European Legal Gateway Office in India

The European Legal Gateway Office in India is a pilot initiative that provides the European Union (EU) with a coordinated instrument to attract and facilitate the mobility of Indian ICT professionals, students and researchers to the EU. Anchored in the broader EU–India Strategic Partnership and aligned with key frameworks such as the Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility (CAMM), Trade and Technology Council (TTC), the EU Digital Decade 2030, and the Union of Skills Communication (2025), the Gateway aims to position the EU as a globally visible and coordinated destination for skilled talent. For the EU, the initiative also contributes directly to the EU Digital Decade target of 20 million ICT specialists by 2030, helping address structural shortages that currently affect nearly two-thirds of European companies.

This initiative also aligns with India’s priorities as it supports national priorities on expanding global opportunities for its skilled and highly valued ICT workforce, fosters circular migration, and strengthens cooperation with the EU and EU Member States. It also builds on the evolving partnership between both sides by offering a practical mechanism to improve access to trusted information on mobility pathways to the EU, reduce reliance on untrustworthy sources, promote ethical recruitment practices and ensure the safety and well-being of Indian workers abroad. Thereby, offering a mutually beneficial prospect for both sides, steered by shared strategic interests and strong political momentum for this pioneering initiative.

Further, the Gateway responds to a clear gap: while Member States and EU platforms already promote mobility opportunities, the absence of a unified EU presence in India limits visibility and Europe’s position in the global competition for talent. The Gateway addresses this by creating a single, EU-branded entry point that improves access to trusted information, strengthens cooperation with Indian institutions and supports employers and universities in engaging with India’s ICT ecosystem.

The Gateway will operate through three interconnected components:

• An EU-Branded Digital Tool, that will serve as a single-entry point and resource hub (for Indian ICT mobility candidates and EU Employers/Higher Educational institutions) offering curated information, pathway navigation (via EU PREDICT), a visa requirements smart wizard, rules-based chatbot and signposting to EU and Member State portals and job boards.
• EU Gateway Office in India, that will serve as the operational hub in India, staffed by Talent Liaison Officers, responsible for building partnerships, candidate support, stakeholder engagement with both Indian and EU stakeholders on the ground, and implementing a range of outreach and awareness-related activities in major ICT regional clusters across the country.
• An EU Support Office, preferably based in Brussels to ensure alignment with EU policies, facilitate EU- wide outreach and visibility and EU Member State coordination in partnership with the India Office.