UK likely to relax work visa rules for Indians under NAFTA: Report

The UK is considering relaxing work visa rules for professionals under its Free Trade Agreement with India, it reported. economic times.

According to the report, the UK government is set to relax some visa rules for Indian professionals, however any visa relaxation is most likely to be limited as immigration is a politically sensitive issue in the UK.

Until now, the UK has refused to make any concessions to its visa and immigration rules under the FTA with India.

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The Indian administration has repeatedly sought greater access for its citizens, but after Brexit in 2016, restrictions and control were placed on the number of people entering the country. Also, immigration is still a hot topic ahead of the next general election.

In early 2022, the discussion between India and the UK stumbled over easier access to thousands of skilled workers.

With UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s policies on immigration from India, even difficulties were raised.

Braverman in a recent interview expressed reservations about easing through the trade pact. She claimed that the Indians were the “largest group of people who stayed the longest.”

These comments, made last week, did not sit well with India, as the latter said both nations should ‘honor’ the ‘understanding’ on migration mobility.

Indian officials were of the opinion that the British government should share data on the number of Indian business visitors who have stayed longer in the UK.

Recently, over the past few months, the UK has taken several measures to curb immigration into the country. Other than this, you also have limited options for existing immigrants to stay in the country.