**Executive Summary**
This document is a response from the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs to questions raised in the Lok Sabha on December 12, 2025, regarding the impact of new UK immigration restrictions on Indian workers. It addresses the reduction of work visas, effects on healthcare and IT professionals, revised mobility agreements, and safety mechanisms for workers in Gulf countries. The UK policy changes were implemented on 22 July 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **UK Immigration Restrictions Impact:**
* The UK government implemented policy changes from 2024 aimed at reducing net migration, targeting Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa routes.
* These changes, implemented on July 22, 2025, have resulted in fewer work visas for healthcare workers and IT professionals.
* Health and care worker visas decreased by 67% to 16,606.
* Visas for nursing professionals decreased by 79% to 2,225.
* Visas for IT professionals decreased by 20% to 10,051.
* **Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA):**
* India and the UK signed the MMPA in May 2021.
* The MMPA includes the Young Professional Scheme, allowing Indian professionals (18-30) to live and work in the UK for up to two years, and vice-versa.
* The India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) contains provisions for mutual recognition and professional mobility.
* The CETA is currently undergoing ratification in the UK Parliament.
* **Safety and Grievance Mechanisms for Indian Workers Abroad:**
* The Government of India prioritizes the safety and well-being of Indian workers abroad.
* Indian workers can contact the Embassy/Consulate through various channels (walk-in, email, 24x7 emergency numbers, WhatsApp, etc.).
* Dedicated Labour Wings in Indian Missions/Posts handle workers' matters.
* Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra provide guidance and counselling in locations like New Delhi, Dubai, Riyadh, and Jeddah.
* Indian Missions/Posts organize Open Houses and Consular Camps.
* Complaints are proactively addressed with Foreign Employers.
* The local labour department is consulted for employment issues.
* **Protection of Female Workers:**
* Only State-run Recruiting Agencies (RAs) can recruit Indian female workers holding ECR passports for overseas employment in Gulf and other notified ECR countries, via the e-Migrate Portal.
* There is a minimum age criterion of 30 years for female workers holding ECR passports for overseas employment.
* The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) provides financial and legal assistance to Indian nationals in distress.
* ICWF assistance includes boarding/lodging, air passage, legal assistance, medical care, transportation of remains, and payment of small fines.
**Impact Analysis**
**Impact**
* These restrictions impact their ability to secure work visas in the UK.
**Action Required**
* Consider alternative career paths or countries for employment.
* Leverage the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement.
**Impact**
* They will be affected by the reduced number of available work visas.
**Action Required**
* Explore opportunities through the Young Professional Scheme.
* Consider provisions within the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) once ratified.
**Impact**
* They need to ensure channels for grievance redressal.
**Action Required**
* Establish channels for workers to reach out to the Embassy/Consulate for assistance.
* Make them aware of the various assistance programs.
Key Entities Referenced
UK Immigration Restrictions: Policy changes undertaken by the UK government since 2024 to reduce net migration, targeting Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa routes.
Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA): An agreement signed between India and the UK in May 2021 to address skilled mobility and illegal migration, including the Young Professional Scheme.
India UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA): A recently signed trade agreement between India and the UK that contains provisions for mutual recognition and professional mobility, currently undergoing ratification in the UK Parliament.
Ministry of External Affairs: The Indian ministry responsible for addressing the impact of UK immigration restrictions and negotiating mobility agreements.
Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF): A fund utilized by the Indian Embassy/Consulate to provide financial and legal assistance to Indian nationals in distress abroad.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 2198
ANSWERED ON- 12/12/2025
IMPACT OF UK IMMIGRATION RESTRICTIONS
2198. SHRI KUNDURU RAGHUVEER
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether new UK immigration restrictions have reduced work visas
for Indians, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the impact thereof on healthcare workers & IT professionals;
(c) whether revised mobility agreements are being negotiated and if so,
the details thereof;
(d) the safety and grievance mechanisms for workers in Gulf countries?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
1(a & b) The UK government has undertaken policy changes since 2024 to
reduce net migration into the UK. The most recent policy changes
targeting the Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa routes
were announced in the Immigration White Paper and implemented on 22
July 2025. These policy changes have resulted in fewer work visas
issued to healthcare workers as well as IT professionals.
According to the UK Home Office statistics, in the year ending
September 2025, the total number of health and care worker visas
issued decreased by 67% to 16,606; visas issued to Nursing
Professionals decreased by 79% to 2,225; visas issued for IT
Professionals decreased by 20% to 10,051.
(c) India and UK have already signed Migration and Mobility Partnership
Agreement (MMPA) in May 2021. Both sides continue to engage on the
issue of skilled mobility as also on illegal migration. Young Professional
Scheme under MMPA offers a visa route to young Indian professionals
(between age 18 and 30) to live and work in the UK for up to two years
and vice-versa. Further, the recently signed India – UK Comprehensive
Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) contains provisions for mutual
recognition and professional mobility. The agreement is under
ratification process in the UK Parliament.
2(d) The Government of India accords highest priority to the safety,
protection and well-being of Indian workers abroad. There are
established channels to enable them to reach out to the
Embassy/Consulate in case they need any assistance. They can contact
the Embassy/Consulate through walk-in, email, multilingual 24x7
emergency numbers, WhatsApp numbers, grievance redressal portals
like MADAD/CPGRAMS/eMigrate, and social media etc. Dedicated Labour
Wings for handling such matters are there in Indian Missions/Posts
abroad, where there is a sizable number of Indian emigrant workers.
Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra has been set up in key locations
such as New Delhi, Dubai, Riyadh and Jeddah to provide guidance and
counselling to the Indian workers. Indian Missions/Posts regularly
organize Open Houses and Consular Camps in remote areas to get
feedback from Indian workers residing in such areas and to address their
grievances, if any. On receipt of complaint from or on behalf of the
emigrant, the same is taken up pro-actively with concerned Foreign
Employer (FE) and the work place of the aggrieved worker is also visited,
if required. The complaints pertaining to employment issues are also
taken up with the local labour department and other relevant authorities
of the host country for prompt redressal.
3Further, as additional safeguard for protection and safety of the female
workers (including domestic sector workers), Government has
authorized only State run Recruiting Agencies (RAs) to recruit Indian
female workers holding ECR category passports for overseas
employment in Gulf and other notified ECR Countries through the e-
Migrate Portal. Moreover, there is a minimum age criterion of 30 years
for female workers holding ECR category passport for overseas
employment in notified ECR countries, in order to protect them against
exploitation. The Embassy/Consulate also utilizes the Indian Community
Welfare Fund (ICWF) from time to time to provide financial and legal
assistance to Indian nationals in distress on a means-tested basis.
Under ICWF, the major assistance includes Boarding & Lodging, Air
Passage to India, Legal Assistance, Emergency Medical Care,
Transportation of Mortal Remains to India, and Payment of Small Fines
and Penalties.
*****
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