Quoting the Foreign Ministry’s May 2025 data, Indeed reported that India has the world’s largest overseas population, with approximately 35.4 million non-resident Indians (NRIs) and persons of Indian origin (PIOs).
Further, the U.S. immigration data shows that over 70 % of H‑1B visas are awarded to Indian nationals, reinforcing India’s central role in the global tech and professional workforce.
As visa pathways tighten and mobility grows more complex, Indian professionals are changing how they pursue global careers. Indeed’s latest report on global career work & mobility finds that global exposure is increasingly being built from India through skills, international projects, and remote opportunities rather than through immediate relocation.
The study by Indeed was conducted across 552 employers and 1,019 employees across India and global markets.
61% of Indian professionals are now more inclined to seek global remote roles than relocate overseas. At the same time, 49% say they would continue working from India if their preferred visa pathway is unavailable. While some professionals believe global careers can now be built entirely from India, 51% say working abroad still offers advantages that are difficult to replicate locally, particularly at early career stages.
According to the findings, just 15% of professionals say they clearly understand visa rules, leaving many unsure about when or whether they can realistically plan a move abroad. This uncertainty weighs most heavily on early- and mid-career talent, for whom timing and stability are critical.
Commenting on the findings, Sashi Kumar, Managing Director, Indeed India, said, “Global careers haven’t become less attractive, they’ve become less linear.” What we’re seeing is a shift from ‘move first, build later’ to ‘prepare first, move later or not at all’. Skills, experience, and global exposure are increasingly being built before geography changes.”
Visa rigidity is also adding pressure inside organisations. Four in ten employees (41%) say they would consider switching employers if it improved their chances of an overseas transfer, underscoring how prolonged uncertainty can quickly become a retention challenge.
For many professionals, uncertainty around visas is shaping not just long-term plans but loyalty at work. 41% say they would switch employers for clearer mobility pathways, signalling that global exposure is becoming a meaningful part of how talent evaluates opportunities.
Employers are responding, but the approaches vary widely. More than half say they are investing in preparing Indian teams for international exposure, and 46% report improved retention and workforce growth as a result. Others are still testing different strategies, such as local hiring, hybrid models, selective relocation, and vendor partnerships, with no single model yet emerging as the clear answer.
