Spotlight On: International Sportsperson Visa

Legal Director and Immigration expert, Tijen Ahmet, discusses the UK immigration routes for elite athletes and international professional sports people. 

The UK immigration system is often complex and intricate. Sportspeople have experienced this first-hand in the past. We have seen Swiss Football Club, Servette, denied their star midfielder, Gaël Ondoua, in the UEFA Champions League game against Scottish club, Rangers, back in 2023, due to a visa refusal. Africa’s leading professional cyclist, Biniam Girmay, was denied a UK visa for Glasgow Worlds. These examples demonstrate the necessity for advance planning and an understanding of the options available to professional athletes coming to the UK. 

There are three main immigration routes available to athletes and sports professionals who want to visit or play professional sport in the UK:

1. the Sports Visitor visa
2. the Permitted Paid Engagement visa
3. the International Sportsperson visa

Where overseas players are coming to play for a team, for example in the UK football leagues or Rugby Premiership for extended periods, usually up to three years, they will require an International Sportsperson visa, being the most common route. This visa route has not been affected by the recent government policy changes but UK sports clubs still need to go through a process that involves endorsement from a UK sport’s governing body and sponsorship from a UK club. Governing bodies include, The Football Association, The Rugby Union, The England and Wales Cricket Board and the Lawn Tennis Association to name a few. Most English clubs will hold a sponsor licence so they can facilitate the sponsorship process but in the absence of a sponsor licence it can often be a hurdle for clubs signing international players, particularly since Brexit. 

There are several benefits to international players under the International Sportsperson visa that include being accompanied by their dependant family and agents will often negotiate terms with clubs to support player’s family visas and the associated costs. Where a player is granted leave for a period of more than one year, this provides a route to settlement in the UK to allow them to remain with the club indefinitely, subject to the Governing Body Endorsement. For clubs that hold an International Sportsperson sponsor licence, following endorsement from the sport governing body, they can issue sponsorship, having met the eligibility criteria that will outline the player’s contractual relationship with the club and must be part of the initial transfer negotiations. 

Having advised agents and clubs in the context of professional football, there are key considerations for the player, agent and club that necessitate careful planning to align commitments, meet contractual obligations of the club and ensure the visa process does not interfere with the sporting events. The football season began this month which means the Premier League, EFL and Scottish Premiership summer transfer window are open until 30 August 2024. It is imperative that agents and clubs seek professional assistance before making any commitments and certainly before the player travels. There may be circumstances where players are top ranked in their country but lack the international experience to meet the visa requirements. While there is an exemption owing to rules introduced in 2023, it is vital that agents seek advice to form their negotiations on behalf of such players. 

For sports-related visa support and advice on navigating the UK immigration system please contact our business immigration team today.