International Sportsperson Visa UK

What is the International Sportsperson Visa?

The International Sportsperson visa is a long-stay UK work visa aimed at elite international athletes and coaches.

It allows them to enter the UK and practise their sport internationally.

Like all UK visas, this route has specific eligibility requirements that all applicants must follow. These are outlined below.

The International Sportsperson visa is valid for up to 3 years, after which it can be extended. 

After spending 5 years in the UK on this visa, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

What Can I Do With the International Sportsperson Visa?

With this visa, you will be able to:

• Work for your sponsor in the role outlined in your certificate of sponsorship
• Work a second job (under specific circumstances)
• Play for your national team in the UK
• Work as a sports broadcaster
• Take on voluntary work
• Study 
• Bring your partner and children with you to the UK

You will not be able to:

• Access public funds
• Start or run a business
• Apply for a second job until you’ve started working your primary role for your sponsor

What Are the Eligibility Criteria for International Sportsperson Visa?

You must meet the following eligibility criteria to be eligible for the International Sportsperson visa route. You must:

• Have endorsement from a Home Office-approved Sports Governing Body confirming that:
  • You’re an elite sportsperson or qualified coach
  • You’re internationally established
  • Your employment will develop your sport in the UK at the highest level
• Have a valid certificate of sponsorship from your endorsing body
• Speak English to the required minimum level (if staying in the UK for longer than 12 months)
• Have enough money to support yourself in the UK
• Demonstrate your travel history over the past 5 years
• Show tuberculosis test results if you’re from a required country
• Be taking on a job that pays at least the minimum wage and conforms with UK labour laws (this will generally be the responsibility of your employer)

Eligibility for Emerging Professional Footballers

An exception to the “elite athlete” rule is made for certain emerging professional footballers due to a change in the Home Office’s guidance in 2023.

This new guidance is referred to as Elite Significant Contribution (ESC). Under this amended guidance, the Football Association (FA) can issue endorsements to young, emerging football players who show significant promise in their sport rather than restricting them to signing players who are already internationally established.

Premier League and Championship clubs can take on a maximum of four players each per season, while League One and League Two clubs can take on two.

Eligibility for the ESC is judged on the quality of the league the player has played in in the past and the FIFA ranking of the country they have played for.

How Much Money Do I Need for the International Sportsperson Visa?

This visa requires you to have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show that you can support yourself in the UK.

You must show that you’ve had this money for at least 28 of the 31 days immediately before applying for your visa.

You will not need proof of funds if you’ve already been in the UK for at least 12 months before applying for this visa or if your employer will cover your costs (this must be stated on your certificate of sponsorship).

What Are the English Language Requirements?

You must show that you can speak English to the minimum standard to be eligible for the International Sportsperson visa (if you plan to stay longer than 12 months).

You can do this in multiple ways, including the following:

• Passing a secure English language test (SELT) to at least CEFR level A1 in speaking and listening
• Showing proof of an academic qualification that was granted in the UK
• Showing proof of an eligible qualification that was taught in English and is equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD (you must also provide a certification from ECCTIS verifying that this is true)
• Showing proof that you are a citizen of a majority English-speaking country

How to Apply for International Sportsperson Visa?

To apply for International Sportsperson visa, you must first ensure you have received an official endorsement from your sport’s governing body.

This will involve receiving a certificate of sponsorship from the body. You must use your unique certificate of sponsorship number within three months of receiving it.

You must apply for the International Sportsperson visa online through the gov.uk website.

As part of the application, you will either have to provide your biometric information in person at a local visa application centre or scan your ID document using the UK Immigration: ID Check app.

You will also have to provide all of your supporting documents.

What Supporting Documents Do I Need to Provide?

You will need to provide all of the supporting documents with your International Sportsperson visa application:

• Your certificate of sponsorship reference number 
• Proof of English ability (if you are applying to stay for longer than 12 months)
• Proof of funds to support yourself in the UK (unless you are exempt)
• A valid passport or other acceptable ID document
• Other expired passports or travel documents 
• Tuberculosis test results, if you’re from a required country
• Your letter of endorsement from your sport’s governing body

You must provide a certified translation of your documents in English or Welsh if they are not originally in those languages.

International Sportsperson Visa Fees and Processing Time

If you plan to stay in the UK for 12 months or less while on the International Sportsperson visa, the application fee is £319.

If you are planning to stay for more than 12 months, the fees are as follows:

• £769 if applying from outside the UK
• £885 if applying from inside the UK

You must also pay the immigration healthcare surcharge of £1035 a year.

If you are applying from outside the UK, it usually takes up to 3 weeks to process. If you are applying from inside the UK, it can take up to 8 weeks.

Extending the International Sportsperson Visa in UK

If your initial period of 3 years of leave is coming to an end, you may apply to extend your visa’s permission.

To be eligible for an extension, you must:

• Have your endorsement from your sport’s governing body renewed
• Be issued a new certificate of sponsorship number
• Still, meet all the other eligibility criteria you met when you first applied for your visa
• Apply for your extension before your existing immigration permission expires

You will also need to pay the application fee of £885 to extend your International Sportsperson visa in UK. 

If you are successfully granted an extension, you can stay in the UK for a further three years.

We offer immigration advice sessions in person at all of our UK offices or via the phone.

How can I apply for indefinite leave to remain?

After spending 5 years in the UK on an International Sportsperson visa, you may be eligible to apply for permanent settlement, otherwise known as indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

To be eligible for ILR, you must meet the following criteria. You must:

• Have not spent more than 180 days outside of the UK in any 12 months
• Have your employer confirm that you will still be required to perform your role after being granted ILR.
• Pass the Life in the UK Test

It costs £3,029 to apply for ILR as an International Sportsperson visa holder.

What are the requirements for second jobs?

The International Sportsperson visa allows you to work second jobs alongside your main role in certain circumstances.

To be eligible:

• You must be working in your second job for 20 hours a week or less
• Be the same profession as your main role, or be a role on the immigration salary list

If your job does not fulfil the second requirement listed above, you must instead apply for a new visa and be issued a new certificate of sponsorship.

Why work with IAS

IAS lawyers have years of experience working on specialist visa types and can help you obtain an International Sportsperson Visa for 12 months or longer.

Our expert attorneys can help guide you through the application process, submitting supporting documents and liaising with UK immigration to comply with UK law, for the best possible chance of success.

We’ve helped thousands of applicants gain the immigration status they require. Let us help you too. Call us on +44 (0)333 414 9244, or reach out to us online to get started.