1.Apply
Read the Tier 2 (Sportsperson) guidance before you apply.
You’ll have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.
Apply outside the UK
You must apply online for a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa.
As part of your application you’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre. This is to get a biometric residence permit.
You’ll have to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of when you said you’d arrive in the UK.
You may be able to get your visa faster or other services (like translation) depending on what country you’re in - check with your visa application centre.
North Korea
You can’t apply online if you’re living in North Korea.
To apply from North Korea you must:
download the application form and guidance - read the guidance if you need help filling in the form
read the instructions to find out where to take your completed form
Apply in the UK
Check if you can apply from inside the UK to:
extend your existing Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa
switch to this visa from another visa
2. Extend your visa
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.
You should apply before your current visa expires.
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:
- £664 to apply online
- £1,164 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
Read the Tier 2 guidance notes before you apply.
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, for example you have a criminal conviction
Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.
3. Switch to this visa
You can apply to change (‘switch’) from another visa to a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa.
You should apply before your current visa expires.
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
You must leave the UK and make your Tier 2 (Sportsperson) application from abroad if you’re not in any of these categories.
Switch from a Tier 4 or other student visa
You can switch from a Tier 4 or other student visa to a Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa if you have an eligible qualification from a licensed tier 4 sponsor. They must have sponsored your visa to study for that qualification.
The eligible qualifications are:
a UK bachelors degree
a UK masters degree
a postgraduate certificate in education
a professional graduate diploma of education
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:
- £664 to apply online
- £1,164 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
Read the Tier 2 guidance notes before you apply.
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, for example you have a criminal conviction
Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.
4. Family members
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.
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.
Example
You must have £2,205 if you want to bring your partner and one child with you to the UK (£945 to support yourself + £630 for your partner + £630 for your child).
You won’t need evidence of your savings if you have a:
fully approved (‘A-rated’) sponsor
certificate of sponsorship stating that your sponsor will give each of your dependants at least £630 to cover their costs for a month if they need it
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 applying from North Korea.
Each family member will need to make their own application. They must:
download the application form and guidance - they can read the guidance if they need help filling in the form
read the instructions to find out where they need to take their completed form
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.
Your family members can’t apply in the UK as your dependant if they hold a visitor visa.
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.
5. Taking a second job
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 profession 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’ll need to be sponsored by your second employer and get a new certificate of sponsorship if you make 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.
You must be in the UK to apply.
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
