Insight — EU and India trade agreement and the future of workforce mobility

The free trade agreement between Europe and India marks one of the most significant bilateral trade developments in recent years, bringing together two regions that represent around two billion people and close to a quarter of global economic output. While tariff reduction and market access dominate headlines, the operational consequences extend far beyond goods and services. Trade expansion at this scale reshapes how organisations deploy talent, structure regional hubs and move expertise across borders. For Global Mobility teams, the agreement will influence workforce planning as much as supply chain strategy.

Expansion drives people movement

Trade agreements create commercial confidence. Commercial confidence drives investment, and investment drives workforce mobility. European organisations expanding into India will require leadership deployment, technical oversight and project-based expertise on the ground. Manufacturing, engineering, automotive and infrastructure sectors are likely to see early movement. At the same time, Indian firms entering European markets will accelerate outbound mobility across technology, pharmaceuticals, financial services and advanced engineering.

This two-way corridor typically produces:

• Intra-company transfers
• Short-term project assignments
• Local-plus and commuter roles
• Permanent relocations tied to market entry

Mobility becomes embedded within growth strategy rather than operating as a support function.

Skills demand will shape assignment flow

Skills shortages continue across multiple European economies, particularly in engineering, digital technology and advanced manufacturing. India’s technical talent pool positions it as a critical source market for specialist deployment. Organisations entering new markets often relocate trusted expertise before building local hiring pipelines.

This creates layered assignment structures:

• Senior leadership establishing presence
• Technical specialists enabling launch
• Mid-level managers embedding governance
• Graduates supporting long-term expansion

Each layer carries distinct Immigration, compliance and integration requirements.
Tushar Sawant, Country Manager India, reflects that “the agreement reinforces India’s position as a key growth and talent hub for organisations expanding internationally. We’re seeing growing interest from clients assessing how technical expertise, engineering capability and project delivery in India can support wider European operations. As activity increases, the ability to support assignments locally while coordinating mobility across borders becomes critical.”

Immigration complexity will increase before it simplifies

Trade agreements signal intent, but Immigration alignment takes longer. Early phases typically operate across parallel regulatory systems where visa categories, work permits, social security coordination and posted worker rules remain nationally governed.

For mobility teams, this results in:

• Higher permit volumes
• Expanded documentation requirements
• Longer mobilisation lead times
• Greater advisory demand on assignment structuring

Over time, policy liberalisation tends to follow trade maturity, particularly across business travel permissions and recognition of professional qualifications. Early implementation phases, however, operate within more complex regulatory conditions while frameworks align.

Project mobility will rise alongside corporate investment

Trade corridors often trigger infrastructure development, manufacturing expansion and supply chain diversification. These activities rely on project-based mobility including construction oversight, technology transfer and operational implementation teams. Assignments are frequently rotational or short-term rather than traditional relocations, requiring flexible Immigration, housing and destination support structures.

Business travel will become more compliance-sensitive

Short-term travel increases before long-term relocation stabilises. Executives, consultants and technical specialists move frequently during early market entry. Without governance, this creates compliance exposure linked to work activity thresholds, tax residency and right-to-work permissions.

Organisations expanding travel between Europe and India require visibility across permitted activities, duration thresholds, tax implications and social security liabilities. Compliance oversight becomes central to protecting expansion timelines.

The operational role of Global Mobility providers

As corridors expand, organisations rely on infrastructure that already exists. Established Immigration expertise, destination capability and moving logistics networks enable programmes to scale in line with investment.
Support spans visa processing, policy design, housing, schooling, household goods moving and settling-in services. Integrated delivery reduces employee friction while maintaining compliance oversight.

Olivier Jourdan, Chief Commercial Officer, observes that “trade agreements of this scale influence how organisations think about growth and workforce deployment. As movement between Europe and India increases, clients need confidence that mobility programmes can scale with control, clarity and consistency. Global Mobility plays a direct role in supporting commercial strategy by enabling organisations to move capability where it’s needed, without creating friction or risk.”

Corridor strength matters

Mobility between Europe and India requires capability on both sides. Regulatory expertise, destination consistency and long-distance logistics coordination must align. Global partner networks and established office presence ensure continuity across assignments. For organisations entering unfamiliar markets, local insight often determines assignment success.

Long-term mobility outlook

Agreements of this scale shape mobility patterns for years. Structural shifts are expected across corporate assignments, graduate mobility, regional headquarters expansion and R&D collaboration. As trade deepens, workforce movement becomes embedded within the commercial relationship.

Strategic implications for organisations

Mobility leaders should already be assessing corridor readiness. Considerations include Immigration alignment across EU destinations, India inbound infrastructure, cost modelling, business travel governance and destination capacity in emerging cities. Early preparation enables organisations to respond to investment without mobility becoming a constraint.

What this means for Global Mobility leaders

The free trade agreement between Europe and India signals a deeper economic relationship between two major markets. Its commercial impact is visible and its workforce implications are accelerating. As organisations expand operations and deploy expertise across new regional footprints, Global Mobility will play a central role in enabling execution. Organisations that align workforce strategy with trade expansion will be best positioned to realise long-term value.
For further discussion, please reach out to your local Santa Fe representative.

Tushar Sawant
Country Manager India
Santa Fe Relocation
tushar.sawant@santaferelo.com

Olivier Jourdan
Chief Commercial Officer
Santa Fe Relocation
olivier.jourdan@santaferelo.com

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