You can apply for entry clearance for International Sportsperson visa UK if you are an elite sportsperson or qualified sports coach who is internationally established and can make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at its highest level in the UK. To apply for International Sportsperson visa entry clearance, you must have a Governing Body Endorsement from an appropriate Sports Governing Body listed in Appendix Sports Governing Bodies. Applicants seeking permission for a period of more than 12 months will also be required to meet the English language requirement. An application for International Sportspersons visa UK is made in accordance with requirements as set out in Appendix International Sportsperson of the Immigration Rules.
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Our specialist team of immigration solicitors in London can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations on fixed fee basis for your entry clearance application for International Sportspeson visa UK. Ask a question online to our specialist team of work visa solicitors for free immigration advice online or book an appointment online for a detailed immigration advice and consultation with one of our work visa solicitors concerning your entry clearance application for International Sportsperson visa from outside the UK.
Requirements For International Sportsperson Visa UK
A person applying for entry clearance for International Sportsperson visa UK should meet the following requirements of the immigration rules:
Valid Entry Clearance Application
The applicant should be submit a valid entry clearance application as an International Sportsperson from outside the UK in accordance with requirements for validity of an entry clearance applciation as set out in Appendix International Sportsperson of the Immigration Rules.
Age Requirement
The applicant must be aged 16 or over on the date of application.
Consent From A Government or International Scholarship Agency
If an applicant has, in the last 12 months before the date of application, received an award from a Government or international scholarship agency covering both fees and living costs for study in the UK, they must provide written consent from that Government or agency.
Suitability Requirements
The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part 9: grounds for refusal.
Tuberculosis Test Certificate Requirement
A person applying for entry clearance as an International Sportsperson must, if paragraph A39 and Appendix T of these rules apply, provide a valid medical certificate confirming that they have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that this tuberculosis is not present in them.
Points Requirements For An International Sportsperson
- An applicant applying for entry clearance as an International Sportsperson for a period of 12 months or less must be awarded a total of 70 points from table A below.
- An applicant applying for entry clearance as an International Sportsperson for a period exceeding 12 months must be awarded a total of 80 points from tables A and B below.
| Table A | ||
|---|---|---|
| Points required (mandatory) | Relevant rules | Points available |
| Governing Body Endorsement | ISP 5.1 | 50 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship | ISP 5.2 and ISP 5.3 | 10 |
| Financial requirements | ISP 7.1 to ISP 7.3 | 10 |
| Table B | ||
|---|---|---|
| Points required (mandatory) where the period of permission applied for exceeds 12 months | Relevant rules | Points available |
| English Language at level A1 | ISP 8.1 and ISP 8.2 | 10 |
Endorsement Requirement For An International Sportsperson
The applicant must provide a letter from the relevant Sports Governing Body listed in Appendix Sports Governing Bodies confirming:
- that the applicant is internationally established at the highest level; and
- that the applicant will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at the highest level in the UK; and
- the unique endorsement number issued to the applicant by the Sports Governing Body.
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Requirement For An International Sportsperson
The applicant must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for the job they are planning to do; which to be valid must:
- confirm the applicant’s name, that they are being sponsored as an International Sportsperson, details of the job and salary the sponsor is offering them; and
- must have been assigned before the applicant entered the UK if the application is for permission to stay and the applicant last had permission as a Visitor undertaking permitted activities for sportspersons; and
- include a start date, stated by the sponsor, which must be no more than three months after the date of application; and
- not have been used in a previous application which was either granted or refused (but can have been used in a previous application which was rejected as invalid, made void or withdrawn); and
- not have been withdrawn by the sponsor or cancelled by the Home Office; and
- state the unique endorsement number that has been issued to the applicant by the appropriate governing body specified in Appendix Sports Governing Bodies; and
- confirm that the applicant intends to be based in the UK; and
- confirm that the job is one the applicant is qualified to undertake.
The sponsor must be authorised by the Home Office to sponsor the job in question under the International Sportsperson route. The sponsor must be listed as A-rated on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors unless the applicant was last granted permission as an International Sportsperson and is applying to continue working for the same sponsor as in their last permission.
Genuineness Requirement For An International Sportsperson
The applicant must:
- genuinely intend, and be able, to undertake the role for which they are being sponsored; and
- not intend to undertake employment other than in the role for which they are being sponsored, or as otherwise permitted at ISP 11.3.
Financial Requirement For An International Sportsperson
If the applicant is applying for entry clearance for International Sportsperson visa UK, either:
- the applicant must have funds of at least £1,270 for a 28 day period and must show funds as specified in Appendix Finance; or
- the applicant’s A rated sponsor must confirm on the Certificate of Sponsorship that they will, if it is necessary, maintain and accommodate the applicant up to the end of the first month of their employment for an amount of at least £1,270.
English Language Requirement For An International Sportsperson
Unless an exemption applies, if the applicant is applying for entry clearance for International Sportsperson visa UK for a period exceeding 12 months, the applicant must show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in speaking and listening of at least level A1 and must show they meet the English Language requirement as specified in Appendix English Language.
Parental Consent Requirement For An International Sportsperson Aged Under 18
If the applicant is aged under 18 at the date of application, they must have written consent from:
- both parents; or
- one parent, if that parent has sole legal responsibility for the applicant; or
- the applicant’s legal guardian.
The written consent must confirm support for all of the following:
- the application; and
- the applicant’s living and care arrangements in the UK; and
- if the application is for entry clearance, the applicant’s travel to, and reception arrangements in, the UK.
How Can We Help?
Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representations on fixed fee basis in relation to your entry clearance application. Our fixed fee for your entry clearance application will cover all the work of our immigration solicitors on your entry clearance application until a decision is made by the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) on your application. The casework to be carried out by our immigration solicitors in relation to your entry clearance application will entail the following:
- Advice on requirements: Our immigration solicitors will advise you on the relevant requirements you have to meet for your entry clearance application to succeed.
- Advised on documents: Our immigration lawyers will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted in support of your entry clearance application;
- Assessment of documents: Our immigration lawyers will assess your documents to make sure that all the documents you provide in support of your entry clearance application are in accordance with the requirements of the Immigration Rules.
- Completing application form: Our immigration lawyers will complete the relevant application form for your entry clearance application.
- Submitting application through Priority or Super Priority Service: Where possible, our immigration lawyers will submit your online entry clearance application through priority or super priority service to get faster decision on your entry clearance application.
- Booking an appointment with the application centre: After the online submission of your entry clearance application, our immigration lawyers will book your appointment with the application centre for you to enrol your biometrics.
- Preparing a detailed cover letter: Our specialist immigration solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of the entry clearance application to explain all the relevant legal requirements have been satisfied for the approval of the entry clearance application;
- Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our immigration lawyers will upload online all the supporting documents to be considered in support of the entry clearance application.
- Follow up work: Our immigration lawyers will carry out all the follow up work until decision by the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) on the entry clearance application.
Our One-Off Services For Entry Clearance Applications
Our immigration solicitors can also provide a wide range of one-off legal services for UK visa entry clearance applications. Using our one-off services can help those who do not want to use our full service for the entry clearance application. You can use one of the following one-off legal services offered for UK visa entry clearance applications:
- One-Off Immigration Advice and Consultation
- Immigration Documents Checking Service
- Application Form Completion Services
- Submitting Application Through Priority and Super Priority Service
- Preparing Cover Letter For Immigration Application
- Uploading Supporting Documents Online
Our Fixed Fees For Entry Clearance Application For International Sportspeson Visa UK
- Our immigration solicitors will charge a fixed fee ranging from £2,000 to £4,000 (no VAT) for your entry clearance application for International Sportsperson visa from outside the UK. The agreed fixed will depend on the complexity of the entry clearance application and the volume of work involved in the entry clearance application for International Sportspeson visa UK.
- Our fixed fee for the application does not cover any disbursements e.g. UKVI fee for the application and the applicant has to separately pay the Home office UKVI fees for the application.