Mobility
India's migration and mobility agreements with European countries
Over the past decade, India has signed bilateral migration and mobility agreements with several European countries. They set the framework for legal movement of students, professionals and workers.
The agreements
| Country | Signed | Notable features |
|---|---|---|
| France | 2018 | Mobility for students, graduates and professionals |
| Germany | December 2022 | Framework for skilled migration, students and job seekers; return cooperation |
| Austria | 2023 | Comprehensive agreement plus a working holiday programme for young people |
| Italy | November 2023 | Mobility for workers, students and professionals |
What they do
- Create legal pathways and make existing ones easier to use
- Support student mobility and post-study opportunities
- Commit both sides to fighting irregular migration and illegal recruitment
- Provide for cooperation on returns of people without legal status
What they do not do
They are frameworks, not visas. Individuals still apply under national immigration rules, with the usual conditions on qualifications, salaries and language.
Why they matter
They signal political commitment and often come with practical measures: faster visas, recognition initiatives, language programmes and job fairs. Germany's 2024 skilled labour strategy for India is an example.
Read next
- Germany's skilled labour strategy for India, two years onGermany's 2024 strategy to attract skilled Indian workers, with up to 90,000 visas a year: what it contains and what it means in practice.
- Working in AustriaA points system, a long shortage list and a working holiday deal with India.
- Working in FranceWell-defined routes in tech, engineering and research. French matters early.
