Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, has stated that increasing the number of visas available to Indian workers is "not part of the plan," as he embarks on a trade mission to India. Starmer's visit, which includes over 100 business leaders and university representatives, aims to leverage the recently signed free trade agreement (FTA) between the two nations to boost economic growth.
Speaking to reporters ahead of his two-day trip to Mumbai, Starmer emphasized that the focus of the visit is to capitalize on the existing FTA, finalized earlier this year. He clarified that discussions will center on trade and investment, with immigration policies remaining unchanged. "That isn't part of the plans," Starmer said when questioned about expanding visa access, adding, "The issue is not about visas,".
The Prime Minister's stance comes amid reported pressure from Indian officials for greater visa access to the UK during the FTA negotiations. However, Starmer's government has resisted these calls, maintaining a firm position on immigration. This decision also reflects domestic political considerations, as the Labour Party faces competition from parties focused on reducing immigration.
The UK government recently announced changes to visa and settlement rules following the 2025 immigration white paper. These changes include stricter compliance rules for universities sponsoring student visas and potential reductions to the duration of graduate visas. According to government statistics published last year, Indian nationals account for a significant portion (42%) of those entering the graduate visa route.
Despite the visa disagreement, Starmer is optimistic that the trade deal will serve as a "launchpad for growth," offering reduced Indian tariffs for various UK industries. He is accompanied by representatives from major companies like Rolls-Royce, British Telecom, Diageo, the London Stock Exchange, and British Airways, as well as cultural figures such as Gurinder Chadha, the director of "Bend It Like Beckham".
New air links between the UK and India have been announced in anticipation of the trip. British Airways will introduce a third daily flight between Delhi and Heathrow starting in 2026, and Manchester Airport will launch a direct route to Delhi operated by IndiGo.
Starmer is scheduled to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss global and regional issues. The visit is expected to strengthen bilateral trade relations between the two countries, particularly in light of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) signed in July and expected to take effect next year. However, the Prime Minister's firm stance on visa arrangements indicates a potential point of contention in future discussions.
