Tier 2 Sportsperson Visa | Visa Tier 2 Work Permit UK

Following are the basic requirements and details of Tier 2 Sportsperson Visa as updated on Gov.UK as on Feb 4, 2016

• The Applicant is an elite sportsperson or qualified coach recognised by his/her sport’s governing body as internationally established at the highest level;
• The sport’s governing body is endorsing the application;
• The proposed employment will develop the applicant’s sport in the UK at the highest level;
• The Applicant is from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.
• The Applicant meets the other eligibility requirements.

How long it will take. Visa Tier 2 Work Permit UK | Sportsperson

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

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

Fees. Visa Tier 2 Work Permit UK | Sportsperson.

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

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.

How long you can stay. Visa Tier 2 Work Permit UK | Sportsperson

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.

What you can and can’t do. Visa Tier 2 Work Permit UK | Sportsperson.

You can.:

• work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship.
• do a second job.
• play for your national team in the UK.
• work as a sports broadcaster.
• do voluntary work.
• study as long as it doesn’t interfere with the job you’re sponsored for.
• travel abroad and return to the UK.
• bring family members with you.

You can’t.:

• get public funds.
• start or run a business.
• apply for a second job until you’ve started working for your sponsor.

You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.

You can prove your knowledge of English by either.:

• passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level A1 in speaking and listening.
• having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised by UK NARIC as being equivalent to a UK bachelors degree.

You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways. Check the full guidance for detailed information.

Exceptions.

You won’t need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries.:

• Antigua and Barbuda.
• Australia.
• the Bahamas.
• Barbados.
• Belize.
• Canada.
• Dominica.
• Grenada.
• Guyana.
• Jamaica.
• New Zealand.
• St Kitts and Nevis.
• St Lucia.
• St Vincent and the Grenadines.
• Trinidad and Tobago.
• USA.

You also may not have to prove your knowledge of English in other circumstances. – check the visa guidance.

You can apply to extend your stay in the UK under a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa.

You should include any dependants who are on your current visa on your application to extend. This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay.

Eligibility

You must have your endorsement by your sport’s governing body renewed and a new certificate of sponsorship reference number.

How long you can stay

You can apply to extend your stay in the UK with a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa for up to 3 years and 14 days.

You must leave the UK after this. You can only apply for this visa again if either:

• 12 months have passed and your previous certificate of sponsorship was granted for less than 3 months
• you can show you’ll be paid a gross annual salary of £155,300 or more.

Fees

You’ll pay.:

• £651 to apply online.
• £1,051 to apply in 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.

How to extend your visa

If you’re in the UK you can.:

• apply online as an individual or family group, using the standard or priority service.
• get a same-day decision at a premium service centre, by booking a premium service appointment when you apply online.

Biometric information

You must also provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo).

You can give your biometric information at:

• certain Post Office branches if you applied online (this costs £19.20).
• a premium service centre if you applied in person.

You’ll get a biometric residence permit if your application to extend your visa is successful.

How long it takes

Decisions are usually made.:

• within 8 weeks for online applications.
• within 10 days if you’re able to use the Tier 2 priority application service.
• usually on the same day if you use the premium service.

You’ll be told if it will take longer, for example if.:

• your supporting documents need to be verified.
• you need to attend an interview.
• your application is complex because of your personal circumstances, eg you have a criminal conviction.

You can apply to change (‘switch’) from another visa to a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa.

Eligibility

You must meet the Tier 2 (Sportsperson) eligibility requirements and you must already be in the UK under any of the following visas or schemes:

• Tier 1 visa.
• Tier 2 (General) visa.
• Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa.
• Tier 2 (Intra-company transfer: established staff) visa and you’re applying to change sponsor.
• Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa under the Immigration Rules in place before 6 April 2010 and you’re applying to change sponsor.
• Tier 4 visa, or you’re a on another kind of student visa – read ‘Switching from a Tier 4 visa’ below.
• Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting) for a job as a professional footballer.
• Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.
• Innovator Scheme.
• Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme.
• International Graduates Scheme (or its predecessor, the Science and Engineering Graduate Scheme).
• Business and Commercial work permit (except multiple entry work permits).
• Sports and Entertainment work permit (except multiple entry work permits).

You can also switch to a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa if you meet the eligibility requirements and you’re.:

• a dependent partner of someone with a Tier 4 visa.
• a Jewish agency employee.
• operational ground staff of an overseas-owned airline.
• a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order.
• an overseas qualified nurse or midwife.
• writing up a thesis.
• a postgraduate doctor or dentist.
• a representative of an overseas business.
• a representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation.
• a student union sabbatical officer.

Switch from a Tier 4 or other student visa

You must have received one of the following under your Tier 4 or other student visa if you want to switch from a Tier 4 to a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa.:

• a UK bachelors degree.
• a UK masters degree.
• a postgraduate certificate in education.
• a professional graduate diploma of education.

You must have got your qualification at a UK recognised body or an institution that has a Tier 4 sponsor licence.

The other student visa categories are.:

• student.
• student nurse.
• student re-sitting an examination.
• overseas qualified nurse.
• person writing up a thesis.
• postgraduate doctor or dentist.
• student union sabbatical officer.

PhD students

You must have completed at least 12 months’ study for your PhD during your most recent stay in the UK and had permission to take the qualification.

How long you can stay

You can apply to extend your stay in the UK with a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa for up to 3 years and 14 days.

You must leave the UK after this and can only apply for this visa again if either.:

• 12 months have passed and your previous certificate of sponsorship was granted for less than 3 months.
• you can show you’ll be paid a gross annual salary of £155,300 or more.

Fees

You’ll pay.:

• £651 to apply online.
• £1,051 to apply in 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.

How to switch your visa

If you’re in the UK you can.:

• apply online as an individual or family group, using the standard or priority service.
• get a same-day decision at a premium service centre, by booking a premium service appointment when you apply online.

Biometric information

You must also provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo).

You can give your biometric information at.:

• certain Post Office branches if you applied online (this costs £19.20).
• a premium service centre if you applied in person.

You’ll get a biometric residence permit if your application to switch your visa is successful.

How long it takes

Decisions are made.:

• within 8 weeks for online applications.
• within 10 days if you’re able to use the Tier 2 priority application service.
• usually on the same day if you use the premium service.

You’ll be told if it will take longer, for example if.:

• your supporting documents need to be verified.
• you need to attend an interview.
• your application is complex because of your personal circumstances, eg you have a criminal conviction.

Your family members (‘dependants’) must apply to join or remain with you in the UK if they’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

A ‘dependant’ is any of the following.:

• your husband, wife or partner.
• your child under 18.
• your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as a dependant.

Read the guidance on dependant applications before you apply.

They’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of their application. Check how much they’ll have to pay before they apply.

They must complete their visa application by 5 July if they’ve already paid the immigration health surcharge or they might have to pay it twice. They’ll get a refund for their first payment.

Savings

You must show that your dependants can be supported while they’re in the UK.

Each dependant must have £630 available to them whether they apply with you or separately. This is in addition to the £945 you must have to support yourself.

You must have proof you have the money, and that it’s been in your bank account or your dependant’s bank account for at least 90 days before you or they apply.

You won’t need evidence of your savings if you have a letter from your fully approved (‘A-rated’) sponsor saying they’ll provide one month’s funding of at least £630 for each of your dependants.

Dependants applying outside the UK

Your family members must apply online.

As part of their application they’ll need to have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre. This is to get a biometric residence permit.

They’ll have to collect their biometric residence permit within 30 days of when they said they’d arrive in the UK (even if they actually arrive at a later date).

They may be able to get their visa faster or other services depending on what country they’re in – check with the visa application centre.

North Korea

Your family members can’t apply online if they’re from North Korea.

To apply from North Korea they must.:

• download the form and guidance.
• read the instructions on how to apply.

Dependants applying in the UK on their own

Your dependants can apply to extend or switch their visas to stay with you if they’re already in the UK.

Your family members can apply online if they’re your.:

• partner.
• child.

They can also ask to use the priority service.

You can get a same-day decision at a premium service centre.

It’s best for your dependants to apply at the same time as you but they can apply at a later date.

Biometric information

Each person applying must also provide their biometric information (fingerprints and a photo).

They can give their biometric information at.:

• certain Post Office branches if they applied online (this costs £19.20).
• a premium service centre if they applied in person.

They’ll get a biometric residence permit if their application is successful.

Children born while you’re in the UK

If you have children while you’re in the UK, you can apply for permission for them to stay.

You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with your child.

When you apply you must send a full UK birth certificate showing the names of both of your child’s parents.

You’ll need to make a new Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa application if you want to do a second job that isn’t in the same sector as your main job or isn’t voluntary work.

You can do a second job (up to 20 hours a week) if it’s on the shortage listwithout making a new application.

You can’t.:

• apply until you’ve started work with your first sponsor
• start work with your second sponsor until your application has been approved

How to apply

Read the guidance before you apply online.

You can get a same-day decision at a premium service centre. You must book an appointment in advance as part of your online application.

Documents you must provide

You must provide some documents with your application.

You must also include a letter with your application explaining that you want to change your current permission to stay.

Your letter must state.:

• your name.
• your date of birth.
• your current certificate of sponsorship reference number.
• the date when your current permission to stay runs out.

About the Author

Sheryar Khan View author's profile | More posts from author

+44 (0) 757 867 8601

s.khan@connaughtlaw.com

Sheryar has an extensive knowledge and experience of processing all applications under the points-based system as well as applications for asylum, legacy, long residency, spouse visas, appeals, reconsiderations and judicial review applications.