India, UK sign social security agreement to avoid double contributions | External Affairs & Defence Security News

India and the United Kingdom (UK) signed the Social Security Agreement on social security contributions on Tuesday.

The agreement aims to avoid double social security contributions for employees of the two countries on temporary assignment in each other’s territory for periods of up to 36 months, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) said.

The two governments committed to such an agreement when they signed their free trade agreement, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), in July 2025.

The agreement will support the mobility and maintenance of social security coverage of employees on short-term assignments abroad. This will strengthen India-UK partnerships in the services sector, leveraging the high skills and innovative services sectors of both countries, the MEA said.

The agreement will enter into force at the same time as CETA, whose implementation is planned during the first half of the current year. The agreement was signed by Foreign Minister Vikram Misri and British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron.

India has entered into bilateral social security agreements (SSAs) with other countries to protect the interests of Indian professionals and skilled workers working abroad for short durations and improve the competitiveness of Indian businesses.

The signed agreement will be hosted on the website of the Ministry of External Affairs and on that of the Employees’ Provident Fund for the information of stakeholders, allowing them to obtain certificates of coverage to avoid doubling social security contributions.