Applicants coming to the UK for specific events (including charity events) or tournaments as individual competitors or as members of an overseas team will require entry clearance in this capacity. The sports visitor visa allows applicants to enter the UK without having to apply under the points based system.  Applicants seeking entry to the UK for television appearances, promotions or book signings may also be included in this category.

The Immigration Rules do not define what the term ‘sports’ covers however, the Council of Europe’s European Sports Charter 1993 provides a helpful definition:

“Sport means all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels”.

Amateur sportspersons are also covered in this category including members of the technical or support staff team attending with the amateur or professional sportsperson for the same reason.

Examples or support staffs includes coaches, bodyguards and press officers.  The entry clearance officer must be satisfied that the applicant does not intend to base himself or herself in the UK.

Amateur and professional persons may also come to the UK for the purposes of short term training. The entry clearance officer must be satisfied that the applicants are not basing themselves in the UK, that they are not being paid by a UK sporting body, they are not joining a UK team and that any matches they are involved in are of a friendly nature or exhibition type.

Amateur sportspersons are permitted to join a club in the UK as a sports visitor provided that the team is represented wholly or predominantly by amateur players and they are not being paid by the club other than for board and living expenses.

Therefore, the UK club must be regarded as an amateur one and must not be in a professional league.

Entry clearance is mandatory for visa nationals and leave to enter should normally be granted for 6 months.

It should be noted that sports visitors cannot switch into a category covered by the points based system unless the person holds a Certificate of Sponsorship for the Tier 5 category (creative and sporting) which was issued before they came to the UK. If this is the case then the applicant can use this to apply for leave to remain under the Tier 5 category without having to leave the UK.

The Olympic/Paralympic games visit visa has been introduced for potential Olympic or Paralympic Games family members which includes athletes, coaches, officials, rights holding broadcasters and sponsors who have been identified by the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic games (LOCOG). They will be eligible to apply for an Olympic/Paralympic Games Visit visa.

Applicants will need to obtain and provide a written invitation from LOCOG to visit the UK for the Olympic or Paralympic related purposes. Applicants will not be able to switch into another visa from this category whilst in the UK.

For further information please contact our experienced lawyers on 0207 569 3035 or alternatively you can email us at info@ergensharif.co.uk.