Yes, you absolutely can bring your spouse on a MATES Subclass 403 Visa.

The Mobility Arrangement for Talented Early-professionals Scheme (MATES) permits primary applicants who win the electronic ballot to include members of their “family unit”—which explicitly covers your legally married spouse or de facto partner, as well as dependent children.

Crucially, accompanying spouses are granted full work and study rights in Australia for the duration of the visa, and they do not count toward the program’s strict annual cap of 3,000 primary applicant places.

Primary vs. Dependent Visa Condition Matrix

While your spouse shares your visa duration, their application parameters differ slightly from yours. They are exempt from your academic and age restrictions but must clear independent health, character, and financial criteria.

The allocation matrix below breaks down how visa parameters apply across a MATES household:

The Family Inclusion and Lodgement Pipeline

You can include your spouse in your initial Subclass 403 digital application immediately after your selection in the ballot, or add them later as a subsequent entrant before your visa is finalized.

1.Secure the Primary Ballot Selection and Invitation to Apply: Ballot Clearance.

Wait for the electronic draw system to select your registration profile. You cannot add your spouse or submit a family visa application until you receive an official, unique Invitation to Apply letter from the Department of Home Affairs.

2.Compile Legal and Financial Evidence of Your Relationship: Relationship Proof.

Gather your official Marriage Certificate issued by a government registrar. For de facto partnerships, compile shared bank accounts, combined residential rental leases, or utility bills proving a shared life for at least 12 months.

3.Organize Independent Spousal Police and Medical Clearances: Clearance Requests.

Book medical check appointments for both you and your spouse at an approved panel physician center. Simultaneously, secure an official Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) for your spouse from the Regional Passport Office.

4.Link Spousal Profiles in ImmiAccount and Pay Combined Fees: Combined Submission.

Create a combined application block within your portal. Attach your primary academic files alongside your spouse’s identity papers, marriage proofs, and health insurance certificates before processing the joint visa payment.

The Financial Sufficiency Multiplier: While a single MATES applicant is typically required to show approximately AUD 5,000 in liquid savings to demonstrate self-sufficiency upon landing, adding a spouse changes this baseline. Immigration case officers will audit your bank statements to ensure you hold additional liquid reserves to cover your partner’s initial relocation costs. Ensure your savings accounts reflect this combined family cushion for at least three months prior to lodgement.