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Overview
The UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), also known as the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), entered into force on 15 July 2026. This marks a major step forward in the UK’s economic partnership with India. For UK businesses, this agreement is not just about reducing tariffs and opening markets. It is about creating practical opportunities to trade, invest, and deliver services in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.
India is a market of over 1.4 billion people with a rapidly expanding middle class and strong demand for high-quality goods and services. For UK exporters, this means new customers, new partnerships, and new growth prospects. The FTA makes it easier to seize these opportunities by improving market access and simplifying the process of travelling to India for business purposes.
Business travel is often the first step in building relationships and securing deals. Whether you are exploring opportunities, meeting clients, delivering services, or managing operations, the ability to travel easily and with confidence is essential. The FTA addresses this need by introducing clear rules and streamlined procedures for UK professionals visiting India.
Opportunities for UK businesses
For UK exporters and service providers, the benefits of the FTA go beyond tariff reductions. The agreement creates a predictable and transparent framework for business mobility, which is critical for sectors where face-to-face engagement matters. For example:
- Manufacturers and exporters can attend trade fairs, meet distributors, and negotiate contracts without worrying about visa delays.
- Professional service providers such as architects, engineers, and IT specialists can deliver projects on-site, ensuring quality and compliance.
- Legal and consultancy businesses can provide advisory services under clear rules, strengthening trust with Indian clients.
By reducing administrative barriers and clarifying eligibility, the FTA helps UK businesses compete effectively in India’s dynamic market.
Under the FTA, both governments have committed to facilitating the temporary movement of business persons. This means UK professionals can expect:
- faster and more predictable visa processing
- clear definitions of permitted activities
- longer stays for certain categories of business travellers
- legal certainty and transparency
These changes give UK companies confidence to plan visits, deploy staff, and deliver projects without unnecessary disruption.
Categories of business travellers
The agreement recognises that business travel takes different forms. It sets out tailored provisions for each category, ensuring UK professionals benefit from simplified procedures and legal certainty.
Business visitors
This category applies to UK nationals travelling to India for temporary business activities that do not involve entering the Indian labour market. Visits are typically brief, for example to attend a trade show. UK nationals can stay in India for up to 180 days, with the possibility of extension.
UK nationals can also travel to India under this category to set up a commercial presence, such as a branch office, subsidiary, or joint venture. These individuals are typically senior executives, founders, or strategic leads who need to assess the market, meet legal and financial advisors, or negotiate with potential partners. Activities are limited to preparatory work, such as conducting feasibility studies, signing contracts, or securing premises, or liaising with local advisors.
This category is ideal for UK exporters, consultants, and service providers who need to travel frequently but temporarily. It ensures that these visits are recognised as legitimate business activities and not subject to unnecessary restrictions or delays. Setting up in India can be complex, and delays in securing visas for key personnel can slow down expansion plans. For investors, this provision allows UK companies to send decision-makers quickly and legally – avoiding the need for lengthy employment visa processes during the initial setup phase.
Permitted activities include:
- attending meetings or consultations with Indian clients or partners
- participating in trade fairs, exhibitions, or conferences
- negotiating sales or contracts
- securing premises and liaising with local adviseers
- conducting market research or promotional activities
- receiving training from an Indian parent company or affiliate
Restrictions
- Visitors must not engage in direct sales to the public.
- Visitors must not provide services directly to the public.
- No hands-on delivery of services or products is permitted.
- You cannot be paid by an Indian organisation.
Intra-corporate transferees
Intra-corporate transferees are employees of UK companies who are temporarily transferred to an affiliated entity in India, such as a branch, subsidiary, or joint venture. The agreement covers three sub-categories of transferees: executives, managers, and specialists.
Eligibility criteria
- The Indian entity must be legally affiliated (such as a subsidiary, branch, or joint venture).
- The transferee must remain on a UK payroll and not be hired locally.
Such transferees can stay in India for the period of their contract or up to one year – whichever duration is shorter – with the possibility of extension. The FTA ensures that visa procedures are transparent and efficient, and that transferees are not subject to labour market testing or quotas.
This category is especially important for UK firms with operations in India, as it allows them to deploy key staff to support projects, maintain quality control, and transfer knowledge across borders.
Contractual service suppliers
This category supports UK professionals who are employed by a UK company and have a contract to provide services to an Indian client. The agreement sets out a list of eligible sectors, including engineering, architecture, IT, and legal services, and defines the qualifications required for entry. Entry for contractual service suppliers is granted for periods of up to one year.
Eligible sectors include:
- engineering services
- architectural services
- IT and software development
- accounting and bookkeeping services
- environmental services
- management consulting
Eligibility criteria
- The professional must hold appropriate educational and professional qualifications relevant to the service being provided.
- The service must be covered under the sectors listed in Chapter 10 of the agreement: Annex 10A.i (section C).
- The contract must be genuine and pre-arranged, with documentation available for review.
This category is particularly useful for UK firms delivering specialised services where onsite presence is essential. It ensures that UK professionals can deliver projects and build relationships in India without unnecessary delays.
Independent professionals
This category supports UK professionals who are self-employed and have a contract to provide services to an Indian client, or who are required who travel to India temporarily to gain a qualification or licence that is necessary to supply a service in India.
Independent professionals must demonstrate that they have a valid contract and the necessary expertise. Individuals can stay in India for up to 12 months in order to fulfil a contract or complete the necessary qualification or licensing requirements.
Eligible sectors include:
- engineering and services
- architectural services
- accounting and bookkeeping services
- IT and software development
- management consulting
Eligibility criteria
- The professional must hold the appropriate educational or professional qualifications
- The professional must be registered with the relevant professional body where appropriate.
- The service must be covered under the sectors listed in Chapter 10 of the agreement: Annex 10A.i (section D).
This category offers flexibility to self-employed professionals, allowing them to travel to India to deliver projects onsite without unnecessary delays.
Legal guarantees
Before the FTA, UK business travellers often faced uncertainty around visa types, processing times, and eligibility. The agreement changes that by introducing:
- Legal guarantees: India has committed to honouring the terms of the agreement, which means UK businesses can rely on consistent treatment.
- Clear definitions: each category of business person is clearly defined, so you it is clear what activities are permitted and what documentation is needed.
- Streamlined procedures: visa applications are expected to be processed more quickly and with greater transparency, reducing delays and administrative burden.
- Longer stays: the agreement allows for longer periods of stay for certain categories, giving businesses more time to complete their work without needing to reapply.
Practical considerations for UK businesses
While the agreement simplifies travel, it is still important to prepare properly. Make sure you:
- understand which category you are in and what activities are permitted
- gather the necessary documentation, including contracts, letters of invitation and proof of qualifications
- check the latest visa requirements and application procedures with the Indian authorities or your legal adviser
The agreement does not remove the need for visas altogether, but it does make the process more predictable and business-friendly.
Department for Business and Trade support
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) helps businesses export, drives inward and outward investment, negotiates market access and trade agreements, and champions free trade. Helpful links, tools and services available from DBT and wider government include:
Export Support Service (ESS) team
Get support on how to do business abroad. Businesses in Wales can also access support from Business Wales.
Export Support Service – International Markets (ESS-IM)
DBT's overseas in-market export support service for SMEs with high-export potential. Our International Market Advisers provide tailored support and market introduction information to new and current UK exporters looking to enter or expand into new markets. The service may be accessed globally with International Markets teams in South Asia, China, the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, North America and Latin America.
Sign up to access webinars on how to grow your international sales.
Information on finance and insurance for UK exports.
Trade and investment factsheets
The latest statistics on trade and investment between the UK and individual overseas partners.
Overseas business risk profiles
Information for UK businesses on political, economic and security risks when trading overseas.
Advice and warnings about travel abroad, including entry requirements, safety and security, health risks and legal differences.
Check or report a trade barrier
If you encounter an issue when exporting to any country – report the issue and UK government officials will be able to assess the issue and consider the options we have open to addressing it as appropriate.
Search for your specific product to find applicable tariffs for each market, explore rules of origin and step-by-step help on customs procedures.
Check import duties and allows you to check the status of available tariff rate quotas.
Useful resources
Prior to export, you must be aware of local regulations and import conditions in India that apply to your goods or services. This can include tax considerations, labour laws, intellectual property rules, labelling and packaging regulations, among others.
To seek further information related to local regulations, business culture, or to find a local lawyer, translator, importer, or distributor, you can use the following contacts:
Legal disclaimer
This document is provided as an information guide only and should not be relied on as a substitute for your own research or independent advice.
No investment and/or business decision should be made solely on the basis of information presented in this document. It is recommended that an independent due diligence investigation is conducted before entering into engagement with any individual, business or other organisation mentioned.
The Department for Business and Trade accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage caused to any person as result of any error, omission, inaccurate or misleading statement in this document.
The accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the content of any website mentioned in this document is not guaranteed in any way, implied or explicit.
