Australia Lists 100 Indian Universities for MATES Visa
Graduates of listed institutions may qualify, but only if their qualifications also match one of seven designated sectors.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Australia and New Zealand
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Australia's government has published a list of 100 Indian universities whose graduates may be eligible for the MATES visa, which allows eligible Indian nationals to live and work in Australia for up to two years. Graduating from a listed institution is not enough on its own, as applicants' qualifications must relate to one of the designated sectors.
Why it matters
The list gives prospective applicants and institutions a clear reference point for eligibility under the scheme. It also signals which fields Australia is prioritizing for skilled labour from India.
The MATES visa permits stays of up to two years, and the published list of 100 universities, led by Indian Institute of Technology Madras, sets the institutional eligibility baseline. The stub does not indicate how many applicants will ultimately be approved.
The players
Australian Government
The national government of Australia, which administers the MATES visa scheme and publishes the list of qualifying universities.
Department of Home Affairs
The Australian federal department responsible for immigration and visa policy, which published the eVisitor country list.
The details
The Australian government published the full list of qualifying institutions on its official website, alongside the seven industries applicants' qualifications must relate to: renewable energy, mining, engineering, information and communications technology, artificial intelligence, financial technology, and agricultural technology. A related list published by the Department of Home Affairs names 36 European countries whose citizens qualify for the free eVisitor visa, a list that includes no African countries.
Timeline
The article reporting the MATES university list was published on 4 November 2026.
Travel Outlook
The MATES visa is positioned as a skilled-migration pathway rather than a tourist route, and the university list narrows it to graduates in seven designated sectors. The parallel eVisitor list for European countries shows Australia separating short-stay visitor access from longer-term work entry.
Indian graduates considering Australia should first confirm their institution appears on the published list and that their qualifications match one of the seven sectors. Travelers planning short visits to Europe-linked itineraries should note that eVisitor stays are limited to three months per visit.
The takeaway
Eligibility under the MATES visa depends on both the university attended and the field of qualification, so applicants should check both criteria against the official Australian list before applying.
Further reading
For more on visa rules and destination planning, explore Australia and New Zealand travel coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Legit.ng - Nigeria news..
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