New Migration Deal Between Australia and India

In Australia, the Indian community is the fastest-growing migrant group, increasing five-fold in the last 20 years. The Indian-born population is also the second-largest migrant group in the country. With such a strong relationship between the two countries, it is no surprise that a bilateral migration deal was made between both Australia and India at the end of May 2023. Hailed as a win for both nations, the Australian Government has announced some changes to migration that will impact immigration into Australia for Indian citizens.

What changes were announced?

There are several proposed updates to the current visa restrictions, outlined in the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement, especially impacting short-stay arrivals, students, graduates, and professionals.

The changes will allow Indian graduates of Australian tertiary institutions with student visas to work and pursue professional development for up to eight years without requiring visa sponsorship. This offers significant flexibility and opportunity for graduates to gain a wealth of experience in their industries.

A new pilot scheme known as MATES (Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early Professionals Scheme) will be created. This scheme will open up 3000 spots annually for young professionals from India to spend two years in Australia without needing visa sponsorship. This will allow recent graduates from Indian tertiary institutions to develop international work experience. The list of eligible qualifications for MATES covers renewable energy, mining, engineering, ICT, AI, FinTech and AgriTech, with the opportunity for greater scope at a later date.

What does this mean for my visa?

At this stage, these changes are not enshrined in the law so they will not currently impact any pending visa applications. Once the 10-page migration agreement is available, we will provide an update with all further information regarding this subject.

For any further information or clarity required, contact us and speak to our team of immigration experts.