International Sportsperson Visa

The International Sportsperson Visa is designed for elite athletes and coaches who are internationally recognised in their sport. To qualify, you must be endorsed by your sport’s UK governing body, hold a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed UK employer, be aged 16 or over, and demonstrate sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay. You may be required to show evidence of English language.

Your spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner (provided you have been together for at least two years), and children under 18 can apply to join you in the UK as dependants, with their visa typically ending on the same date as yours. Each family member must submit a separate application using your Home Office reference number, either before travelling if applying from outside the UK, or at any point before their current visa expires if already in the UK. Once granted, dependants are free to work — though not as a sportsperson or coach — study, and travel in and out of the UK. After five years of living in the UK, they may also be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, provided all other eligibility requirements are met. Note that dependants cannot claim most public funds.

You can stay for up to 12 months on the short-term route, or up to three years on the long-term route. The visa can be extended as long as you continue to meet the eligibility requirements, with no overall cap on time spent in the category.

The Home Office maintains an official list of approved Sports Governing Bodies, covering team sports and individual pursuits. Football endorsements are issued by the Football Association, Scottish Football Association, Football Association of Wales, or Irish Football Association depending on the territory. Cricket is overseen by the England and Wales Cricket Board, Cricket Scotland, or Cricket Ireland. Rugby is covered by bodies including the Rugby Football Union, Scottish Rugby Union, and Welsh Rugby Union Tennis is governed by the Lawn Tennis Association. Athletics, boxing, cycling, golf, rowing, and basketball are also included, alongside less conventional sports such as kabaddi, kendo, Brazilian jiu jitsu, and yoga. Many sports have separate governing bodies for England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, so applicants must ensure they are seeking endorsement from the correct body.

For sports not featured on the list of approved governing bodies, the Home Office acts as the endorsing authority directly.

A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is a virtual document assigned to you by your sponsoring club or organisation through the Home Office’s secure Sponsorship Management System. Every applicant must have one, and its unique reference number must be included in your visa application. The CoS must have been assigned no more than three months before the date of application, so timing is important — if it is issued too early, your application may be rejected.