A 25 year-old Indian professional did not want to come back to India after completing her communications and media course in the United Kingdom in 2024. She had almost two years in which to look for employment there. But, ultimately she had no choice!What disrupted those plans was not a lack of qualifications, but the growing expense involved in getting a work visa sponsored.And she is not alone. This is a growing trend that is disrupting Indians’ UK dreams.The UK has tightened its work visa requirements at least twice over the past two years. The minimum salary threshold for positions eligible for a skilled worker visa increased from nearly $35,409 in 2024 to around $52,303 by April, before rising further to nearly $56,358 in July 2025.
Rising cost of UK Visa
The rising cost of hiring overseas workers is now beginning to influence the way Indian companies approach talent that has gained experience abroad.At least two companies that considered the 25-year old professional for jobs told her that sponsoring her visa was beyond what they could afford. “They were like, you’re great, but we can’t have you. Because two years down the line, we’re not going to be able to sponsor you,” she told ETA Bengaluru-based company recently advertised for an AI/ML engineer using ‘Reverse Brain Drain’ as a catchphrase.An analysis by the financial daily of such job postings also found openings at companies including Reliance Industries, Mahindra Automotive and Axis Bank specifically aimed at people returning to India.The above-mentioned individual returned to India earlier this year after her visa expired.Another professional quoted in the report is currently searching for employment in India that offers a salary of at least 9 lakh a year.“Whatever I earn in the UK is going towards my expenses, which are too high over the years,” he said. He, however, does not want to return until he has secured a job that would enable him to repay his loans.The trend is also beginning to reflect in the employment market. Student Circus, a career platform based in the UK, enables students to search for jobs in the UK as well as other countries.
Jobs in Metro Cities
Student Circus has now begun featuring job openings in India as well, and the response to these listings is increasing.The number of views for India-based jobs on the platform climbed to 22,312 by July 2026, almost three times the 8,052 views recorded in 2023.“For international students, getting the first job is only one part of the equation. The ability to secure sponsorship, build a long-term career and remain in the country increasingly factors into where they choose to start their careers,” said Tripti Maheshwari, cofounder of Student Circus, which partners with universities including Leeds, Bristol and Imperial College London.The majority of graduates searching through the platform are targeting opportunities in metro cities, particularly Bengaluru, Mumbai, Gurugram and Hyderabad.
Career choices
A 26-year old individual had been employed as a social work officer in London. With her visa approaching its expiry, she began considering whether returning to India would be necessary. Her employer did not offer visa sponsorship, while the UK was simultaneously making its visa requirements more stringent.“Towards the end, I think like my last six months over there, they also tightened the visa criteria,” she said.By October last year, she had stopped applying for positions in the UK and was focusing exclusively on opportunities in India. She secured a job in April this year, although several friends who returned during roughly the same period have continued to remain without employment.“I know seven-eight people who are literally unemployed right now and they’re not getting a job,” she said.The change in career plans is taking place as more people leave the UK. Data from the Office for National Statistics showed that an estimated 278,000 non-European Union nationals left the UK on a long-term basis in the year ending 2025. Indians constituted the largest nationality among those leaving, followed by Chinese nationals.
US No Different
The phenomenon extends beyond the UK, with immigration policies and uncertainty surrounding visas increasingly influencing the professional decisions of Indians working or studying overseas.The United States is witnessing a similar pattern, as some Indian professionals are choosing to return amid uncertainty surrounding their visas.“Returnee volumes have risen every year, and the gap between outbound and returning talent continues to narrow. H-1B policy is one factor, with the new petition fee and shifting green card rules making it harder to plan and underwrite a multi-year horizon,” said Kapil Joshi, chief executive of IT staffing at Quess Corp.
Jobs not as high-paying in India
Returning to India does not automatically translate into better employment opportunities or higher pay. A recent survey conducted by Blind, an anonymous community app for job seekers, found that several professionals returning from the US were taking up roles in the India offices of the same multinational companies where they had previously worked. However, their salaries were significantly lower.The survey covered 1,276 verified professionals in India. It found that 53% had seen people return from the US because of visa-related problems. Among them, 36% said colleagues or job candidates had already come back, while another 17% knew people who were planning to return.The pressure created by visa rules is also being felt by students. The post-study period available to international students in the UK is being reduced, with the duration of the graduate visa set to fall from two years to 18 months for applications made from January next year.
