British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out any relaxation of visa rules for Indian nationals, as he begins a two-day trade mission to Mumbai aimed at strengthening economic ties between the United Kingdom and India.
Touching down in India on Wednesday morning, Starmer was accompanied by dozens of top British business leaders, including executives from British Airways, Barclays, Standard Chartered, BT, and Rolls-Royce—making it the UK’s first major trade delegation to India since the Theresa May administration.
The visit comes five months after London and New Delhi signed the first UK–India trade deal since Brexit, a landmark agreement that has yet to be implemented.
Among the unresolved details are plans to waive national insurance contributions for staff employed by large Indian firms operating in the UK, which remain under government consultation.
Starmer: ‘The Issue Is Not About Visas’
Speaking to journalists aboard his flight to India, Starmer made clear that immigration policy will not be part of trade negotiations, despite pressure from some business leaders to expand visa access for skilled Indian workers.
“The visa situation hasn’t changed with the free trade agreement,” he said. “We didn’t open up more visas — the issue is not about visas.”
The prime minister urged British companies to focus instead on investment, innovation, and market access, rather than on immigration flexibilities.
Trade, Not Travel, at the Heart of Talks
Starmer’s trip — marked by billboards and posters of his image across Mumbai — will include a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.
The talks are expected to focus on deepening post-Brexit trade relations, green investment, and technological collaboration between the two countries.
Meanwhile, members of the business delegation are expected to lobby the prime minister against potential tax increases anticipated in the upcoming November budget, warning that higher corporate levies could dampen foreign investment.
Observers say the visit signals Starmer’s pragmatic approach to trade diplomacy — one focused on economic opportunity and strategic cooperation rather than immigration concessions.
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