"Can I come and work in the UK under the new India trade deal?"
We have been asked versions of this question all week, by Indian professionals and by UK companies that work with them. The short answer is yes, in specific circumstances, and through a visa route many people have never heard of.
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the UK and India came into force on 15 July 2026. On the same day, the Home Office added India to the list of countries whose professionals can use the Service Supplier visa, part of the Global Business Mobility routes. Here is what it actually allows.
Who the route is for
The Service Supplier visa covers two groups.
The first is contractual service suppliers. These are employees of an Indian business that has a contract to deliver services to a UK client. The worker comes to the UK to perform that contract, then returns. To qualify, you must have worked for your Indian employer for at least the year before you apply, and you need at least three years of professional experience in the field.
The second is independent professionals. These are self-employed specialists based in India who hold a UK service contract in their own name. The bar is higher here: at least six years of professional experience in the sector covered by the contract, and you must also have worked continuously in that sector for the 12 months before you apply. Only limited breaks are allowed in that period, such as statutory leave or sick leave.
Experience alone is not enough for either group. As a rule you must hold a university degree or an equivalent technical qualification, plus any professional registration UK law requires for your field. Some sectors have their own variations (management consulting accepts a degree only, for example), so check the requirements for your sector before applying.
In both cases, this is sponsored work. The UK business receiving the services must hold a sponsor licence for the Global Business Mobility Service Supplier route and issue a Certificate of Sponsorship before any application can be made.
If your UK company expects to bring in Indian contractors under the CETA, that licence is the first step, and our team handles sponsor licence applications for exactly this situation.
Which sectors are covered
The Home Office list of eligible sectors, updated 15 July 2026, names more than 25 fields for Indian contractual service suppliers. They include computer-related services, engineering, accounting and book-keeping, legal advisory services, management consulting, research and development, telecommunications advisory work, translation and interpretation, and tourism services.
For independent professionals the list is shorter but still substantial, covering areas such as architecture, computer-related services, engineering, legal advisory services and management consulting.
Three occupations stand out because they appear nowhere else in the immigration system: Indian traditional chefs, classical musicians and yoga instructors.
The 1,800-place cap, explained
Under the UK's schedule to the CETA, entry "shall be granted for up to a combined total of 1,800 per year of qualified, professional Indian traditional chefs, classical musicians, and yoga instructors". That cap applies only to those three occupations, combined, and only under the contractual service supplier category. The wider sector list carries no annual quota.
1,800 places across three professions for a country of 1.4 billion people will not stretch far. If a restaurant group, events company or wellness business plans to use this route, early preparation matters more than usual.
How long you can stay, and what this visa is not
This is where the CETA improves on most other trade agreements. Indian service suppliers can stay for up to 12 months in any 24-month period, or the length of the contract if shorter. Under many other agreements the same visa allows only 6 months.
Be clear about the limits, though. The Service Supplier visa does not lead to settlement, and time on Global Business Mobility routes is capped at 5 years in any 6-year period. Anyone planning a permanent move to the UK is usually better served by the Skilled Worker visa, which can lead to indefinite leave to remain. Which route fits depends on the contract, the timeline and the long-term plan. If you are weighing the options, book a consultation and we will map it out with you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I bring my family? Yes. Partners and children can apply as dependants if they meet the requirements.
Do I need a job offer from a UK employer? No. You need a service contract between your Indian employer (or your own business, if self-employed) and a UK client, plus a Certificate of Sponsorship from that UK client.
Does this visa lead to settlement in the UK? No. It is a temporary route. For a path to settlement, look at the Skilled Worker route instead.
The CETA is the biggest change to UK-India work mobility in years, and the businesses that understand it first will use it best. If your company wants to receive Indian service suppliers, or you are an Indian professional with a UK contract on the table, NARA Solicitors is here to help.
Book a consultation with Nara Solicitors today.
