International Sportsperson visa

You can apply for an International Sportsperson visa if all of the following apply:

• you're an elite sportsperson or qualified coach, who's recognised by your sport's governing body as being at the highest level of your profession internationally
• your sport's governing body is endorsing your application
• your employment will develop your sport in the UK at the highest level
• you meet the other eligibility requirements

This visa has replaced the Sportsperson (T2) visa and the sporting part of the Temporary Worker - Creative and Sporting visa (T5).

Eligibility requirements

You need to:

• have a valid certificate of sponsorship for your job
• usually prove that you can speak and understand English, if you're applying to stay for longer than 12 months
• have personal savings so you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK
• show you can travel and your travel history over the last 5 years
• have tuberculosis test results if you're from a listed country
• have an eligible qualification, if you're switching from a student visa

You must also meet all the other eligibility requirements. Please contact us for initial assessment to determine your eligibility, and to discuss the options.

Certificate of sponsorship

A certificate of sponsorship holds your personal details and information about the job you've been offered. It's an electronic record, not a paper document. Your sponsor will give you a certificate of sponsorship reference number to add to your application.

You can only use your certificate of sponsorship reference number once. You must use it within 3 months of getting it.