UK May Not Allow More Indians To Work In Their Country: Post-Brexit Trade Talk Speculations

Latest development reveals that the government will not allow more Indians to come to the UK through new visa routes as part of the UK-India free trade deal.

Special Indian Visas

Basically, special Indian visas have not been discussed in the first two rounds of trade negotiations. 

As international trade secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan has not put the issue on the table.

Earlier this year, media reports suggested Trevelyan and foreign secretary Liz Truss wanted to relax immigration rules for Indian nationals as a part of any deal.

This month, the UK and India will hold a third round of formal trade negotiations in New Delhi.

Moreover, Trevelyan is looking to win deeper access for City services firms wanting to operate in India and to cut tariffs on British exports like Scotch whisky.

Increased Access To Immigration Visa

 Speculation has been fueled that India wants increased access to immigration visas for its citizens as a part of any deal.

 There was a 14 per cent increase in British visas handed to Indian nationals between 2019 and 2021, as per the New Home Office figures. 

 “The prospect of more Indian visas has not even been discussed in the first two rounds of negotiations” and that “it’s just not on the table, ” said the source.

Basically, “Trade and immigration are separate policy areas, and immigration is not routinely discussed in trade negotiations. We would only agree a deal that is in the UK’s interests and all trade negotiations, including on immigration, are subject to approval by cabinet,” said a senior DIT official. 

Free Trade Deal With India 

Being one of the fastest growing large economies in the world, a free trade deal with India would be a major post-Brexit prize for the British government.

Further, a deal with India would increase the UK’s total trade by £28bn a year – a more than 3 per cent rise on 2021 levels, according to the government estimates. 

So far, Modi has shied away from signing trade deals over the past decade.

But now, the Department of International Trade (DIT) officials are increasingly confident his government is now willing to open up the Indian economy.