EU Gateway Office to not fast-track visas

The European Union’s (EU) decision to set up a “Legal Gateway Office” in India under the EU-India Comprehensive Framework of Cooperation on Mobility, announced alongside the conclusion of the India-EU free trade agreement (FTA), will not create any special immigration rights or fast-track visas for Indians seeking to work or study in Europe, lawyers say.

- Krishna Yadav

Decisions on long-term visas for employment, education and research will continue to rest with the 27 EU member-states under their respective immigration laws.

The proposed office does not form part of the binding text of the free trade agreement, and it cannot mandate faster processing, preferential treatment or guaranteed entry. It is expected to function primarily as a facilitation and information hub.