India and the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 have set a 36-month deadline to finalize agreements that will let professionals like nurses, accountants, architects, and dentists move and work more easily between the two countries. This major step follows the signing of the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) on July 24, 2025, and aims to break down long-standing barriers that have made it hard for skilled workers to get their qualifications recognized abroad.
Both governments have agreed that these Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) for professional qualifications will be negotiated and completed within three years of the trade deal taking effect, which is expected by mid-2026 after the UK Parliament gives its approval. The goal is to make it much easier for professionals to work in each other’s countries without having to repeat training or pass extra exams, which has been a big problem in the past.
Why Professional Qualification Recognition Matters
For many Indian professionals, especially in regulated fields like nursing or accounting, moving to the UK 🇬🇧 has meant facing tough licensing rules and extra tests. The new MRAs will allow both countries to accept each other’s education, training, and work experience. This means that if you are a qualified nurse in India, you could soon have your credentials accepted in the UK without starting over. The same will apply for UK professionals wanting to work in India.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this move is seen as a “landmark advancement” in India–UK relations, as it not only helps professionals but also supports the broader goals of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.
Key Features of the India–UK Mobility Framework
Under the new agreement, the UK has introduced an “assured mobility regime” for Indian professionals. This means:
- Business Visitors: Can stay up to 90 days in any six-month period, across all sectors.
- Intra-Corporate Transferees: Employees moving within the same company can stay up to three years, and their partners and children can join them.
- Graduate Trainees: Included under intra-corporate rules, making it easier for young professionals to gain experience abroad.
- Contractual Service Suppliers: Can work for up to 12 months in any 24-month period in sectors like IT, finance, hospitality, and transport.
- Independent Professionals: Also allowed 12 months in any 24-month period, covering 16 sectors such as telecom, consultancy, and finance.
- Investors: Permitted to stay for one year.
Importantly, there are no numerical caps or economic needs tests. This means there is no limit on the number of professionals who can use these pathways, and they do not have to prove that no local worker could fill the job.
How the Process Will Work
- FTA Ratification: The CETA must be approved by the UK Parliament, which is expected by mid-2026.
- MRA Negotiation Launch: Once the trade deal is in force, regulatory bodies in both countries will start negotiating MRAs for key professions.
- Stakeholder Consultations: Professional councils, industry groups, and government agencies will help draft and review the agreements.
- Agreement Finalization: Each MRA will be signed by the relevant authorities, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council in the UK and the Indian Nursing Council.
- Application Process: Professionals will apply for recognition through official portals or regulatory bodies, submitting documents as required.
- Visa/Entry Procedures: Eligible professionals will apply for the right UK visa under the new mobility regime, with clear rules and no extra labor market tests.
What This Means for Indian Professionals
For Indian professionals, especially those in regulated fields, the new system promises:
- Streamlined Licensing: No need to repeat training or take extra exams if your qualifications are recognized under the MRA.
- Visa Facilitation: Easier and more predictable visa processes, with longer stays and the ability to bring family members.
- No Quotas: Unlimited numbers of professionals can benefit, removing a major barrier from earlier systems.
- Social Security Relief: Under the Double Contribution Convention, Indian professionals and their employers will not have to pay UK social security for up to three years, lowering costs.
Broader Economic and Trade Impacts
The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement is not just about professional mobility. It also includes:
- Tariff Elimination: 99% of Indian exports to the UK will have tariffs removed, while India will phase out tariffs on 90% of UK exports.
- Safeguards: If UK imports threaten Indian industries, temporary tariff reversals can be put in place.
These steps are expected to double bilateral trade by 2030, with services and professional mobility as key drivers.
Voices from Both Sides
Indian government officials call the MRAs and mobility regime a “significant gain” for India’s services sector, opening up the UK market for Indian talent and boosting trade. The UK government sees the agreement as a way to build stronger ties with a major global economy and move beyond its traditional European partners.
Industry groups, especially in IT and professional services, have welcomed the move. They expect increased competitiveness and easier market entry for Indian firms and professionals. Professional councils in both countries are preparing for detailed talks to make sure standards are kept high while making it easier for professionals to move.
Historical Context and Negotiation Background
Talks for the India–UK trade deal began in 2022, with professional mobility and qualification recognition as top priorities for India. In the past, lack of mutual recognition has been a major obstacle, especially for Indian professionals facing strict UK licensing requirements. The 2025 agreement marks India’s first trade deal with a G7 country and the UK’s most ambitious post-Brexit trade pact outside Europe.
What’s Next?
The next three years will see intense negotiations between professional regulators in both countries. Regular updates are expected from both governments, and detailed procedures for qualification recognition and visa applications will be published as each MRA is finalized.
Signing of the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
Expected approval of CETA by UK Parliament
Deadline to finalize Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs)
Start of talks for the India–UK trade deal
Expected doubling of bilateral trade
While there may be challenges—such as aligning professional standards and meeting sector-specific requirements—both sides have shown strong political will to meet the 36-month deadline.
Practical Tips for Professionals
- Stay Informed: Follow updates from your professional council (like the Indian Nursing Council or the UK’s Nursing and Midwifery Council) for news on MRA progress.
- Prepare Documents: Keep your education, training, and work experience records ready for when applications open.
- Check Official Resources: For the latest information on visa categories and requirements, visit the UK government’s official immigration site.
- Consult Employers: If you work for a multinational company, ask about intra-corporate transfer options under the new rules.
Key Contacts and Resources
- India: Ministry of Commerce & Industry (commerce.gov.in), Indian professional councils.
- UK: Department for Business and Trade, UK Visas and Immigration (gov.uk), UK professional regulators.
In Summary
The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, signed in July 2025, sets a clear 36-month plan to recognize each other’s professional qualifications. Supported by a liberalized, quota-free mobility regime, this agreement is expected to open new doors for thousands of Indian professionals seeking work in the UK and deepen economic ties between the two countries. As reported by VisaVerge.com, the next steps will involve detailed negotiations, with practical guidance and application processes to be rolled out over the coming years. For professionals, this marks a new era of opportunity and easier movement between India and the UK.
Learn Today
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) → A trade deal between India and UK to reduce tariffs and improve professional mobility.
Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) → Agreements allowing mutual acceptance of professional qualifications and licenses across countries.
Intra-Corporate Transferees → Employees moving within the same company to work in another country under special visa rules.
Assured Mobility Regime → Visa framework easing movement of professionals without numerical limits or labor market tests.
Double Contribution Convention → Agreement exempting Indian professionals and employers from UK social security payments for three years.
This Article in a Nutshell
The India–UK CETA signed in 2025 initiates a three-year plan to recognize professional qualifications mutually. This liberalized mobility regime removes visa caps and tests, boosting Indian professionals’ opportunities in the UK. Negotiations will align standards, streamline licensing, and enhance bilateral trade, representing a transformative step for both economies.
— By VisaVerge.com
