Sportsperson visa (Tier 2)

Overview

You can apply for a Tier 2 (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’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
you meet the other eligibility requirements

Your sponsor is the governing body endorsing your application. They’ll assign you a certificate of sponsorship to prove they’re sponsoring you.

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you’re due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

You can check processing times to find out how long getting a visa might take in your country.

How much you pay for a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa depends on your situation, where you are and how you apply.

Who you’re applying for	Apply	Extend or switch (standard service)	Extend or switch (premium service)
You	£610	£704	£1,314
You - as a national of Turkey or Macedonia	£555	£649	£1,259
All dependants	£610 each person	£704 each person	£1,314 each person

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

You can come to the UK with a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa for up to 3 years.

You can apply to extend this visa for up to another 3 years to a maximum stay of 6 years.

You can:

You cannot: