The International Sportsperson Visa UK is for elite athletes and coaches recognised at the highest level in their sport. It enables you to live and work in the United Kingdom while contributing to your sport’s development. To apply, you need a governing body endorsement, a confirmed UK role, and proof of English proficiency (if required).
This visa offers a pathway to permanent settlement and allows dependents to accompany you. For urgent assistance or help with your International Sportsperson Visa UK application, contact us at 02033939272. We’re here to make the process smooth and hassle-free!
The International Sportsperson Visa UK is intended for professional athletes and certified trainers who are regarded as the best in their respective sports on a global scale. You must have the support of a suitable UK sports governing body and be sponsored on a contract basis, either temporarily or permanently.
You have the option to apply for an international sportsperson visa, valid for 12 months or more.
Those athletes who have been given more than 12 months of leave under the International Sportsperson category can apply for a permanent residency visa through this program. Anyone applying can bring a dependent partner and any children they may have with them.
The United Kingdom’s Visas and Immigration Service requires prospective international sportsperson visa applicants to prove to them that:
Your specific situation will determine the precise criteria that you must meet.
The International Sportsperson visa process requires an endorsement from a relevant UK sports governing body. Two things must be confirmed by the appropriate UK sports governing body:
Before your sponsor may issue a Certificate of Sponsorship, you must receive endorsement from a relevant UK Sports Governing Body.
To work in the UK as an international sportsperson, you must have a sponsor authorised by the Home Office to issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship. Under the International Sportsperson route, your sponsor must have the necessary authorisation from the Home Office to sponsor your job.
Your sponsor must be a legitimate UK-based sports organisation, club, or event planner with a valid sports sponsor license. The organisation will have received approval from the appropriate sports governing body, which the Home Office approves. The International Sportsperson sponsorship program does not accept agents or companies situated outside of the United States to sponsor athletes.
Your International Sportsperson Certificate of Sponsorship will verify data like the offered position and salary, your qualifications for the position, and your endorsement by a suitable UK sports governing body, among other things.
The deadline for obtaining an International Sportsperson visa is 03 months in advance of the date on the Certificate of Sponsorship indicating when your employment is scheduled to begin.
For every year of leave, applicants must also pay the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge. The annual surcharge is £1,035 per applicant or leave, with children and students paying a discounted rate of £766.
The amount must be in your bank account for at least 28 consecutive days, with the last day falling within 31 days of your application unless you have lived in the UK for 12 months or your employer has confirmed on your Certificate of Sponsorship that they will cover your expenses for the first month.
The duration of the applicant’s intended stay determines the application price for an international sportsperson visa.
The application fee is £298 if you are applying for a 12-month International Sportsperson visa.
It costs £719 for applications made outside of the UK and £827 for applications made within the UK for leave durations longer than 12 months.
Applicants seeking an International Sportsperson visa with a duration longer than twelve months are required to demonstrate proficiency in spoken and written English at the A1 level as stated by the Common European Framework of Reference.
To be eligible, One of three things will suffice: either you’re a citizen of an English-speaking country or you have an English-taught academic credential that Ecctis recognises equivalently as a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in the United Kingdom.
In order to remain in the UK as an international sportsperson for a duration of 12 months or less, there is no obligation to meet an English language requirement.
It is possible to move to the International Sportsperson route in order to prolong your stay in the UK if you currently hold leave to remain under a different immigration category. Those following are those who are not eligible to switch to this path.
You will be able to enter and remain in the UK for the duration of your job as stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship plus an extra 14 days or 12 months, whichever is shorter if your application for an International Sportsperson visa for 12 months or less is approved.
You can stay in the UK for as long as your employment lasts, plus an additional 14 days or three years, whichever is shorter, if your visa application is for a longer length than 12 months.
You will be permitted to work in the role for which you have been sponsored if you are granted an International Sportsperson visa. Academic endeavours and additional work will also be allowed.
Along with working as a sportsperson for your national team while they are in the UK, you are also allowed to participate in British University and College Sport (BUCS) championships and temporarily work as a sports broadcaster, offering knowledgeable commentary on particular sporting events.
Following 05 years of continuous residence in the UK, international athletes who have been granted leave for more than 12 months as international athletes may apply for settlement (ILR) in the UK.
The International Sportsperson visa can be combined with the T2 Minister of Religion, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, Representative of an Overseas Business, Skilled Worker, and Tier 1 categories (excluding Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)).
During these five years, you must not have spent more than 180 days outside of the UK in any 12-month period.
Your sponsor must confirm that you earn at least £35,800 per year and that they require your services for the foreseeable future. You also need to demonstrate that you can speak English at a level of at least B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and pass the Life in the UK exam unless you are exempt.
International athletes may be accompanied or joined by dependent partners who are at least 18 years old and/or dependent children who are less than 18. In addition to demonstrating their relationship, dependents would have to fulfil a financial obligation. Unless they have been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months or their company agrees to pay for their expenditures for the first month, the international athlete, their partner, or their child will need to have £285 for a partner, £315 for one child, and £200 for each subsequent child. Prior to the date of the visa application, the monies had to have been retained for at least 28 days and no more than 31 days.
International athletes’ dependent partners are required to reside in the UK for five years, missing no more than 180 days in a 12-month period. They must demonstrate English language proficiency at least at level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and pass the Life in the UK exam unless they are exempt.
The majority of applications for international sportsperson visas are resolved in three weeks. If the visa application centre provides a priority service, it can be feasible to obtain a quicker result.
Additionally, the majority of applications for an extension of stay as an international athlete are resolved in eight weeks.
The UK International Sportsperson visa normally takes three weeks to process applications submitted outside of the country, or it may take eight weeks to process applications submitted outside of the country.
Depending on the season, the number of applications, and the particulars of your situation, these deadlines may change. Additionally, processing takes longer if your application is complicated or if the caseworker asks for more information.
There are options for expedited processing if you need to know the outcome of your visa application sooner:
In addition to the application fee, there is a £500 fee for the Priority Service. Usually cutting the processing time to five working days, this service is intended to speed up the decision-making process. Applications submitted from both inside and outside the UK can use this service. It is advisable to verify whether this service is available at your visa application centre, as availability may be restricted.
For an extra £1000, the Super Priority Service is offered to individuals who require an even quicker conclusion. After your biometric appointment, our service attempts to offer a decision within 24 hours.
In general, only applications submitted within the UK and at specific visa application centres are eligible for the Super Priority Service. Although this service speeds up the decision-making process, it does not ensure that a visa will be approved.
You might be able to submit a new application or request an administrative review if your application for an International Sportsperson visa is denied.
Across a range of sports, our team of immigration attorneys has extensive experience in supporting professional athletes and certified sports coaches. Our immigration solicitors can assist you in making sure that your career advancement aligns with your immigration objectives and that you meet your start date.
We take great satisfaction in being personable and proactive in identifying and attending to the needs of our clients. As part of a professional and amiable service, our highly motivated team is committed to giving coaches and athletes clear and trustworthy immigration guidance.
Our immigration lawyers at Rees Clayton can offer advice on the merits of submitting a new application or contesting the judgement if your request for settlement as an international athlete, leave to stay, or entry clearance has been refused.
It is a visa for elite athletes or coaches recognised internationally at the highest level, allowing them to live and work in the UK while contributing to their sport’s development.
Applicants must have a governing body endorsement, a confirmed role in the UK, and meet specific requirements, such as English proficiency for longer stays.
Key UK sports visa requirements include an endorsement from a UK sports governing body, a Certificate of Sponsorship, sufficient funds, and meeting English language criteria for stays over 12 months.
The visa can be granted for up to 12 months or more, with the option to extend up to 3 years. After 5 years, you may apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
For stays up to 12 months, the fee is £298; for longer stays, it’s £719 if applied outside the UK. Additional costs include the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Yes, if you are staying for more than 12 months. You’ll need to prove proficiency at level A1 or higher unless exempt.
Yes, dependents, including your partner and children, can join you, subject to financial requirements and proof of relationship.
Switching is possible from most visa categories, except Visitor, Short-term Student, Seasonal Worker, and similar routes.
Standard applications take 3 weeks if submitted outside the UK or 8 weeks within the UK. Expedited services are available for faster decisions.
The Tier 2 Sports Visa allows international athletes and their dependents to live and work in the UK while participating in professional sports. It is for athletes who have been offered a position with an approved sponsor, such as a UK-based sports team or organisation.
You can compete professionally, coach, and undertake supplementary roles related to your sport, such as broadcasting or university competitions.
For expert assistance with your application, call 02033939272 today!
