International Sportsperson

Copyright © 2025 LexisNexis

The International Sportsperson is for sportspeople and coaches aged 16 or over who:

  1. •

    are elite and internationally established at the highest level, and

  2. •

    will be employed in a capacity that will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport in the UK

The International Sportsperson route was introduced from 11 October 2021 by Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules HC 617, and replaced T2 Sportsperson, and the sporting element of T5 (Temporary Worker) Creative or Sporting Worker. These two routes had been revamped as simplified routes for the post-Brexit immigration system, between 1 December 2020 and 10 October 2021; previously they were known as Tier 2 (Sportsperson) and Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting). The single International Sportsperson route now incorporates short-term and long-term options.

Applicants wishing to apply under the route must have an employer registered as a sponsor under the International Sportsperson route. Sponsors must be a sports club

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Existing user? Sign-in TAKE A FREE TRIAL
Powered by Lexis+®
Latest Immigration News

Home Office announces fast track asylum appeals adjudicators

The Home Office and Ministry of Justice have announced plans to establish a new independent asylum appeals body to help clear the asylum appeals backlog. This is alongside a statement that there will be a fast track asylum process announced in the Autumn. The body will be staffed by independent professional adjudicators and will have statutory powers to prioritise cases from asylum accommodation residents and foreign national offenders. The reform is said to aim to address a backlog of 106,000 cases, including 51,000 asylum appeals, with current average wait times of 53 weeks. The new body will be established in addition to the passing of a new 24-week statutory timeframe for First Tier Tribunal asylum appeal cases.

Petitions on extended settlement time proposals to be debated in September

Two petitions against the Home Office’s proposed plans to extend the time taken to qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) will be debated in Parliament on 8 September 2025, after each receiving over 100,000 signatures. The petitions are in response to reforms contained in the Immigration White Paper, published in May 2025, which propose increasing the standard qualifying period for ILR from five years to ten years.

Migration Observatory publishes updated briefing on UK migration and population growth

The Migration Observatory has published an updated briefing examining the impact of migration on population growth in the UK. While the UK does not have an explicit population policy, the briefing examines how migration and migration policy over the last 20 years has impacted population growth in the UK up until now as well as projected population numbers for the future.

JRF research reveals widespread hardship among no recourse to public funds families

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has published research showing that 81% of low-income families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) went without essentials in 2024, with 48% experiencing hunger. The briefing, based on surveys of 304 NRPF families, found 77% of families spent over 30% of income on housing and 62% were in arrears.

View Immigration by content type :  
News
Practice notes
Precedents
Q&As

Popular documents

Are there any restrictions on a Skilled Worker owning shares in a sponsor company? Eg, can they be a

Are there any restrictions on a Skilled Worker owning shares in a sponsor company? Eg, can they be a majority shareholder?As noted in the Practice Note: Sponsoring a Skilled Worker, the Skilled Worker route replaced Tier 2 (General) from 1 December 2020 and the previous restriction on ownership of

When a skilled worker is about to go on maternity leave, does the employer have an obligation to top up

When a skilled worker is about to go on maternity leave, does the employer have an obligation to top up any statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance in respect of— a) the employee’s continued employment as a sponsored worker, in order for the employer to meet its sponsor obligations b) the

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companiesWhy does it matter?A company that is a member of a group and has incurred any of the types of losses available for surrender by way of group relief may, without any further rules, have more than one way in which to use the loss. There are a

Late payment penalties—inheritance tax

Late payment penalties—inheritance taxWhile interest often accrues on overdue tax, the late payment of certain taxes may also attract a penalty. For information on the interest accruing on overdue tax, see Practice Notes: IHT—payment deadlines on death—Interest on IHT and Interest on late paid
Are there any restrictions on a Skilled Worker owning shares in a sponsor company? Eg, can they be a

Are there any restrictions on a Skilled Worker owning shares in a sponsor company? Eg, can they be a

Are there any restrictions on a Skilled Worker owning shares in a sponsor company? Eg, can they be a majority shareholder?As noted in the Practice Note: Sponsoring a Skilled Worker, the Skilled Worker route replaced Tier 2 (General) from 1 December 2020 and the previous restriction on ownership of

When a skilled worker is about to go on maternity leave, does the employer have an obligation to top up

When a skilled worker is about to go on maternity leave, does the employer have an obligation to top up

When a skilled worker is about to go on maternity leave, does the employer have an obligation to top up any statutory maternity pay or maternity allowance in respect of— a) the employee’s continued employment as a sponsored worker, in order for the employer to meet its sponsor obligations b) the

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companies

Priority between loss reliefs in loss making companiesWhy does it matter?A company that is a member of a group and has incurred any of the types of losses available for surrender by way of group relief may, without any further rules, have more than one way in which to use the loss. There are a

Late payment penalties—inheritance tax

Late payment penalties—inheritance tax

Late payment penalties—inheritance taxWhile interest often accrues on overdue tax, the late payment of certain taxes may also attract a penalty. For information on the interest accruing on overdue tax, see Practice Notes: IHT—payment deadlines on death—Interest on IHT and Interest on late paid