What is aTier 2 Sportsperson Visa?
The Tier 2 Sportsperson visa was part of the UK’s Points Based System and designed for internationally established athletes and coaches who would make a significant contribution to their sport in the UK. Applicants were required to be endorsed by a recognised governing body.Sponsorship from a licensed employer was mandatory, along with meeting English language and maintenance requirements. This route has now closed and has largely been replaced by the Skilled Worker category for professional sportspeople.
Sponsorship from a licensed employer was mandatory, along with meeting English language and maintenance requirements. This route has now closed and has largely been replaced by the Skilled Worker category for professional sportspeople.
Why use a solicitor for this application?
**This visa no longer exists please go to the Skilled Worker Visa page, this is here for information purposes”
The Tier 2 Sportsperson category is part of the UK’s Points Based System (PBS) and is for elite sportspeople or coaches who will make a ‘significant’ contribution to the development of their sport in the UK.
A sportsperson must be sponsored by an organisation which has a Tier 2 Sponsorship Licence.
What the law says
Applicant’s were required to show that:
– they had a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed employer;
– met minimum English language requirements; and
– were capable of maintaining yourself in the UK according to a set criteria.
Employers were only able to issue a COS for sportsperson who had been endorsed by a listed governing body and confirm the applicant was:
– an ‘internationally’ established player or coach of the highest level;
– would make a significant contribution to their sport;
– would be based in the UK whilst holding the visa; and
– the post was available could not be filled by a ‘settled’ worker.
The applicant was at least 16 years of age.
English language requirement
Tier 2 General, Sportspersons or Ministers of Religion were required to satisfy the English language requirement.
Maintenance requirement
Applicants had to demonstrate that they could support themselves and any dependants financially for the entire duration of their stay in the UK.
They were required to show evidence of a consistent level of cash funds for a 90-day period. The maintenance thresholds were previously: £945 for a single applicant plus an additional £630 for each dependant.
Procedure and timescales
Applicants for a Tier 2 Sportsman visa had to pay an ‘NHS surcharge’.
Outside the UK
Applicants not presently in the UK had to apply for a Tier 2 Sportsperson visa to enter the UK. They were required to submit an online application and provided evidence and attendance at a biometric appointment.
Applicants from some countries were required to undertake a tuberculosis test.
Inside the UK
For those already in the UK in Tiers 1, 2 or 4 it was possible to apply direct to the Home Office. A super premium service was available where the Home Office could visit a location of your choosing to take your biometric data.
Premium and super premium applications are processed in 1 day. Standard applications took between 4-12 weeks.
Home Office fees
Outside the UK
Tier 2
£564
Some (but not all) British visa application centres around the world offered a ‘Priority Settlement Service’.
Inside the UK
Postal application £651
Priority application £1051
Premium application £1001
Extension applications
A Tier 2 Sportsperson could not stay in the UK beyond 6 years and were not able to return for at least 12 months after they have remained in the UK for 6 years.
Applicants were subject to an NHS surcharge.
Dependants
A Tier 2 Sportspeople could have been accompanied by their spouse/civil partner/long term partner and children under the age of 18 to the UK.
Each dependant had to pay the ‘NHS surcharge’.
Dependants were granted permission to stay in the UK in line with the main applicant.
Indefinite leave to remain
Once a Sportsperson had completed 5 years continuous lawful stay in this category, they could apply for settlement provided that they were still required for the employment in question.
From 6 July 2016, a person applying for indefinite leave to remain had to earn £35,000 or more.