India-UK FTA offers 1,800 UK visas for chefs, yoga experts, musicians

The India–United Kingdom (UK) Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed on July 25, 2025, facilitates the mobility of Indian professionals by offering 1,800 annual UK visas to chefs, yoga instructors, classical musicians, and other niche service providers. The agreement enables Indian professionals to work in the UK for up to two years across 35 service sectors, including architecture, engineering, law, finance, education, and digital trade. According to Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Piyush Goyal, the FTA eases visa procedures for contractual service providers, business visitors, and independent professionals, thereby expanding opportunities for Indian talent. It also introduces streamlined pathways for intra-company transfers and short-term assignments.
The deal ensures no caps on UK service providers. It grants commercial presence rights (Mode 3) in sectors such as consultancy, computer services, and environmental services. While India has accepted limited recognition of UK qualifications in fields like law and accounting, it has retained regulatory carve-outs in legal services, taxation, and national security. However, experts note that the UK’s commitments on labour mobility remain narrow, with no binding provisions for Information Technology (IT) professionals or broader categories such as post-study work. Indian professionals must still meet existing educational, salary, and job criteria under the UK’s points-based system. Industry leaders view the FTA as a significant step toward global talent recognition, but stress the need for cultural readiness, skilling, and compliance training to harness India’s competitive advantage fully.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.