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Skip to content THIS VISA TYPE IS SUITABLE IF YOU;
Are a Amateur or professional sportsperson coming to the UK for up to 6 months without receiving any payment.
Call our legal team at 02033844389 now for help applying for a UK visa to attend a sporting event or take on a sports-related job.
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An amateur or professional sportsperson (individual or team), their technical or support staff, or sports officials who wish to undertake permitted unpaid sporting activities in the United Kingdom may apply for the Sports Visit Visa.
Sports Visit Visas are for those who wish to visit the UK for up to six months to participate in sports activities. This is a subcategory of the Standard Visitor route. All visitors must apply separately, even if they are travelling in a group. This visa type is short-term and can be granted for up to 6 months. It will not provide any other rights of residence or allow you to become settled in the UK.
For athletes, the United Kingdom offers a points-based visa known as the Sportsperson Visa. If you are a qualified athlete or coach who represents your sport’s governing organisation and wants to work in the United Kingdom as an elite professional, you may apply for this visa. It permits access to and residence in the UK for up to three years, particularly for positions where you’re anticipated to substantially affect and develop your sport in the UK.
Immigration routes and rules are constantly changing in line with UK government guidelines. UK immigration solicitors strive to ensure that they are always well informed about any changes and how they may affect you and your next steps.
We Can Assist You With Your Sports Visa
Depending on your circumstances, you may need to satisfy different requirements.
Visa nationals are individuals who, due to their nationality, need a Visit Visa in order to enter the UK as a visitor. Visitors who require a visit visa must apply before they travel to the UK.
The Home Office has published a list of nationalities that require a Visit Visa before traveling to the UK as a visitor. Some visa nationals may be able to enter the UK as visitors upon arrival under this list. Our expert team will be able to check and confirm whether you require a visa for your visit to the UK.
Non-visa nationals can normally apply for entry as visitors upon arrival in the UK. Nonetheless, visitors without visas must meet the requirements for entry as visitors, so upon arrival they should be prepared to explain, for example, the purpose of their trip and how they intend to be accommodated and maintained in the UK, as well as their travel plans for returning home.
Non-visa nationals, including those from the EU or EEA, can enter the UK as visitors and do not need to apply for a visit visa.
Unsure about whether you require a visa? Speak to our expert team now to confirm if you are required to apply for a visit visa before being granted entry into the UK.
Amateur and professional sportspeople can apply for sports visit visas. Sports visitors, like other visitor routes, may not receive payment from a UK source for any activities performed in the UK.
You should apply for an International Sportsperson Visa instead if you are employed as a professional sportsperson by a team in the UK.
Professional sportspeople who participate in professional domestic championships or leagues are treated as employees, whether they are paid or unpaid.
Sportspersons who wish to gain experience in a particular sport by joining an amateur team or club must convince the Home Office that they are genuinely amateurs.
If the sportsperson’s technical or personal staff are working for the athlete outside the UK, then they may qualify for a Sports Visit Visa. There are many types of personnel who work in these areas, including physiotherapists, coaches, dieticians, bodyguards, and press officers.
An official from a sports organization who supports the activities of a sportsperson may also be eligible for a Sports Visit Visa. Working for a sportsperson outside the UK does not require them to be employed. There are many examples of this, including, but not limited to, linespeople and umpires.
UK Visas & Immigration will need to be satisfied that you are genuinely seeking entry into the UK for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes and will not engage in any prohibited activities in order to grant you a Sports Visit Visa.
As a Sports Visitor, visitors may engage in the following permitted sporting activities:
As part of your application for a Sports Visit Visa, you will be required to satisfy the Home Office that you are genuinely seeking to enter the United Kingdom for a permitted purpose. In addition, you must assure the Home Office that you will leave the United Kingdom at the end of your visit and will not reside in the United Kingdom for prolonged periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your place of residence.
In assessing your application, the Home Office will consider the following factors:
Home Office officials may doubt your authenticity as a visitor if you do not have many close ties to your country of residence and have several close relatives living in the United Kingdom, if you have previously attempted to deceive the Home Office in an immigration application, and if there are discrepancies in your statement and your sponsor’s statement.
Often, we see that as a result of applicants making applications themselves, UKVI have highlighted discrepancies and treated them as a deliberate attempt to deceive the Home Office. We regularly hear horror stories from clients who innocently made applications without legal guidance as they were intending to save the legal fees but have not understood the immigration rules properly and are now battling to prove that the information they gave was in good faith albeit contained administrative errors.
If you are unclear about whether your intentions meet the requirements or are concerned about the impact of how a previous application may affect your proposed visit, get help from our experts now to get clear, bespoke guidance.
There is no English proficiency requirement for applicants for Sports Visit Visa.
However, having a limited command of English can cause many problems whilst preparing and making an application and applying the correct rules and considerations.
Our team are bilingual and can provide you with advice and guidance in languages other than English upon request.
You can apply for a Visit Visa that is valid for either a 6 month, 2 year, 5 year, or 10 year period if you wish to visit the UK on a Sports Visit Visa.
While the validity period of your Visit Visa is valid, you can enter and leave the UK more than once, unless your Visit Visa has been endorsed for single or dual entry, you can visit the UK no more than once every six months.
There are no specific requirements as to your financial situation under this visa type, but you will be expected to have enough funds to cover all reasonable costs associated with your visit (e.g., travel, maintenance, and accommodation), without the need to work or access public funds.
A permitted financial institution must hold your funds.
A third party may cover your travel, maintenance, and accommodation costs if the third party has a genuine professional or personal relationship with you, if they do not break immigration laws, and if they are able to support you throughout your visit.
Our expert team can check your plans and guide you through the requirements to ensure that your circumstances can satisfy UK Visa Rules.
As with most things in life, like an accountant, doctor, or electrician, it is possible to do it yourself if you are suitably qualified and competent. You can complete your own visa application if you feel you have the required understanding of the Home Office rules, requirements, and specified evidence thresholds. However, it is not ordinarily recommended if you are not totally comfortable with understanding and satisfying UKVI immigration rules.
It is worth noting that this type of visa is the most refused visa type out of all categories.
Almost every visa has an associated processing fee.
It is important to note that this is an administrative fee that you will be charged for the application to be processed, irrespective of the outcome.
In the event that you have made an inadequate application or are refused, the processing fee would have already been utilised and therefore, it will not be refunded.
Aside from the application fees, a refusal is likely to have far-reaching implications, both practical and financial.
If you do not have a strong history of previous compliant visits to the UK, it is unlikely you will be granted a visa for longer than 6 months initially
The Home Office application fee for a Sports Visit Visa is currently £100 for stays up to six months.
Sports Visit Visas that are valid for 2 years, 5 years, or 10 years will cost you £376, £670, or £837, respectively, at the Home Office.
Please note that the above fees are administrative only and do not cover our professional fees for legal representation.
We provide a full representation service for one transparent, affordable fee to handle your entire case.