UK-India Visa Partnership for Young Professionals

India and the UK have signed an ambitious new migration partnership, which will see both countries benefit from a new scheme for young Indian and British professionals to live and work in one another's countries, thereby boosting work visas for Indian nationals and enhancing migration cooperation between the two nations.

The Migration and Mobility Partnership aims to make it easier for British and Indian nationals to live and work in each other's countries, whilst also enhancing cooperation on combatting immigration crime and fraud.

It will also enhance UK-India cooperation to protect many Indian nationals who obey immigration rules, by stopping unfair manipulation of the system by a small minority who breach the terms of their visas or enter the UK illegally, said a British High Commission statement.

The UK Government is committed to deliver an immigration system that offers clear opportunities to the brightest and best talent from India and around the world to come to the UK to study, work and live. This ground-breaking new partnership with India is an important milestone in delivering on that commitment.
It will give greater freedom and opportunity to thousands of young people in the UK and India wanting to experience each other's cultures, whilst also ensuring that we can work together to protect the vast majority of Indian nationals who do play by the rules.
UK Home Secretary Priti Patel

UK-India Youth Mobility Programme

The agreement includes a special Young Professionals scheme to allow young Indian and British professionals to work and live in each other's country for two years. The existing youth mobility programme is only open to the citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea and Taiwan.

The agreement will allow thousands of young individuals 18-30 years old to work and live in each other's country for up to 2 years.

The new deal builds on the previous announcement of a new post-study Graduate Route (opening on 1 July 2021).

The British High Commission in a statement said that the partnership forms part of the UK Government's commitment to deliver an immigration system that attracts talented individuals from India and around the world, whilst enhancing UK-India cooperation on ensuring the system is fair and secure.

This past year has shown what the UK and India can achieve to address shared challenges – from our best and brightest delivering a COVID-19 vaccine at record-breaking speed to the invaluable medical supplies we have provided each other.
Indian student numbers to the UK are growing fast, and nearly half of all UK skilled work visas go to Indian professionals – contributing significantly to shared prosperity and mutual understanding. I'm confident the new post-study Graduate Route and Young Professionals scheme will significantly increase those numbers.
British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis

The deal builds on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ambition to deliver a quantum leap in the UK's bilateral relationship with India.

According to the most recent data, more than 53,000 Indian students came to the UK to study last year, up 42% from the previous year. Nearly a quarter of all international students in the UK are from India.

In addition, the new post-study Graduate Route – offering eligible graduates two-three years to stay back after studies in the UK – will open for applications on 1 July 2021, offering yet another route for talented young Indians to build careers and experience in the UK.

Post-Brexit Bilateral Agreements

After ending free movement with the EU, the UK Government is seeking to bring down overall migration numbers while also encouraging the highest-skilled workers to come to the UK through a points-based system which prioritises the well educated and higher paid.

UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed on a joint “2030 roadmap” to double the volume of bilateral trade, work together on health security and tackling climate change, and launch joint operations in the Indo-Pacific region to combat the rise of China.

The UK and India share many fundamental values. The UK is one of the oldest democracies, and India is the world’s largest. We are both committed members of the Commonwealth. And there is a living bridge uniting the people of our countries.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson

This is a major win for India as the UK has been tightening the rules for foreign professionals to control immigration.

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