File picture: Professionals deployed on contracts such as architects, engineers, chefs, yoga instructors, and musicians, will benefit from simplified visa procedures and liberalised entry categories, making it easier for talent to work in the UK
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RAO GN
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the UK will enable India’s professionals to work in 35 UK sectors for two years. The agreement will enable more than 1,800 chefs, yoga experts and musicians to work in the UK each year.
In a statement, the government said the services sector, will see wide-ranging benefits.
“The agreement provides greater market access on IT and IT-enabled services, financial and legal services, professional and educational services, and digital trade. Indian professionals, including those deployed by companies to work in the UK across all services sectors, professionals deployed on contracts such as architects, engineers, chefs, yoga instructors, and musicians, will benefit from simplified visa procedures and liberalised entry categories, making it easier for talent to work in the UK,” it said.
According to Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, the agreement enhances mobility for Indian professionals by simplifying access for contractual service providers, business visitors, and independent professionals. “This FTA will serve as a catalyst for inclusive growth, benefiting farmers, artisans, workers, MSMEs, start-ups, and innovators, while safeguarding India’s core interests and accelerating our journey towards becoming a global economic powerhouse,” he said.
Ajay Srivastava, Founder of GTRI said India also agreed to recognise UK professional qualifications in select fields including law and accounting (though legal services remain closed). The agreement ensures no caps on the number of UK service providers, and offers commercial presence rights (Mode 3) across multiple domains. However, India has retained key regulatory carve-outs, especially in legal services, taxation, and national security, and still lacks full mutual recognition frameworks in most regulated professions.
In contrast, the UK’s services offer to India is more cautious and limited in scope. While it grants commercial presence rights in sectors such as computer services, consultancy, and environmental services, its commitments on professional mobility are modest. “The UK has offered an annual quota of 1,800 visas for niche roles including yoga instructors and classical musicians, but it has not made binding commitments on broader visa categories, including business visitors or IT professionals,” he said.
Also, the UK’s refusal to restore post-study work visas is a disappointment for Indian students, and the FTA does not override the UK‘s points-based immigration system — meaning Indian professionals must still meet regular education, salary, and job offer thresholds, added Srivastava.
Published on July 24, 2025
