Trade in Services
Mode 4 (Movement of Natural Persons)
Under the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), there are four modes of services delivery. Mode 4 refers to the temporary movement of natural persons (individuals) from one country to another to supply a service. FTAs with Mode 4 commitments go beyond GATS by providing specific visa and work permit pathways for professionals.
- GATS Mode 4 covers temporary movement (not immigration) and specifically excludes citizenship, permanent residency, or employment on a permanent basis.
- India has long sought expanded Mode 4 commitments in trade negotiations, reflecting its comparative advantage in skilled IT, healthcare, and professional services exports.
- The India-New Zealand TEE mechanism is a Mode 4 commitment operationalised as a specific visa sub-category — the 5,000 cap is a "stock" cap (number present at any time) rather than an annual flow cap.
- Mode 4 services constitute a significant source of foreign exchange earnings for India, alongside remittances.
● Tracked since March 09, 2026 · last seen April 27, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
See it in today’s brief.
Daily current affairs with every static concept explained in place.
Read the daily brief