If you are an international athlete or qualified coach, you may be eligible for the UK Sportsperson Visa (T2) if you will be contributing to the growth of your sport throughout your stay in the country.
A Sportsperson Visa is a form of UK Work Visa that is dependent on points. If you are an elite athlete or qualified coach, you may be eligible for a UK Sportsperson Visa to work in a sporting capacity in the UK. This visa is eligible if your sport’s governing body recognizes you as an elite member of your profession.
This visa permits you to enter and reside in the United Kingdom as a foreign national for a period of no more than three years. This is provided you work in a position that enables you to make a significant contribution to your sport in the United Kingdom.
Sportsperson Visa Requirements
The Sportsperson Visa is part of the UK’s points-based immigration system; applicants must earn a minimum of 70 points to be eligible.
You can earn 50 points by obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from the Home Office to demonstrate to them that you have an employment offer in the United Kingdom. You must demonstrate that the position you are applying for will significantly contribute to the development of your sport and that you are:
- A professional athlete or qualified coach
- Recognized by the governing organization of your sport as being internationally established at the pinnacle of your profession
You must obtain endorsement from your sport’s governing organization, which must hold a sponsor license to hire foreign workers in order to provide you a Certificate of Sponsorship.
An additional ten points are available for meeting the English language criteria. UK Sportsperson visa candidates are not required to meet the same English language criteria as other work visa applicants. Rather than passing an authorized English test at CEFR level B1, athletes may be eligible if they pass at least level A1.
The remaining ten points are earned by adhering to the maintenance criteria. You will need to demonstrate that you can financially support yourself while in the UK. To demonstrate that you have at least £1,270 in your bank account for a continuous period of at least 28 days within 31 days of applying for your visa, you must demonstrate that you have had at least £1,270 in your bank account for a continuous period of at least 28 days.
Things you can do on a Sportsperson Visa UK
The Sportsperson Visa permits you to work in the United Kingdom in the occupation specified in your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Additionally, you can also:
- Take up a second job
- Compete for your national team in the United Kingdom.
- Assume a position as a sports broadcaster
- Do volunteer work
- Study, as long as it does not conflict with your CoS work
- Travel overseas and then return to the United Kingdom
Additionally, this visa allows you to bring family members to the UK. You may bring your partner and any suitable children with you.
While the Sportsperson Visa provides numerous options in the United Kingdom, it does have some limitations. You cannot use public funds while here, and you are also prohibited from starting or operating a business or applying for a second employment until you begin working for your sponsor.
How can Henleaze Law help you with your UK Sports Visa?
You can apply for a visa to work in the United Kingdom as a sportsperson up to three months before your intended visit. The application process is complex; in addition to completing the application form, you must demonstrate to the Home Office that you meet all of the eligibility conditions. This will require the submission of a comprehensive portfolio of supporting documents.
Our experienced immigration attorneys have decades of combined expertise and are well-versed in all aspects of immigration law. They can assist you in determining your eligibility for a sportsperson’s visa and provide competent immigration assistance on all of your available choices. Our attorneys can assist you with arranging and organizing your Certificate of Sponsorship, as well as liaising with your UK Sponsor and the sport’s governing body. Additionally, we conduct extensive document checks and complete your application form.
