When global icons make significant career moves, the legal and administrative processes behind the scenes rarely make the headlines. However, in 2018, when Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli signed a high-profile contract to play county cricket for Surrey, it captured international media attention. The move wasn’t just a massive moment for the sport; it represented a fascinating crossover between elite global mobility and commercial career expansion.

Kohli entered the UK under the Tier 2 visa category. While the Tier 2 route was officially closed and replaced by the UK Skilled Worker Visa and other specialised routes under the modern points-based system, his high-profile move remains an excellent case study for understanding how international talent and professionals in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore can legally navigate the UK immigration framework today.

• Virat Kohli entered the UK under the Tier 2 (Sportsperson) route in 2018.
• The Tier 2 system has now been replaced by the Skilled Worker Visa and related business visa routes.
• Indian entrepreneurs can expand to the UK through Innovator Founder, Expansion Worker, and self-sponsorship pathways.
• Sponsor Licences remain the central foundation for UK business immigration and hiring overseas talent.

Let us explore why Kohli chose an employer-sponsored route, how the rules have changed since 2018, and what alternative commercial visas exist today for business owners looking to expand into the UK market.

Back in 2018, to legally work and play in the UK for Surrey County Cricket Club, Virat Kohli required a visa that permitted professional employment. At the time, the Tier 2 immigration system included several subcategories, including the Tier 2 (Sportsperson) route, which was the standard pathway for internationally established athletes.

For Kohli, this employer-sponsored route was the most efficient and legally sound choice because:

1. Direct Sponsorship: Surrey CCC, operating as a UK Home Office – approved sponsor, issued a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), streamlining his application process.
2. Clear Commercial Intent: The visa strictly permitted him to fulfill his commercial sporting contract without the complexities of navigating entrepreneur or investor visa requirements.
3. Legal Compliance: It ensured full compliance with UK employment laws, a critical factor for high-profile public figures.

The UK immigration system has undergone a complete transformation since Kohli’s time at Surrey. The transition from the Tier 2 visa to the modern points-based immigration system brought with it increased compliance requirements, higher salary thresholds, and new business immigration evolutions.

For quick reference, here is how the old legacy routes translate to the current UK visa framework:

If an Indian professional or executive is recruited by a UK company today, they will not apply for a Tier 2 visa. Instead, their application will be governed by the Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Worker.

It is worth noting that India consistently remains one of the largest source countries for Skilled Worker Visa applicants globally, highlighting the strong, ongoing professional corridor between the two nations.

It is worth noting that India consistently remains one of the largest source countries for Skilled Worker Visa applicants globally, highlighting the strong, ongoing professional corridor between the two nations.

According to the current UK Home Office, applicants must:

• Have a confirmed job offer from a sponsor listed on the official Register of Licensed Sponsors.
• Hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
• Meet the minimum salary threshold, which is currently set at £41,700 per year or the ‘going rate’ for the specific occupation (whichever is higher).
• Demonstrate English language proficiency.

While Virat Kohli’s situation highlights the power of employer sponsorship, not every individual looking to enter the UK has a Surrey CCC waiting to sponsor them.

For Indian entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders who want to emulate Kohli’s global mindset by expanding their commercial footprint into the UK, an employer-sponsored visa isn’t the only option. If your goal is to set up a new enterprise or expand an existing Indian company into the British market, you must transition from global mobility strategies to specific commercial business visa routes for Indian citizens.

According to Global Business Mobility guidance, if you own an established business in India and wish to set up your first UK branch or wholly-owned subsidiary, the UK Expansion Worker Visa is the primary pathway. It allows senior managers to temporarily relocate to the UK to establish the business presence.

The Innovator Founder Visa is designed for experienced entrepreneurs. It requires you to present an innovative, viable, and scalable business idea endorsed by a Home Office-approved body. Crucially, this route leads directly to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after three years.

UK Self-sponsorship is a recognised immigration strategy when structured in compliance with current UK immigration rules and sponsor licence requirements. By establishing a genuine UK company and securing a Sponsor Licence, the UK entity can legally sponsor you (the overseas owner/director) on a Skilled Worker Visa to run the operations.
For a comprehensive breakdown of company formation and visa alignment, read our guide on starting a business in the UK as a non-resident.

With recent media speculation surrounding Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma potentially establishing a more permanent base in London, it raises an important question: How do international figures holding temporary visas transition to long-term residency in the UK?

When Kohli entered the UK on his Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa in 2018, that specific sponsored route offered a direct pathway to settlement.

If an internationally recognised professional or high-net-worth individual wishes to stay in the UK permanently, they generally must achieve Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

1. The 5-Year Sponsored Route: If an elite athlete or skilled professional remains in the UK continuously for 5 years on a qualifying sponsored visa (such as the Skilled Worker or International Sportsperson Visa), they become eligible to apply for ILR.
2. Accelerated Investment Routes (Legacy): Historically, high-net-worth individuals could use the Tier 1 (Investor) visa to essentially “fast-track” their ILR. An investment of £5 million reduced the waiting period to 3 years, and £10 million reduced it to just 2 years. While the Tier 1 Investor visa is now closed to new applicants, many global elites who entered under it are currently transitioning to settled status.
3. The Innovator Founder Route: Today, foreign business leaders launching scalable businesses in the UK can secure ILR in just 3 years, provided they meet specific business milestones.
4. The 10-Year Long Residence Rule: If an individual legally resides in the UK continuously for 10 years, combining different visa types (such as moving from a sporting visa to an entrepreneur visa), they can apply for settlement through the long residence pathway.

Once ILR is achieved, the individual is free from immigration controls, no longer requires a sponsor, and can apply for British Citizenship 12 months later, provided they meet the residency and residency absence limits.

Whether you are a UK employer hiring top-tier Indian talent, or an Indian entrepreneur setting up a UK subsidiary for self-sponsorship, the Sponsor Licence is the non-negotiable foundation of the modern UK immigration system.

Just as Surrey CCC needed a licence to bring Virat Kohli to the UK, your UK business must be approved by the UK Home Office before it can hire non-resident workers. Furthermore, managing this licence via the Sponsor Management System (SMS) requires strict ongoing compliance. With the Home Office significantly increasing compliance audits, it is vital to seek expert legal guidance when applying for or managing a Sponsor Licence.

Virat Kohli’s 2018 move to the UK highlighted how seamless the immigration process can be when utilizing the correct sponsored pathway. Today, the system has modernised, but the underlying principles of sponsorship, business expansion, and compliance remain the same.

Whether you are an Indian entrepreneur expanding to the UK, a business owner exploring self-sponsorship, or a professional securing a Skilled Worker Visa, obtaining the correct immigration strategy is essential.

Whether you are a professional seeking a Skilled Worker Visa, an entrepreneur exploring self-sponsorship, or simply curious about long-term UK settlement – our experts will map the right immigration pathway for you.

Book your personal immigration profile evaluation today.

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