The International Sportsperson visa is for elite athletes and qualified coaches who are internationally established and sponsored by a UK sports organisation. You must have endorsement from your sport’s governing body. This route can lead to settlement after five years. Dependants can join you.

The International Sportsperson visa is for elite sportspeople and qualified coaches who are internationally recognised and whose employment will contribute to the development of their sport in the UK. Applicants must be endorsed by the relevant governing body for their sport and be sponsored by a UK-based organisation.

This route consolidates the previous Tier 2 and Tier 5 sporting categories and provides a route to settlement for long-term applicants.

To qualify for the International Sportsperson visa, you must:

• Be an elite sportsperson or qualified coach, internationally recognised at the highest level
• Have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a UK sponsor with a valid sponsor licence
• Be endorsed by the UK governing body for your sport, confirming you are internationally established and will significantly contribute to the sport’s development in the UK
• Meet the English language requirement if applying to stay for more than 12 months
• Meet financial requirements or be certified for maintenance by your sponsor

Your application must be supported by:

• An endorsement from your sport’s UK governing body, which must confirm your international recognition and value to the sport’s UK development
• A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued by a licensed UK sports club, team, or organisation

We assist with liaison between your UK sponsor and the relevant governing body to ensure all endorsement and sponsorship documentation is properly issued and compliant.

You can apply for:

• Up to 12 months initially, with the option to extend, or
• Between 1 and 3 years, renewable up to a maximum of 5 years in total

You may apply for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) after 5 continuous years in the UK under this route, provided you meet the requirements, including salary, residence, and English language.

You are permitted to:

• Work for your sponsor in the role described in your CoS
• Take supplementary employment in the same sport, under specific conditions
• Study (subject to restrictions)
• Travel freely in and out of the UK

You are not permitted to:

• Take a second full-time job outside the permitted scopeAccess public funds

You can only bring dependants (partner and children) if they were already in the UK as your dependants on your Student visa. New dependants are not permitted under the Graduate route.

Eligible dependants can work and study in the UK.

We  specialist support for international athletes and coaches applying under the International Sportsperson route. We:

• Assess your eligibility based on your experience and achievements
• Liaise with your UK sponsor and relevant governing body to coordinate endorsement and sponsorship
• Ensure your Certificate of Sponsorship is correctly issued and compliant with Home Office rules
• Help you prepare and submit your visa application with all required documentation
• Draft a detailed legal representation letter to explain how your application satisfies the Immigration Rules and highlight your contribution to UK sport

Our legal representation letter is a critical component that helps the Home Office clearly understand your eligibility and sporting value. We ensure your application is professionally managed and strategically positioned for approval.