INTERNATIONAL SPORTSPERSON VISA

The UK International Sportsperson visa is a sponsored work route for elite sportspersons and qualified sports coaches who are internationally established and whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at its highest level in the UK.

Applicants must normally obtain an endorsement from the Home Office-approved governing body for their sport and be sponsored by an organisation that holds an appropriate International Sportsperson sponsor licence. Applicants seeking permission for more than 12 months must also satisfy an English language requirement.

The International Sportsperson route can be used for relatively short periods of professional sporting employment or for longer-term careers in the UK. Permission can be granted for up to three years at a time and can be extended. The route can also lead to settlement in the UK after five years where the relevant requirements are satisfied.

Partners and children may qualify to accompany or join an International Sportsperson as dependants. Different requirements apply to dependant partners and children, including separate financial requirements.

The Immigration Rules governing this route are detailed and the endorsement requirements differ between sports. Applicants, clubs and other sporting organisations should therefore consider the immigration requirements alongside the applicable governing body’s endorsement criteria at an early stage.

1. UK International Sportsperson Visa Requirements

An applicant seeking entry clearance or permission to stay as an International Sportsperson will need to satisfy the relevant validity, suitability and eligibility requirements in Appendix International Sportsperson.

At a high level, an applicant will normally need to demonstrate that they:

• Are aged 16 or over;
• Have a valid Governing Body Endorsement from the appropriate Home Office-approved Sports Governing Body;
• Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from an organisation authorised to sponsor International Sportspersons;
• Genuinely intend and are able to undertake the role for which they are sponsored;
• Meet the financial requirement;
• Meet the English language requirement if applying for permission exceeding 12 months;
• Meet the parental consent requirement if they are aged 16 or 17;
• Provide a tuberculosis certificate where Appendix Tuberculosis applies;
• Provide consent from a relevant government or international scholarship agency where required; and
• Do not fall for refusal under Part Suitability.

International Sportsperson visa applicants seeking permission for 12 months or less must obtain the mandatory 70 points available for Governing Body Endorsement, sponsorship and the financial requirement. Applicants seeking permission for more than 12 months must additionally obtain 10 points for English language ability at level A1, producing a total requirement of 80 points.

Age and Parental Consent

An International Sportsperson applicant must be at least 16 years old on the date of application.

An applicant who is under 18 must also satisfy the parental consent requirements in Appendix Children. Written consent must normally come from both parents, one parent with sole responsibility, or the applicant’s legal guardian. The consent must cover the immigration application and the applicant’s living and care arrangements in the UK. For an entry clearance application, it must additionally address the applicant’s travel to and reception arrangements in the UK.

Genuineness and Suitability

The applicant must genuinely intend and be able to undertake the sponsored role. They must not intend to undertake other employment except work that is specifically permitted by the conditions of the International Sportsperson route.

Applicants must also satisfy Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules. Issues such as previous immigration breaches, criminality, deception or other adverse immigration history can therefore affect an application depending on the circumstances.

National Minimum Wage and Working Time Requirements

The sponsored role must comply with the National Minimum Wage Regulations and the Working Time Regulations. The Home Office may refuse an application where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the proposed employment does not comply with these requirements.

This requirement is separate from the £35,800 remuneration threshold that applies to applicants seeking settlement as an International Sportsperson. There is no equivalent general £35,800 entry-level salary threshold for an initial International Sportsperson visa application.

2. Sports Governing Body Endorsement for an International Sportsperson Visa

A Governing Body Endorsement is central to the International Sportsperson route.

The endorsement must be issued by the appropriate Sports Governing Body listed in Appendix Sports Governing Bodies to the Immigration Rules. The approved body depends on the sport and, in some cases, the territory of the UK in which the sport is governed.

The endorsement letter submitted with the visa application must contain the unique endorsement number and confirm that the applicant:

• Is elite;
• Is internationally established; and
• Will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at its highest level in the UK.

These are requirements of the Immigration Rules themselves. Individual governing bodies then apply their own Home Office-approved endorsement criteria to determine whether a particular player or coach meets the required standard.

Governing Body Endorsement Criteria

The detailed criteria vary considerably between sports.

Depending on the sport, criteria may take account of matters such as international appearances, domestic competition level, rankings, experience, coaching qualifications or other objectively defined sporting achievements.

Applicants should therefore check the current endorsement requirements for their sport rather than assuming that international recognition alone is sufficient. The approved governing body’s criteria are a separate layer of assessment from the general requirements in Appendix International Sportsperson.

Sports governing bodies are responsible for maintaining and publishing their endorsement requirements, which must be agreed with the Home Office.

How Long Is a Governing Body Endorsement Valid?

The period covered by an endorsement can depend on the relevant governing body and its endorsement criteria.

A sponsor can only assign a Certificate of Sponsorship for a period covered by the individual’s Governing Body Endorsement. Some governing bodies may issue endorsements for only 12 months even where the underlying employment contract is longer.

Where sponsorship is to continue beyond the period covered by the endorsement, a fresh endorsement and Certificate of Sponsorship may therefore be required before the individual’s current permission expires.

Sponsor Endorsement and Individual Endorsement Are Different

There are two distinct endorsement issues that can arise on this route.

First, an organisation seeking an International Sportsperson sponsor licence must itself normally obtain an endorsement from the appropriate Home Office-approved sporting governing body.

Secondly, the individual sportsperson or coach must have their own Governing Body Endorsement before the sponsor assigns the Certificate of Sponsorship used for their visa application.

Clubs and applicants should not assume that the organisation’s sponsor-licence endorsement removes the need for an individual player or coach endorsement.

3. International Sportsperson Sponsorship and Certificate of Sponsorship Requirements

International Sportsperson applicants require sponsorship from an organisation authorised by the Home Office to sponsor workers on this route.

An organisation seeking an International Sportsperson sponsor licence will generally need to be a UK-based sporting body, sports club, events organiser or another eligible organisation operating in the sporting sector. An overseas-based sports club or organisation, or an agent acting as such, cannot obtain an International Sportsperson sponsor licence in that capacity.

The organisation must also obtain the relevant governing body endorsement for its sponsor licence and hold a valid International Sportsperson sponsor licence.

Certificate of Sponsorship Requirements

A Certificate of Sponsorship, or CoS, is an electronic sponsorship record rather than a paper certificate.

For an International Sportsperson application, the CoS must include relevant information concerning the applicant, the sponsored role and salary, and the unique number associated with the applicant’s Governing Body Endorsement. It must confirm that the applicant intends to be based in the UK and that they are qualified to undertake the sponsored role.

The sponsor must normally hold an A-rating when the CoS is assigned. There is a limited exception where an applicant’s previous permission was as an International Sportsperson and they are applying to continue working for the same sponsor.

A sponsor must not assign a valid CoS to an International Sportsperson unless the worker already has the required current Governing Body Endorsement.

When Must the Certificate of Sponsorship Be Used?

The CoS must have been assigned no more than three months before the date of the immigration application. The sponsored start date must also be no more than three months after the date of application.

A CoS used in a previous application which was granted or refused cannot generally be reused. It must also not have been withdrawn by the sponsor or cancelled by the Home Office.

The timing of the endorsement, CoS, intended employment start date and visa application should therefore be coordinated carefully.

4. Financial Requirement for an International Sportsperson Visa

An International Sportsperson will usually need to show that they can maintain themselves when they first arrive in the UK.

Where the financial requirement applies, the applicant must normally have at least £1,270 available.

The funds must usually have been held for at least 28 consecutive days, with the end of the 28-day period falling within the period permitted by Appendix Finance before the application. The Home Office currently describes this as requiring day 28 to fall within 31 days of the visa application.

An applicant will not normally need to provide evidence of the £1,270 where:

• They are applying for permission to stay and have already been living in the UK with permission for at least 12 months at the date of application; or
• Their A-rated sponsor confirms on the Certificate of Sponsorship that it will maintain and accommodate them, if necessary, during their first month of employment up to the required amount.

Different and additional maintenance amounts apply where a partner or children are applying as dependants.

5. English Language Requirement for the International Sportsperson Route

Whether an International Sportsperson visa applicant needs to meet an English language requirement depends on the length of permission sought.

Applications for 12 Months or Less

There is no English language requirement under Appendix International Sportsperson where an applicant seeks permission for 12 months or less.

An applicant can therefore qualify for a short-term grant without demonstrating English language ability, provided all other requirements are met.

Applications for More Than 12 Months

Where the applicant seeks permission exceeding 12 months, they must demonstrate English speaking and listening ability to at least level A1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFR, unless the requirement is otherwise met under Appendix English Language.

Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, Appendix English Language permits the requirement to be met in a number of ways. These include:

• Having already demonstrated English at the required level in a previous successful immigration application;
• Being a national of a specified majority-English-speaking country;
• Holding an eligible UK academic qualification;
• Holding an eligible overseas degree or degree-level qualification taught or researched in English and providing the required confirmation;
• Passing an approved Secure English Language Test at the required level; or
• Relying on specified UK school qualifications in English where the requirements of Appendix English Language are met.

Applicants should identify the most appropriate method before submitting their application and ensure that the evidence satisfies the precise requirements of Appendix English Language.

The English language level required for settlement is higher and is considered separately below.

6. Can You Switch to an International Sportsperson Visa From Inside the UK?

Many applicants who already have immigration permission in the UK can apply to switch into the International Sportsperson route without leaving the country.

However, switching is not available from every immigration category.

An applicant cannot ordinarily switch where they have, or were last granted, permission as:

• A Visitor, subject to the limited sporting-activity exception discussed below;
• A Short-term Student;
• A Parent of a Child Student;
• A Seasonal Worker;
• A Domestic Worker in a Private Household; or
• A person outside the Immigration Rules.

The applicant must also be physically present in the UK when making an application for permission to stay.

Switching From a Student Visa

Additional restrictions apply where the applicant has, or last had, permission as a Student.

A Student will need to satisfy one of the permitted conditions in Appendix International Sportsperson. Broadly, this may be possible where:

• The course for which their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned has been completed;
• They are studying a full-time degree-level or above course with a qualifying higher education provider and the CoS start date is no earlier than the expected course completion date; or
• They are studying towards a PhD with a qualifying higher education provider and the CoS start date is at least 24 months after the start of that course.

The precise Student switching condition should be checked against the applicant’s course, institution, completion position and proposed employment start date.

Switching After Permitted Sporting Activities as a Visitor

There is a limited exception to the usual rule preventing Visitors from switching into the International Sportsperson route.

A person who last had Visitor permission may be able to switch where they have been in the UK undertaking specified permitted activities for sportspersons under Appendix Visitor.

Importantly, where this exception is relied upon, the Certificate of Sponsorship used for the International Sportsperson application must have been assigned before the applicant entered the UK as a Visitor.

This is a technical exception and should not be treated as a general right for professional athletes or coaches visiting the UK to switch into sponsored employment after arrival.

7. How to Apply for a UK International Sportsperson Visa

An International Sportsperson visa application requires coordination between the applicant, the relevant Sports Governing Body and the sponsoring organisation.

The process will normally involve the following stages.

Step 1: Check the Governing Body Endorsement Criteria

The applicant and proposed sponsor should first identify the relevant governing body and confirm that the proposed role and applicant are capable of meeting its current endorsement criteria.

Step 2: Obtain the Individual Governing Body Endorsement

The sponsor will normally need to obtain the required individual endorsement from the relevant Sports Governing Body.

The applicant must ultimately have a copy of the endorsement letter containing the unique endorsement number for their immigration application.

Step 3: Obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship

Once the individual endorsement has been obtained, an appropriately licensed sponsor can assign the applicant a Certificate of Sponsorship.

The CoS must accurately record the sponsored role, salary, employment dates and Governing Body Endorsement details.

Step 4: Prepare the Immigration Application

The applicant should then prepare the online application and supporting evidence.

An application can generally be made up to three months before the sponsored employment start date shown on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

Step 5: Prove Identity and Provide Supporting Documents

Depending on nationality and passport type, the applicant may be asked either to use the UK Immigration: ID Check process or to attend a visa application centre to provide biometric information.

Applicants applying from outside the UK must obtain entry clearance before travelling to take up employment on the route.

Partners and children who wish to accompany the International Sportsperson must make the appropriate dependant applications.

8. Documents Required for an International Sportsperson Visa

The precise evidence required depends on the applicant’s circumstances.

Documents and information commonly required include:

• The Certificate of Sponsorship reference number;
• The Sports Governing Body endorsement letter;
• A valid passport or other acceptable evidence of identity and nationality;
• Evidence of English language ability where the applicant seeks permission for more than 12 months and must demonstrate English;
• Evidence that the financial requirement is satisfied where required;
• Previous passports or travel documents where necessary to establish travel history;
• A tuberculosis test certificate where Appendix Tuberculosis applies; and
• Certified translations of documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Additional evidence may be necessary depending on the particular application.

Documents for Applicants Aged 16 or 17

An applicant under 18 will also need appropriate written parental or legal guardian consent dealing with the application and care arrangements, together with travel and reception arrangements where required for an entry clearance application.

Government or International Scholarship Consent

An applicant who has received certain government or international scholarship funding covering both tuition fees and living costs for study in the UK during the previous 12 months may need written consent from the relevant government or scholarship agency.

The Home Office can request further information or evidence where necessary. It is therefore important that the application materials are internally consistent with the endorsement, Certificate of Sponsorship and proposed employment arrangements.

9. International Sportsperson Visa Fees and Immigration Health Surcharge

The Home Office fees in force as at 10 August 2026 depend on the period of permission requested and whether the application is made from inside or outside the UK.

Application	Home Office Application Fee
International Sportsperson – 12 months or less	£340 per person
More than 12 months – application from outside the UK	£819 per person
More than 12 months – extension or switching application inside the UK	£943 per person

These fees also apply separately to qualifying dependants making applications on the route.

Applicants and their dependants will also usually need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is normally £1,035 per year for applicants on this route.

Home Office fees and Immigration Health Surcharge rates are subject to change. Applicants should therefore check the rates in force when they apply.

10. International Sportsperson Visa Processing Times

The standard published processing period currently depends on where the application is made.

Once an applicant has submitted the application, proved their identity and provided the required documents, the Home Office states that a decision on an International Sportsperson application will usually be made within:

• 3 weeks for an application made from outside the UK; or
• 8 weeks for an application made from inside the UK.

A faster decision service may be available for some applications for an additional fee.

These are standard published service periods rather than guarantees of a decision by a particular date. Sporting organisations should avoid planning contractual or competition arrangements on the assumption that an immigration decision will necessarily be made within the standard period.

Applicants must also ensure that they do not begin employment before they have the immigration permission required to undertake it.

11. How Long Can You Stay on an International Sportsperson Visa?

The maximum duration of an International Sportsperson visa  depends on whether the applicant is seeking permission for 12 months or less or for a longer period.

Permission for 12 Months or Less

Where the International Sportsperson visa application is for 12 months or less, permission will be granted for whichever is shorter:

• Up to 14 days after the employment period stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship; or
• 12 months.

Permission for More Than 12 Months

Where the application seeks permission exceeding 12 months, permission will be granted for whichever is shorter:

• Up to 14 days after the employment period stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship; or
• Three years.

Applicants seeking permission as an International Sportsperson for more than 12 months must meet the A1 English language requirement unless the requirement is otherwise satisfied under Appendix English Language.

Extending an International Sportsperson Visa

An International Sportsperson can apply to extend their stay if they remain eligible.

An extension application will normally require a new Certificate of Sponsorship and, where required, a fresh Governing Body Endorsement covering the proposed period of sponsorship.

There is no equivalent overall maximum stay limit preventing repeated extensions on the International Sportsperson route provided the applicant continues to satisfy the requirements.  The Home Office’s sponsor guidance expressly distinguishes International Sportspersons from routes that are subject to a maximum overall period.

Where the same sponsor is continuing to employ the applicant in the same role or occupation, the sponsor should ensure that the new CoS and endorsement are in place and that the extension application is submitted before the existing permission expires.

A player transferring permanently to another UK club will generally require the new club to be appropriately licensed and to obtain the relevant Governing Body Endorsement, followed by a new immigration application before the player starts playing for the new club. Special provisions can apply to qualifying temporary loans between clubs.

12. Work Rights and Second Jobs on an International Sportsperson Visa

International Sportsperson permission is principally granted for employment in the role recorded on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

The route nevertheless allows a number of additional activities.

Work for the Sponsoring Employer

An International Sportsperson visa holder can work in the role for which they have been sponsored.

Material changes of sponsor, employer or employment may require a fresh application. A worker who is required to make a change of employment application must generally obtain approval before starting the new job.

Supplementary Employment

International Sportspersons are permitted to undertake qualifying supplementary employment.

Under current sponsor guidance, supplementary employment must normally:

• Be for no more than 20 hours per week;
• Take place outside the hours for which the person is contracted to work in their sponsored job;
• Be undertaken while the person continues to work in their sponsored employment; and
• Be either in the same profession and at the same professional level as the sponsored job or in an occupation contained in the Immigration Salary List at the time the supplementary employment begins.

Where these conditions are met, the supplementary employer does not have to be a licensed sponsor and a separate CoS is not required.

A Second Job That Is Not Supplementary Employment

Where a second job does not meet the supplementary employment conditions, an International Sportsperson may need additional sponsorship and a further grant of permission.

The worker must first have used their primary CoS in a successful immigration application and started work for the first sponsor. The second employer must then be an appropriately licensed sponsor and issue the required second CoS before an application allowing the secondary employment is made.

National Team, BUCS and Broadcasting Work

Appendix International Sportsperson specifically permits:

• Employment as a sportsperson for the individual’s national team while that national team is in the UK;
• Participation in British Universities and Colleges Sport competitions; and
• Temporary sports broadcasting engagements providing guest expert commentary on a particular sporting event.

No additional Certificate of Sponsorship is required solely for these specified activities.

Voluntary Work and Study

International Sportspersons can undertake voluntary work.

They may also study while in the UK, subject to any applicable Academic Technology Approval Scheme requirement. Study should not prevent them from undertaking the employment for which they are sponsored.

Public Funds and Business Activity

International Sportsperson permission is subject to a condition prohibiting access to public funds.

A person on the International Sportsperson route cannot start or run a business under their International Sportsperson permission.

Sportspersons considering commercial ventures, self-employment or business interests alongside their sporting career should take advice on whether the proposed activity is compatible with their immigration conditions.

13. Dependants of International Sportsperson Visa Holders

An International Sportsperson may be accompanied or joined by eligible dependants.

A dependant may include an eligible partner and eligible children. The relationship and other requirements are governed by Appendix International Sportsperson together with the relevant cross-referenced Immigration Rules, including Appendix Relationship with Partner and Appendix Children.

Dependant Partners

A dependant partner must be aged 18 or over and satisfy the relevant relationship requirements.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include a spouse, civil partner or qualifying unmarried partner where the requirements of Appendix Relationship with Partner are met.

Dependant Children

A child who is under 18 can potentially qualify as a dependant where the relevant relationship, care and age requirements are met.

A child does not necessarily cease to qualify simply because they turn 18. An older child who has already held dependant permission may be able to extend their stay provided the requirements in Appendix Children, including the independent-life requirement, remain satisfied.

Financial Requirement for Dependants

Where the dependant financial requirement applies, the current maintenance amounts are:

Family Member	Required Funds
Dependant partner	£285
First dependant child	£315
Each additional dependant child	£200

These sums are additional to the principal applicant’s £1,270 financial requirement.

The funds must generally be held for the required 28-day period. There are exceptions where the dependant has already been living in the UK with permission for at least 12 months or where the International Sportsperson’s A-rated sponsor appropriately certifies maintenance.

Can International Sportsperson Dependants Work?

A dependant partner or child granted permission on the route can generally work, including in self-employment and voluntary work.

However, they cannot work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach.

Dependants may also study, subject to any applicable ATAS requirement. They will normally have no access to public funds.

How Long Will Dependants Be Granted Permission?

A dependant partner’s permission will ordinarily end on the same date as the International Sportsperson’s permission.

Different provisions apply where the principal International Sportsperson is being granted settlement. Rules also regulate the duration of permission granted to dependant children by reference to their parents’ status.

14. Settlement as an International Sportsperson

The International Sportsperson route can lead to indefinite leave to remain, also known as settlement.

An applicant will normally need to satisfy requirements relating to their previous immigration status, five-year qualifying period, continuous residence, English language, Knowledge of Life in the UK and ongoing sponsored employment.

Five-Year Qualifying Period

An applicant must have spent a continuous period of five years in the UK.

The applicant must also have, or have last been granted, permission as an International Sportsperson and must have received at least one grant of International Sportsperson permission for a period exceeding 12 months during the five-year qualifying period.

The five-year period does not have to consist exclusively of International Sportsperson permission.

Subject to the detailed rules, qualifying time can include permission on any combination of the following routes:

• Skilled Worker;
• Global Talent;
• Innovator Founder;
• T2 Minister of Religion;
• International Sportsperson;
• Representative of an Overseas Business;
• Qualifying Tier 1 categories other than Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur; and
• Scale-up.

There is also a narrow historic transitional provision relating to certain International Sportsperson applications made between 24 January 2020 and 30 June 2021.

Continuous Residence

The applicant must meet the continuous residence requirement in Appendix Continuous Residence.

The general rule is that an applicant must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period, subject to the exceptions and transitional provisions contained in Appendix Continuous Residence. Certain absences can be disregarded where the conditions in that Appendix are met.

Applicants with significant travel schedules should calculate their absences carefully before applying. This can be particularly important for professional sportspeople and coaches whose employment involves international competition, training camps or other overseas commitments.

Continuing Sponsorship and the £35,800 Salary Requirement

The sponsor connected with the applicant’s most recent International Sportsperson permission must still be approved by the Home Office to sponsor International Sportspersons on the date the settlement application is decided.

The sponsor must also confirm that it still requires the applicant to work for it for the foreseeable future and that the applicant is paid, and will continue to be paid, at least £35,800 per year.

The £35,800 figure is subject to specific rules about what remuneration can be counted.

Broadly:

• Basic pay can count;
• Overtime does not count;
• Guaranteed allowances can count only in specified circumstances;
• Bonuses and incentive pay do not count;
• Employer pension contributions, travel and subsistence payments and specified benefits do not count; and
• Where the applicant is sponsored to work more than 48 hours per week, only the salary attributable to the first 48 hours can normally be counted towards the £35,800 threshold.

The salary assessment should therefore be carried out by reference to the Rules rather than simply taking the applicant’s overall package or headline annual remuneration.

English Language Requirement for Settlement

For an International Sportsperson settlement application made before 26 March 2027, an applicant who is not exempt must demonstrate English speaking and listening ability at a minimum of CEFR level B1.

For an application made on or after 26 March 2027, the Immigration Rules already provide that this requirement will increase to CEFR level B2, unless an exemption applies.

Applicants approaching eligibility around March 2027 should therefore take the change of requirement into account when planning when to apply and what English language evidence will be required.

Knowledge of Life in the UK

Unless exempt, an applicant for settlement must satisfy the Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement.

This will normally involve passing the Life in the UK Test in accordance with the applicable rules.

Settlement for Dependants

Dependants do not automatically obtain settlement merely because the principal International Sportsperson becomes settled.

A dependant partner will normally need to satisfy their own relationship, qualifying-period, continuous-residence, English-language and Knowledge of Life in the UK requirements.

Under Appendix International Sportsperson, a dependant partner must generally have completed a continuous five-year period in the UK as the dependant partner of the relevant person. The settlement English-language requirement for dependants is also scheduled to increase from B1 to B2 for applications made on or after 26 March 2027, unless an exemption applies.

Different rules apply to dependant children, including the relationship, care, age and independent-life requirements in Appendix Children.

15. International Sportsperson Visa Refusals and Administrative Review

An International Sportsperson visa application can be refused where the applicant fails to satisfy a validity, suitability or eligibility requirement.

Common areas of difficulty can include:

• An invalid or expired Governing Body Endorsement;
• An endorsement that does not cover the proposed period of sponsorship;
• A defective or incorrectly assigned Certificate of Sponsorship;
• A CoS assigned more than three months before the application;
• Failure to satisfy a Student or Visitor switching condition;
• Insufficient financial evidence;
• Failure to satisfy the English language requirement where it applies;
• Inconsistencies concerning the proposed employment or applicant’s intentions;
• Suitability issues; or
• Failure to satisfy a settlement requirement such as continuous residence or the qualifying salary requirement.

If an International Sportsperson application is refused, Appendix International Sportsperson provides for an application for Administrative Review under Appendix AR. The purpose of Administrative Review is generally to consider whether the original decision contained an eligible caseworking error.

Whether Administrative Review is the appropriate response will depend on the reasons for refusal and the applicant’s circumstances. In some cases, a fresh application may be more appropriate; in others, there may be grounds to challenge the lawfulness of the decision.

Applicants should pay particular attention to time limits following a refusal.

16. Frequently Asked Questions: International Sportsperson Visa

Who Qualifies for an International Sportsperson Visa?

The route is intended for elite sportspersons and qualified sports coaches who are internationally established and whose work will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at its highest level in the UK. Applicants also require a Governing Body Endorsement, sponsorship and must satisfy the other relevant Immigration Rules.

Do I Need a Sports Governing Body Endorsement?

Yes. An International Sportsperson applicant must obtain an endorsement from the appropriate Home Office-approved Sports Governing Body. The endorsement must confirm that the applicant is elite, internationally established and will make a significant contribution to their sport at the highest level in the UK.

Does My Club Need a Sponsor Licence?

Yes, the organisation sponsoring an International Sportsperson must be authorised by the Home Office to sponsor workers on this route. The organisation itself will normally also need the appropriate sports governing body endorsement for its International Sportsperson sponsor licence.

Do I Need to Pass an English Language Test?

Not necessarily. There is no English-language requirement for an International Sportsperson application seeking permission for 12 months or less. For permission exceeding 12 months, applicants must meet an A1 speaking and listening requirement unless they satisfy the requirement in another permitted way under Appendix English Language.

Can I Switch From a Visitor Visa to an International Sportsperson Visa?

Usually Visitors cannot switch. There is, however, a limited exception for Visitors who have been undertaking specified permitted sporting activities. Where that exception applies, the Certificate of Sponsorship must have been assigned before the applicant entered the UK.

Can I Switch From a Student Visa?

Potentially. Students are subject to additional switching conditions. Depending on the circumstances, the applicant may need to have completed their course or satisfy conditions linked to degree-level study, their expected course completion date or, for certain PhD students, completion of at least the required period of study before the sponsored employment start date.

Can I Have a Second Job on an International Sportsperson Visa?

Yes, in certain circumstances. Qualifying supplementary employment can normally be undertaken for up to 20 hours per week outside the sponsored working hours where the applicable conditions are met. Other second jobs may require a second licensed sponsor, a further Certificate of Sponsorship and additional immigration permission.

Can My Partner and Children Come to the UK With Me?

Eligible partners and children can apply as dependants. They must meet their own relationship, suitability and, where applicable, financial requirements. Dependants can generally work but cannot work as professional sportspersons or sports coaches.

Does the International Sportsperson Visa Lead to ILR?

Yes. The International Sportsperson route is a route to settlement. An applicant can potentially qualify after five years, including qualifying combinations of certain other work and talent routes, provided all settlement requirements are satisfied. At least one grant during the qualifying period must have been as an International Sportsperson for more than 12 months.

What Salary Do I Need for Settlement as an International Sportsperson?

The applicant’s sponsor must confirm that the applicant is and will continue to be paid at least £35,800 per year for the foreseeable future. Detailed rules govern what elements of remuneration can be counted, including restrictions on overtime, bonuses, allowances and working hours exceeding 48 hours per week.

What English Level Is Required for International Sportsperson ILR?

For settlement applications made before 26 March 2027, the requirement is generally B1 speaking and listening unless an exemption applies. For applications made on or after 26 March 2027, the Immigration Rules provide for the minimum level to rise to B2.