(NEW DELHI) — India and the European Union on Tuesday signed a new Mobility Pact that officials say will make it easier and more predictable for Indian nationals to study, train, and take short-term professional assignments across the EU’s 27 member states.
The pact is formalized as a Memorandum of Understanding on a “Comprehensive Framework for Cooperation on Mobility,” signed January 27, 2026, during the 16th India–EU summit in New Delhi.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič initialled the agreement in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa.
Unlike a classic “digital nomad visa,” the Mobility Pact does not create a single EU-wide permit. Still, it is the first bloc-wide framework aimed at smoothing managed talent movement between India and the entire EU—an issue that has long been handled through fragmented bilateral routes and country-by-country paperwork.
🌍 Visa Highlight: The Mobility Pact sets baseline service standards for visas and residence permits up to 12 months, helping Indian professionals plan Schengen stays with fewer surprises.
Who benefits—and what changes in practice
The biggest near-term winners are Indian nationals whose work already fits into cross-border business travel or structured assignments. That includes many remote-first teams that still need in-person client visits, EU onboarding weeks, or intra-company rotations.
Under the pact, short-term stays are expected to become more predictable through standardized service standards. However, long-term work and residence remain primarily under each EU country’s rules.
This is a smoother ramp onto Europe, not automatic long-term residency.
The covered categories include:
- Study and research (longer periods still handled by member states)
- Seasonal work and professional assignments
- Intra-Corporate Transferees (ICTs)
- Business visitors
- Contractual Service Suppliers (CSS) across 37 sectors/sub-sectors
- Independent Professionals (IPs) across 17 sectors/sub-sectors
For digital nomads, the most relevant buckets are typically business visitors, professional assignments, CSS, and IPs—especially in IT, consulting, R&D, and professional services.
New Delhi support hub and skills recognition plans
A major operational piece is a planned EU Legal Gateway Office in New Delhi, expected to open in April 2026 as part of a pilot rolling out in the first half of 2026.
The office is intended to act as a “one-stop” support point for:
- Visa guidance and process clarity
- Qualification recognition pathways
- Fast-tracking via an EU Talent Pool IT platform
The Talent Pool is expected to start with ICT professionals, then expand into healthcare and green-tech, where many EU states report shortages.
Officials also committed to an annual Education & Skills Dialogue to align India’s National Qualifications Framework with the European Qualifications Framework. Pilot mutual recognition is expected to focus on engineering, IT, and healthcare.
Family logistics are also on the agenda. The pact includes commitments affecting spouses and dependents of ICTs, plus discussion tracks around post-study work options and potential social security agreement talks within five years.
Trade-offs, limits, and what’s still pending
The Mobility Pact was negotiated alongside EU concerns about overstays. A time-bound readmission mechanism for irregular migrants is part of the broader bargain, with India receiving commitments around digitized Schengen procedures and improved talent access.
The EU also signaled that implementation will track member states’ labor needs. That matters, because the pact is not “free movement,” and it does not override national caps.
A specific 2026 watch item is pilot quotas targeting ICT placements. Details, eligible roles, and timelines will likely vary by member state and rollout phase.
The pact also aligns with broader India–EU trade ambitions around services. Officials have pointed to services export potential across 144 sub-sectors, including IT/ITeS, without opening full labor mobility.
Official reactions
Prime Minister Modi said the pact “will open up new opportunities in the European Union for Indian students, workers, and professionals.”
European Commission President von der Leyen said the EU would facilitate the movement of “students, researchers, seasonal and highly skilled workers.”
India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri highlighted streamlining long-stay authorizations for at least one year of study.
⏰ Time Zone: India is UTC+5:30. Most EU hubs run UTC+0 to UTC+2. Expect late-afternoon India calls for EU mornings.
How this stacks up against classic digital nomad visas
Because the pact does not set a single income threshold, many remote workers will still prefer straightforward national “nomad” routes. Conversions are approximate (€1 ≈ $1.09 ≈ ₹90).
| Pathway | Typical duration | Income requirement | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU–India Mobility Pact (MoU) | Up to 12 months service standards | No single threshold | Predictable processing for covered categories (ICT/CSS/IP/business visits) |
| Spain Digital Nomad Visa | 12 months (+ renewal) | €2,300/mo (≈ $2,510 / ₹207,000) | Remote employees and freelancers wanting Schengen residency ([Spain DNV guide](/spain-digital-nomad-visa)) |
| Portugal D7 / Digital Nomad | 12 months (+ renewal) | €3,040/mo (≈ $3,310 / ₹274,000) | Schengen base with longer-term residency planning ([Portugal visa options](/portugal-d7-digital-nomad)) |
| Croatia Digital Nomad Visa | 18 months | €2,540/mo (≈ $2,770 / ₹229,000) | Longer stay with explicit tax relief in many cases ([Croatia nomad visa](/croatia-digital-nomad-visa)) |
📶 Internet Note: Major EU cities commonly deliver 100+ Mbps fixed-line speeds, with strong 5G coverage in core districts. Rural coverage varies by country.
Cost of living reality check: Lisbon (popular Schengen base)
| Expense | Budget | Comfortable | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | $1,000 | $1,600 | $2,600 |
| Coworking | $140 | $220 | $350 |
| Food | $350 | $550 | $900 |
| Transport | $60 | $90 | $180 |
| Health Insurance | $80 | $150 | $300 |
| Entertainment | $150 | $250 | $500 |
| Total | $1,780 | $2,860 | $4,830 |
Taxes: don’t confuse “easier entry” with “tax-free”
⚠️ Tax Disclaimer: Tax obligations for digital nomads are complex and depend on your citizenship, tax residency, and the countries involved. This article provides general information only. Consult a qualified international tax professional before making decisions that affect your tax status.
⚠️ Tax Warning: Working from an EU country can trigger tax residency after 183 days, plus payroll or “permanent establishment” risks for employers. A smoother visa process does not remove tax duties.
Next steps for nomads and remote-first professionals (January–April 2026)
- This week: Identify which category fits you best (ICT, CSS, IP, business visitor, study). Match it to one target EU country.
- Within 2–4 weeks: Collect documents that typically drive approval speed: passport validity, appointment letters, client contracts, role description, degree certificates, and bank statements.
- By March 2026: Monitor announcements from the official EU and member-state immigration pages for pilot quota details and Schengen digitization updates.
- Before April 2026: If applying from India, plan a consultation visit to the EU Legal Gateway Office in New Delhi once it opens, especially if you need qualification recognition.
- Ongoing: Compare the pact route against national options like Spain and Portugal. Build a timeline around consulate appointment availability and your 90/180 Schengen day limits.
