology, artificial intelligence, information and communication technology, agricultural technology, and renewable energy.
To be eligible for the MATES visa, candidates must be below the age of 31, have graduated from a recognized university, be recent graduates, and be at an early stage of their career.
Starting from July 1, 2023, international higher education graduates with eligible qualifications will receive an additional two years of post-study work rights. This extension applies to the Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) and is granted on top of the existing one to two years of work rights for eligible students in regional areas.
From July 1, there will be a new work-hour cap for Australian student visa holders. Previously relaxed during the pandemic, work restrictions will be reintroduced and set at a maximum of 48 hours per fortnight for all student visa holders (excluding those in the aged care sector). This change aims to allow students to focus on their education while still supporting themselves financially, gaining work experience, and contributing to Australia’s workforce needs.
Student visa holders already working in the aged care sector as of May 9, 2023, can continue to work unrestricted hours until December 31, 2023.
However, even with the flexibility in work hours, students must maintain their course enrollment, ensure satisfactory attendance, and make satisfactory progress in their studies. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in a breach of visa conditions.
In other news, the Australian government has announced its planning level for the 2023-24 Permanent Migration Programme, which has been set at 190,000 places. This program aims to address skills shortages, attract individuals with specialized skillsets, and contribute to Australia’s economic growth.
The program consists of various streams, including the Skill stream (comprising 72% of the program), the Family stream (approximately 28% of the program), the Special Eligibility stream, the Global Talent Visa category, and the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP) category.
Under the Skill stream, 30,375 places have been allocated for Skilled Independent visas, aiming to fill skill shortages in the labor market, including regional Australia. The Family stream includes partner visas (40,500 estimated for 2023-24) and child visas (3,000 estimated for 2023-24), providing pathways to citizenship for family members of Australians.
Additionally, the Permanent Migration Programme has allocated 400 places for the Special Eligibility stream and 5,000 places for the Global Talent Visa (GTV) Program. However, the planning level for the BIIP category has been reduced from 5,000 visas in 2022-23 to 1,900 visas for the 2023-24 program.
