Sportsperson Visa

There are a number of eligibility requirements. One of the primary requirements is that you have a formal job offer from an approved sporting organisation holding a valid sponsor licence.

This visa category falls under the UK’s new points-based system whereby you must achieve a minimum of 70 points to be considered eligible.

The bulk of the points can be gained by receiving your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your sponsor. This will give you 50 points and proves that you are in receipt of a job offer from an approved employer.

Unlike other categories, there is a lower level of English language proficiency required. Applicants must show they have a very basic level of English speaking and listening (A1 level on the CEFR scale). Providing evidence of this ability will score the applicant a further 10 points.

Another requirement for this category is the maintenance requirement. The applicant should be able to show that they have at least £1,270 in their bank account for a continuous period of at least 28 days prior to the date of application.

To apply, you should prepare all the documents and evidence required and submit your application online.

For the majority of people, the application process will include the following steps:

1. Obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer or the governing body of your sport
2. Complete the online visa application at the Gov.uk website
3. Pay the fee for the application and submit the required documents
4. If relevant to your circumstances, you may need to submit evidence of a clean tuberculosis test
5. Attend an appointment at a Visa Application Centre to provide your biometric information (facial photograph and fingerprints)
6. Submit this information with the rest of your application, along with any other required documents
7. Wait for your application to be approved before booking travel to the UK

As with all immigration applications, there are stringent rules you must follow if your application is accepted. These include the following:

• You may work for your sponsor doing work as outlined in your Certificate of Sponsorship
• In some cases, you may be allowed to take a second job with limits as to the length of time per week you can spend on this job
• You may play for your national sports team in the UK
• You have permission to study
• You can travel outside and then return to the UK
• You are not entitled to public funds
• You must not start working before your visa has been issued

You can also apply to bring dependents to the UK (partner or dependent children). You will have to show evidence of your ability to support your dependents (£630 per person).

If you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply to extend it for another three years. Following this, you will be required to leave the UK when the visa has expired. However, if you are earning a gross salary of £35,800, you can apply to extend it again.

In order to apply for a Sportsperson Visa, you’ll need to pay £259 if staying in the UK for up to 12 months.

If you’re staying for longer than 12 months, the fee will be £625 if you’re applying outside the UK, or £719 if you’re applying inside the UK to extend or switch (fees correct as of February 2023).

It is also a requirement to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge.

The majority of applicants will receive a decision on their application within three weeks from the date of application (when applying outside the UK).

It is possible to receive a faster decision if you pay an additional fee for the priority decision service. If you pay £500, you can get a decision within five working days, while if you pay £800, you can receive a decision within one working day from the date of submission of your biometric information.