India: Work Visas

In Directorate of Enforcement v. Joy of India & Ors., Writ Petition No. 698 of 2018, the Karnataka High Court reaffirmed the statutory test for determining whether a person qualifies as a "person resident in India" under Section 2(v) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 ("FEMA").

The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), in force since 15 July 2026, introduces structured, capped mobility categories for professionals moving between the two countries. For employers on both sides, particularly those with cross-border secondment arrangements or client-facing service contracts, these quotas are not a background policy detail. They directly affect how many employees can be deployed, under what visa category, and within what annual limits.

The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which entered into force on 15 July 2026, is often discussed in terms of tariff cuts on goods, but for India's professional services sector, the more consequential provisions lie elsewhere. CETA opens structured, rules-based mobility pathways for IT professionals, consultants, engineers, architects, financial services specialists, and other skilled workers moving between India and the UK. For firms in these sectors, understanding the agreement's mobility framework is now essential to competitive strategy.

The global competition for high-skilled talent has intensified dramatically over the past decade. Countries increasingly recognise that economic growth, technological innovation, and global competitiveness depend on attracting and retaining skilled professionals in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Trade agreements are not just about lowering tariffs; they shape how countries trade, invest and cooperate across sectors.

On September 19, 2025, an executive order was signed, imposing a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications and limiting entry for specific non-immigrant workers.

Singapore's first-class standard of living, healthcare, and education, as well as its strategic geographic position in Asia, make permanent residency an enviable status to have.

The next ballot for the India Young Professionals Scheme visa for the UK is fast approaching. It is due to take place sometime in July 2023. The exact date is to be announced by the Home Office.

The government of India reopened its Youth Professional Scheme with the United Kingdom (UK). Through the scheme, UK nationals between the age of 18 and 30 who hold a valid graduate degree...