Video Update - New Visa Scheme for Young Indian Professionals
In this short update video I look at the new UK - India ‘Migration and Mobility Partnership’ signed on 4th May 2021 which includes a Young Professionals scheme to allow young Indian and British professionals to work and live in each other’s country for two years
Annex I
(refer to paragraph 5, Chapter 3)
Exchange of Young Professionals
1. Purpose
This Annex sets out the details of the Young Professionals Scheme (hereinafter referred to as “the Scheme”) as outlined in Chapter 3 of this MoU, under which young nationals of both Participants’ countries can experience life in another culture, with the option of taking up employment as an incidental part of their stay.
2. Qualifying requirements
(a) The Participants will consider persons who meet the following requirements to be qualified to take part in the Scheme:
i. to submit an individual application to the relevant organisation responsible for collection and submission of applications for the UK or India
ii. to comply with all relevant immigration law and regulations, including admissibility and verification, of the country of the other Participant, to the extent not already set out in paragraph 4(b) of this Annex
iii. to be a national of either India or the UK, and hold a valid passport issued by the applicant’s country of nationality
iv. to have not previously taken part in the Scheme
v. to be able to demonstrate that they have the sufficient financial resources to meet their needs during their authorised period of stay
vi. to not be accompanied by any dependent(s) under their application pursuant to sub-paragraph (i)
vii. to pay the applicable fee(s), which include(s) but not limited to the fee for a visa
viii. to hold a valid degree or diploma
(b) The duration of the authorised period of stay may not exceed 24 months. For UK nationals who wish to remain in India for the maximum total period allowed, this can take the form of two consecutive 12-month periods of stay
3. Age requirements
(a) Applicants will be between the ages of 18 and 30 inclusive on the date that the application is submitted pursuant to paragraph 2(i) (b) Applications can be submitted up to 3 months before the applicant is 18 years old
4. Entry and stay
(a) Subject to considerations of public interest, public order, public security and public health, the Participants will:
i) issue to qualified nationals, who satisfy all of the requirements set out in paragraph 2 of this Annex, a Young Professionals Scheme visa, or the Indian equivalent, valid for presentation to enter the UK or India within a period of 3 months ii) grant to qualified nationals holding a valid Young Professionals Scheme visa, or the Indian equivalent, pursuant to sub-paragraph (i) permission to remain in India or the UK for the maximum period of 24 months with multiple re-entry from the date of first entry into the relevant country (b) The Participants may, consistent with their laws and regulations, refuse the application by any person for a Young Professionals Scheme visa or the Indian equivalent, or refuse the entry of any person taking part in the Scheme or remove any such person if they consider the person to be undesirable
5. General provisions
(a) Qualified nationals who are taking part in the Scheme are subject to the laws and regulations in force in the host country, particularly with regard to: employment standards, including wages, working conditions, employment insurance benefits and occupational health and safety. For the avoidance of doubt, the Scheme will not permit nationals of India and the UK to engage as professionals in employment for which they are not qualified or as a professional sportsperson (including as a coach).
(b) The government authorities referred to in paragraph 6(a) of this Annex will do their utmost to ensure that successful applicants to the Scheme promptly receive the entry visas and/or residence permits stipulated by the prevailing legislation in the host country and that any difficulties that may arise are settled as quickly as possible.
6. Implementation
(a) The government authorities responsible for implementing the Young Professionals Scheme outlined in Chapter 3 of this MoU and this Annex will be:
- for the UK: the Home Department
- for India: the Ministry of Home Affairs
(b) The Participants will determine individually and inform each other, through exchanges of written communications, the minimum amount of financial resources required under paragraph 2(a)(v) of this Annex.
(c) The Participants will each permit a maximum of 3000 qualified nationals per year to take part in the Scheme.
(d) The Participants will exchange usage data of the Scheme, in writing, on an annual basis.
7. Final dispositions
(a) Either Participant may temporarily suspend the Scheme in whole or in part, for reasons of public security, public order, public health or immigration considerations. Such notification will be provided in writing, a minimum of 28 days in advance of the suspension taking effect.
(b) Either Participant may terminate the application of the Scheme by giving three months’ prior written notice to the other Participant.
(c) Termination or suspension of the Scheme will not affect the entry or stay of persons who already hold a valid Young Professionals Scheme visa or the Indian equivalent pursuant to paragraph 4 of this Annex.