EU Benefits for Exatriates in India: Rights and Freedoms

Published on October 2, 2025 and written by Cyril Jarnias

With India’s booming economy attracting more and more European expatriates, it’s crucial to understand the benefits that European Union membership offers these citizens living abroad.

From questions regarding residency rights and access to quality healthcare systems to professional opportunities and individual freedoms, this article examines how EU support mechanisms play a central role in the expatriate experience in India.

Discover how European regulations and bilateral agreements facilitate a smoother transition and ensure optimal protection for those choosing to settle in this dynamic, contrast-filled country.

European Expatriate Status: Undeniable Advantages in India

European expatriates in India benefit from major economic and professional advantages, driven by the opening of the Indian market and a series of recent reforms that facilitate the integration of foreign talent.

Advantage	Details
Access to a fast-growing market	India, with its young population and economic dynamism, offers prime ground for innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment. Technology, healthcare, renewable energy, and service sectors are experiencing sustained expansion.
High professional opportunities	New visas (Business Visa Plus, Startup Visa, Skilled Talent Visa, Investor Visa) facilitate the arrival of European experts in priority sectors (digital, biotech, AI, finance, engineering). Qualified profiles benefit from accelerated procedures and recognition of their experience.
Favorable cost of living	The standard of living in India is significantly lower than in most European countries, allowing expatriates to optimize their purchasing power while enjoying a dynamic professional environment.

The specific rights stemming from EU-India bilateral agreements enhance mobility and recognition of professional qualifications:

• Partial recognition of European degrees in certain strategic sectors, facilitating access to employment or entrepreneurship.
• Simplified professional mobility through visa facilitation agreements and sectoral cooperation.
• Enhanced legal protection for European nationals in case of professional disputes or commercial disagreements.

Diplomatic privileges and support from European embassies play a central role:

• Access to legal advisory services, administrative support, and emergency assistance.
• Regular organization of networking events, intercultural meetings, and support for the expatriate community.
• Assistance with schooling procedures, settlement, or resolution of local issues.

Social integration of Europeans is facilitated by:

• A cohesive and dynamic expatriate community present in major metropolitan areas.
• Numerous clubs, associations, international schools, and cultural events promoting exchanges and discovery of Indian culture.
• The growing openness of Indian society to international profiles, particularly in urban and technological hubs.

Regarding social protection and taxation:

Area	Situation for European Expatriates
Social Security	Possible access to CFE (Caisse des Français de l’Étranger) for French nationals; for other nationals, frequent use of private international health insurance offering coverage from the first euro spent and including repatriation options.
Tax Regimes	Bilateral agreements to avoid double taxation exist between India and most EU countries, preventing double taxation of income and facilitating mobility for executives and entrepreneurs.
Healthcare Access	Expatriates prefer the private sector, recognized for the quality of its medical infrastructure in major cities. International insurance allows access to the best facilities and specialists.

European expatriates in India therefore enjoy a favorable environment for their professional and personal development, supported by legal, diplomatic, and social mechanisms tailored to their needs.

Freedom of Movement: A Reality for European Expatriates

Relations between the European Union and India are structured around several bilateral agreements currently under negotiation or already in effect, aimed at facilitating the mobility of European citizens, particularly in professional and academic contexts.

Bilateral Agreements Facilitating Mobility

• EU-India Free Trade Agreement under negotiation since 2007, relaunched in 2022, including discussions on mobility, recognition of qualifications, and simplification of procedures for professional and business stays.
• Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement, concluded between certain member states (e.g., France) and India, in effect since 2018, facilitating the movement of students, researchers, professionals, and skilled workers.

Facilities Offered by the European Union and India

Mechanism	Description
Visas	Expedited procedures for certain work, study, or research visas for Europeans.
Work Permits	Bilateral agreements allowing simplified obtaining of work permits, especially for strategic sectors (technology, healthcare, research).
Residency Conditions	Relaxation of renewal and regularization conditions for European expatriates, particularly through single windows or electronic procedures.
Recognition of Degrees	Increased cooperation for the recognition of academic and professional qualifications.

Success Stories of European Expatriates

• A German engineer was able to join a technology company in Bangalore thanks to a work visa obtained in less than a month, benefiting from the EU-India partnership on professional mobility.
• A French researcher joined a research laboratory in New Delhi as part of a university exchange program facilitated by the mobility agreement between France and India, with automatic recognition of her doctorate.
• A Spanish entrepreneur founded a startup in Mumbai, taking advantage of administrative simplification measures for foreign investors from the EU.

Impact of Freedom of Movement on Opportunities in India

• Increased Professional Opportunities: facilitated access to the Indian job market, possibilities to start businesses, join innovative companies, or collaborate on large-scale research projects.
• Personal Development: immersion in a dynamic culture, language learning, development of international networks, enrichment of personal and professional journeys.
• Family Mobility: possibility for family members to benefit from residency, schooling, and integration facilities.

The freedom of movement enabled by agreements between the EU and India opens new perspectives for European expatriates, both for their careers and personal fulfillment, making India a preferred destination for European talent.

European Rights in India: Protection and Recognition

Overview of European rights applied in India for expatriates

European nationals expatriated in India do not benefit from direct extraterritorial application of European Union (EU) rights: their legal status is primarily governed by Indian laws on immigration, labor, and social security. In 2025, India profoundly modernized its legal framework with the Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025 and the creation of the National Immigration Authority (NIA), which centralizes the monitoring and administrative management of foreigners.

Area	Applicable Framework for Europeans in India	Institutions or Agreements Involved
Immigration & Residency	Indian laws (Immigration and Foreigners Act 2025)	National Immigration Authority, IIMS
Labor	Indian labor law	Indian Ministry of Labor
Social Security	Indian legislation; certain bilateral agreements	Ex.: Franco-Indian Social Security Agreement

Examples of main visas: Business Visa Plus, Startup Visa, Skilled Talent Visa, Investor Visa.

Specific Protection Laws Available

• Expatriates benefit from protection against certain discrimination through local law but still regularly report:
  • Difficulties accessing housing or certain public services.
  • Administrative complexity despite increased digitalization.
• Marked restrictions on real estate ownership: impossibility for non-residents to freely acquire property.
• Social protection depends almost exclusively on the Indian system; only notable exception: a few partial bilateral conventions on social security (e.g., Franco-Indian).

Institutions or Agreements Recognizing These Rights

• National Immigration Authority (NIA): supervises all migration policies and issuance/control of residency permits.
• EU-India Bilateral Agreements: limited in scope—no comprehensive agreement covering all social or economic rights exists to date. Some member states have concluded specific conventions with India essentially covering limited portability of pension/retirement rights.

Comparison Between Protections Offered by the European Union in Its Member States and Those Available for Its Nationals in India

Aspect	In an EU Member State	For an EU Citizen in India
Freedom of Movement	Yes	No
Access to Public Services	Broad harmonized access	Access conditioned by visa/local status
Transferable Social Security*	Integrated coordination at European level	Limited to a few bilateral agreements
Protection Against Expulsion	Harmonized protective procedures	Subject to strict local laws

*In Europe, coordination ensured via community regulations; outside EU like in India: no automaticity.

Cases Where Rights Have Been Protected or Challenged

Frequently reported examples:

• Unjustified refusal to open bank accounts due to “insufficient local address.”
• Disputes during late/difficult visa renewal despite apparent compliance with initial conditions.

These situations often lead to consular intervention. However, except in exceptional cases involving arbitrary detention or clear violation of international public law (rare example), there is no legal possibility for a European expatriate to directly invoke the community legal framework before an Indian court.

Recent Efforts to Strengthen Through Bilateral Agreements/International Forums

The European Union actively pursues two axes:

• Strengthening through strategic dialogue: regular inclusion in EU-India summits (“EU–India Human Rights Dialogue”) aimed at mutually improving treatment of respective citizens.
• Sectoral agreements: occasional negotiations covering notably:
  • Partial portability of retirement pensions;
  • Administrative facilitation for investors/researchers;
  • Partial mutual recognition sometimes discussed during OECD/G20 forums but without direct automatic effect so far.

⬛ Key takeaway: Europeans settled in India remain almost exclusively subject to local Indian law—their protections are lesser than within the European space itself. European intervention mainly aims to obtain more diplomatic guarantees than direct legal ones. ⬛