India & UK To Increase Work Visas For Indian Nationals & Improve Migration Cooperation

It will also strengthen UK–India cooperation to protect a large number of Indian citizens who follow immigration laws.

India and the United Kingdom have signed an ambitious new migration agreement. Both countries will benefit from a new scheme that will enable young Indian and British professionals to live and work in each other’s countries, boosting work visas for Indian nationals and improving migration cooperation between the two countries.

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, and S Jaishankar, the Indian Minister of External Affairs, signed the ‘Migration and Mobility Partnership,’ which aims to make it easier for British and Indian nationals to live and work in each other’s countries, as well as improve cooperation in the fight against immigration crime and fraud.

According to a British High Commission release, it will also strengthen UK-India cooperation to protect many Indian nationals who follow immigration rules by preventing unfair abuse of the system by a small minority who violate visa terms or enter the UK illegally.

“The UK government is committed to implementing an immigration system that provides transparent opportunities for the best and brightest talent from India and worldwide to research, work, and live in the UK. This groundbreaking new partnership with India is a critical step toward fulfilling that promise, “Patel said.

“It will give thousands of young people in the UK and India more independence and opportunities to learn about each other’s cultures, while also ensuring that we can work together to protect the vast majority of Indian nationals who follow the laws,” Patel added.

The agreement involves a particular Young Professionals scheme that allows young Indian and British professionals to work and live in each other’s country for two years – the first of its kind for a visa-free country (countries that require visit visas to visit the UK).

Thousands of 18-30-year-olds will be able to work and live in each other’s countries for up to two years under the terms of the agreement.

The new agreement follows a new post-graduate Graduate Path (opening on 1 July 2021).