A UK International Sportsperson visa is essentially needed for an overseas applicant, who is a sportsperson or a qualified coach. This is a sponsored route and requires a UK employer to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship to the applicant.

Get in touch with The SmartMove2UK to know about how can you apply for a UK International Sportsperson visa. As a UK International Sportsperson visa consultant in India, we accurately guide our clients on the entire procedure and requirements!

– What is the UK International Sportsperson visa?
– What are the eligibility criteria to apply for a UK International Sportsperson visa?
– How can I get a Certificate of Sponsorship?
– What is the English language requirement for a UK International Sportsperson visa?
– What documents will I need to apply for a UK International Sportsperson visa?
– How to apply for a UK International Sportsperson visa?
– What is the cost of a UK International Sportsperson visa?
– How can I extend my UK International Sportsperson visa?
– How can I switch to a UK International Sportsperson visa?
– Can my partner and children join me on a UK International Sportsperson visa?
– Can I take a second job in the UK while on a UK International Sportsperson visa?
– How long does it take to get a decision on a UK International Sportsperson visa?
– How long can I stay in the UK on the UK International Sportsperson visa?
– What is permitted/not permitted in the UK on a UK International Sportsperson visa?
– How can The SmartMove2UK be of help for your UK International Sportsperson visa application?

The applicant can apply for a UK International Sportsperson visa if all the following apply:

• The applicant is an elite sportsperson or a qualified coach, who’s recognized by a sport’s governing body as being at the highest level of the profession internationally.
• The application must be endorsed by a UK sports governing body.
• The applicant’s expertise will make developments in the sports industry in the UK..

To qualify for a UK International Sportsperson visa, the applicant must:

• Have a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ from the employer with information about the role that is being offered in the UK.
• Prove knowledge of the English language, if applying to stay for more than 12 months.
• Have enough savings for personal support (at least £1,270 in the bank account), after arriving in the UK.
• Show that he/she can travel to the UK and the travel history of the last 5 years.
• Have tuberculosis test results (if required).
• Have an eligible qualification, if the applicant is switching from a UK Student visa.

• The UK-based employer – also known as a ‘Sponsor’ – must provide the applicant with a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ stating all the information regarding the job role for which the applicant is employed in the UK.
• It’s an e-Certificate. That means, it is an electronic record and not a paper document.
• The applicant will need the reference number from the Certificate of Sponsorship to apply for the visa.
• Applicants can only use the Certificate of Sponsorship reference number once. It is required that the applicant must use it within 3 months of getting it.

If the applicant is applying to stay for more than 12 months, then he/she is required to prove knowledge of the English language.
The applicant can prove their knowledge of the English language by either:

• Passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level A1 in speaking and listening.
• Having an academic qualification taught in English and is recognised by Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) as equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, or Ph.D.

While applying for this visa, the applicant needs to provide:

• A Certificate of Sponsorship reference number – given by the UK-based employer.
• A valid passport to prove identity with enough blank pages in it.
• Proof of knowledge of the English language.
• Evidence that the applicant has enough personal savings to support their stay in the UK (at least £1,270 in the bank account).
• Tuberculosis test results (if required).
• Expired passports or travel documents if they are required to show the travel history.
• A letter of endorsement from the sport’s governing body.
• If the documents are not in English or Welsh, the applicant is required to provide a certified translation.

The applicant must apply for a UK International Sportsperson visa online.

The application fee depends on the duration of the stay.

• Cost for up to 12 months – £259.

Cost for more than 12 months:

• If applying from outside the UK – £625.
• If applying from inside the UK to extend or switch – £719.

Plus, Healthcare surcharge, which is usually £624 per year.

The SmartMove2UK is a UK immigration law firm, established in 2009.
As a UK International Sportsperson visa consultant in India, our firm has a team of UK immigration solicitors and experts.

• Our law firm was announced as the winner of IAE Corporate Immigration Law (India) award, in 2016.
• We are recognized by Who’s Who Legal (WWL) as a Corporate Immigration Firm in 2016.
• We take pride in being the members of prominent institutions like, The Law Society and Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa.

Our offices are located in India – Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru.

We have been assisting clients from all over the world and our clientele is spread across 26+ countries, with 1,000 of success stories.

Our UK-qualified solicitors have the expertise of over 2 decades in providing Legal Advice for all UK immigration-related assistance.

We also offer Full Representation service and Filing Appeals for Refused applications.

You can get in touch with our UK immigration lawyer to book a consultation!