British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ruled out pursuing any visa agreement with India as he begins a two-day visit aimed at strengthening trade and economic relations between the two countries.
Speaking to reporters aboard his flight to New Delhi on Wednesday, Starmer said visas would not feature in his talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.
His visit comes as Britain seeks to capitalize on the new free trade agreement (FTA) reached with India in May, signed in July, and set to take effect next year.
“That isn’t part of the plans,” Starmer said when asked about the possibility of a visa deal. “This visit is to take advantage of the free trade agreement that we’ve already struck. Businesses are taking advantage of that. But the issue is not about visas.”
The Labour leader’s comments mark a departure from previous efforts under Conservative governments, where disputes over migration and work permits often delayed trade negotiations with India.
Starmer emphasized that the current FTA had been concluded without any immigration-related concessions and that his focus was on trade, technology, and investment cooperation.
Starmer’s visit includes a trade delegation of leading British businesses seeking to deepen economic ties with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. The agreement is expected to boost bilateral trade, which currently stands at around £38 billion ($47 billion) annually.
The Prime Minister’s remarks also reflect a tougher stance on immigration, amid mounting public pressure over migration levels and growing competition from the populist Reform UK party.
“We are looking at whether there should be a link between visas and returns agreements,” Starmer said, noting that the issue did not apply to India, as the two countries already have a returns arrangement for deportations.
Starmer also rejected suggestions that the U.K. might open more visa routes to attract Indian tech professionals, despite recent changes in U.S. immigration policy under President Donald Trump, who has raised fees for H-1B visas.
“Visas are not on the table,” Starmer reiterated, though he added that Britain remains committed to attracting “top global talent.”
The visit marks Starmer’s first to India since taking office and signals his intention to prioritize trade and strategic cooperation with key Commonwealth partners while maintaining firm immigration controls at home.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
