At First Law Solicitors, we deliver strategic and discreet legal representation for elite athletes, professional coaches, and sports organisations navigating the International Sportsperson Visa route.
This visa allows professional sportspeople and qualified coaches to live and work in the United Kingdom if they are endorsed by a recognised sports governing body. Whether you are a Premier League footballer, an Olympic athlete, or a technical coach joining a UK club, our solicitors ensure that your application meets every requirement under the latest immigration framework.
Our Manchester-based firm represents both individual professionals and sporting institutions across football, rugby, cricket, athletics, motorsport, and emerging e-sports, combining legal precision with industry insight.
The International Sportsperson Visa is designed for top-tier athletes and coaches whose employment will make a significant contribution to their sport at the highest level in the United Kingdom.
It replaced the former Tier 2 Sportsperson and Tier 5 Creative and Sporting routes, consolidating both short-term and long-term permissions under one modern visa category.
Applicants must hold a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued by an employer with a valid Sponsor Licence and an endorsement from the governing body responsible for their sport, confirming that they are internationally established and will contribute significantly to the sport’s development in the UK.
To qualify, the applicant must:
The endorsement is the central feature of this route. Governing bodies are approved by the Home Office and must confirm that the applicant is an elite professional capable of contributing to the sport at the highest national or international level.
Our solicitors work directly with clubs, agents, and governing bodies to ensure the endorsement and sponsorship processes are seamless and compliant.
Applicants can stay in the United Kingdom for the duration stated on their Certificate of Sponsorship, up to a maximum of three years initially. Extensions are available, allowing a total stay of up to five years.
After five continuous years, an International Sportsperson may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if they continue to meet the sponsorship, income, and residence requirements.
For shorter stays, there is also a 12-month visa option, often used for seasonal contracts or coaching assignments.
We advise on structuring visa timelines around professional seasons, tournaments, and international fixtures to ensure continuity and compliance.
Salary thresholds under this route vary according to the sport’s governing body rules, but they must always meet the Home Office’s minimum income standards.
The July 2025 reforms aligned the International Sportsperson category with the broader Skilled Worker structure. While the route remains flexible for elite sports professionals, all sponsors must demonstrate compliance with fair pay and genuine employment standards.
Under the Data Use and Access Act 2025 (DUAA), the Home Office now cross-references sponsor payroll data with HMRC Real Time Information (RTI) to verify ongoing compliance. Any inconsistency between declared and actual earnings can automatically trigger a Home Office audit.
Our solicitors proactively manage this compliance process, ensuring our clients and their sponsors remain fully protected under the DUAA 2025 framework.
Partners and dependent children can accompany or join an International Sportsperson in the United Kingdom. Family members have the right to work or study without restriction, with the exception of professional sporting activity.
We ensure all family applications are properly timed with the principal applicant’s contract and sponsorship period to prevent visa gaps or mismatched expiry dates.
From 1 January 2026, all International Sportsperson Visas are issued as digital eVisas. Physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) have been discontinued.
Applicants can now prove their status and right to work through a UKVI digital account and share their immigration record securely with clubs, employers, and agents using a digital share code.
Our firm uses Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) and encrypted digital workflows compliant with the Data Use and Access Act 2025, ensuring your immigration documents remain secure and confidential throughout the process.
Sector Expertise: Our team works exclusively with professional athletes, governing bodies, and sports clubs, providing discreet and commercially strategic legal support.
Endorsement Mastery: We coordinate directly with governing bodies and ensure that every endorsement letter meets Home Office evidential standards.
Compliance Protection: We safeguard sponsors and athletes against audit risk under the DUAA 2025 data monitoring system.
Career Continuity: From initial entry to contract renewal and settlement, we manage your long-term immigration strategy with precision and foresight.
At First Law Solicitors, we protect your sporting career in the United Kingdom with the same attention to detail that defines your performance on the field.
If you are a professional athlete, coach, or club seeking assistance with an International Sportsperson Visa or sponsorship endorsement, contact First Law Solicitors today for confidential legal advice.
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