Sportsperson Visa
A Tier 2 sportsperson visa is used for individuals who are either an elite sportsperson or a qualified coach who make a significant contribution to the development of sport at the highest level in the UK.
Requirement For Tier 2 Sportsperson Visa
The Home Office have set out specific requirement which the applicant must meet to be eligible for this route. Similarly to the Senior or Special Worker route, it is not at as easy as just being employed for the company. The applicant must have the following:
- The applicant has a certificate of sponsorship (COS) from a sports governing endorsing body
- The applicant must show their knowledge of the English language at the A1 level
- The applicant must hold sufficient funds of at least £1,270 or the applicant’s sponsor is providing the funds for them
What is a sports governing endorsing body?
In order to make an application under this route, the applicant must have a sponsorship from a sports governing body approved by the Home Office, which have been laid out in a list provided by them.
To show that you have been sponsored, the endorsing body must provide a COS confirming the following:
- the applicant’s name and details of the job and salary and any other remuneration offered to the applicant
- that the worker is being sponsored as a T2 Sportsperson
- that the applicant is qualified to do the job of a T2 Sportsperson
- the applicant has been issued a unique endorsement number from the appropriate Sports Governing Body
- that the applicant will be based in the UK
- that if the application is successful, the applicant will comply with the conditions of their permission
It is very important that the COS specifies the information required by the Home Office, as this document will confirm that the applicant is wanting the visa for this reason, and their intention is genuine.
Can my family join me?
When an applicant applies under this route, they can also apply for their dependants to join them. A separate application will need to be completed for each dependant and where the applications are successful, they will be the same leave as the applicant. A dependent can be:
- A spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner
- Dependent children
Where an applicant wishes to apply with his dependants, he must show he has the relevant funds to support them in addition to the £1,270 to support himself. The required funds are as followed:
- £285 for a dependant spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner
- £315 for a first child
- £200 for each subsequent child
Settlement
If you have been resident in the UK, for a period of 5 years, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). When applying for ILR, the applicant must still be sponsored by a Home Office approved, licenced sponsor, as well as meeting the knowledge of Life in the UK.