International Sportsperson Visa
You can apply for an International Sportsperson visa if you meet the eligibility requirements and your sport’s governing body endorses your application, confirming:
- you’re an elite sportsperson or qualified coach
- you’re internationally established
- your employment will develop your sport in the UK at the highest level
This visa replaced the Sportsperson (T2) visa and the sporting part of the Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting visa (T5).
Getting sponsored
Your sponsor is your employer. They’ll give you a certificate of sponsorship to prove they’re sponsoring you.
How long you can stay
Your visa can last for up to 3 years. You can extend it as long as you’re still eligible.
After 5 years, you may be able to settle permanently in the UK if you’ve had at least one visa that lasted longer than 12 months.
Apply from outside the UK
You must apply online for an International Sportsperson visa.
Your partner and children
Your partner and children can also apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.
If your partner or child’s application is successful, their visa will usually end on the same date as yours. If a child’s parents have visas with different expiry dates, the child’s visa will end on the earlier date.
How long it takes to get a decision
Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.
Extend your visa
You can apply to extend your stay in the UK under an International Sportsperson visa.
You should apply before your current visa expires.
Your partner or child’s visa will not automatically extend if you extend yours. If they do not extend their visa, it will be valid until its original end date.
They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.
Switch to this visa
You can apply to change (‘switch’) from another visa to an International Sportsperson visa.
You should apply before your current visa expires.
Eligibility
You must:
- meet the International Sportsperson visa eligibility requirements
- be in the UK on an eligible visa – most visas are eligible
If you’re currently in the UK on a Student visa, you must also meet one of the following requirements:
- you have completed the course you were sponsored to study
- your job start date is after your course has finished
- you have studied for a PhD for at least 24 months
Your partner or child’s visa will not automatically switch to this visa if you switch yours. If they do not switch their visa, it will be valid until its original end date.
They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.
How long you can stay
You can apply to extend your stay in the UK with an International Sportsperson visa for up to 3 years at a time.
How long it takes
You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service.
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.
Minister of Religion Visa (T2)
You can apply for a Minister of Religion visa (T2) if:
- you’ve been offered a job within a faith community (for example as a minister of religion, missionary, or member of a religious order) in the UK
- you meet the other eligibility requirements
Getting sponsored
You need to be employed by a licensed sponsor to apply to live in the UK.
Your sponsor checks that you can do the job they’re hiring you for and if it qualifies you for a visa. They’ll give you a certificate of sponsorship to prove this.
They must also give you other information you need when you apply, for example how much you’ll be paid.
How long it will take
You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you’re due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.
You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.
Your partner and children
Your partner and children can also apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.
If your partner or child’s application is successful, their visa will usually end on the same date as yours. If a child’s parents have visas with different expiry dates, the child’s visa will end on the earlier date.
Extend your visa
You may be able to apply to extend your stay in the UK under a Minister of Religion visa (T2).
You should apply before your current visa expires.
Your partner or child’s visa will not automatically extend if you extend yours. If they do not extend their visa, it will be valid until its original end date.
They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.
Switch to this visa
You might be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to a Minister of Religion visa (T2) if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa.
Your partner or child’s visa will not automatically switch to this visa if you switch yours. If they do not switch their visa, it will be valid until its original end date.
They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.
How long you can stay
You can extend a Minister of Religion visa (T2) for up to 3 years, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, or the time required to take your total stay in the UK to a maximum of 6 years, whichever time is shorter.
You may be able to apply to settle in the UK permanently if you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years on this visa.
How long it takes to get a decision
You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date.
You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:
- your supporting documents need to be verified
- you need to attend an interview
- of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.
Scale-up Worker Visa
A Scale-up Worker visa allows you to come to the UK to do an eligible job for a fast-growing UK business (sometimes called a ‘scale-up business’).
Your UK employer must meet specific eligibility criteria to sponsor scale-up workers.
How long you can stay
You can stay in the UK with a Scale-up Worker visa for 2 years. You’ll need to apply to extend your visa when it expires.
If you want to stay longer in the UK
You can extend your visa as many times as you like by 3 years, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.
After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.
Your partner and children
Your partner and children can also apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.
Update your visa if you change employer in the first 6 months
You’ll need to apply to update your Scale-up Worker visa if you want to change your employer in the first 6 months of your stay in the UK.
Your job with your new employer must still be on the table of eligible occupations.
Your partner or child’s visa will not automatically change if you update yours. If they do not update their visa, it will be valid until its original end date. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.
You do not need to apply to update your visa if either:
- you’ll be doing a different job for your current employer
- you’ve worked in the job that’s listed on your certificate of sponsorship for 6 months or more
If you change employers after 6 months, you must meet the earnings requirements when you extend your Scale-up Worker visa
When to apply to update your visa
You can apply to update your visa up to 3 months before the start date of your new job.
You can continue working in your current job while your new application is being considered, or to work out your notice period.
You should not start your new job until you’ve got confirmation of your new permission.
You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.
Extend your visa
You can usually apply to extend your Scale-up Worker visa if both of the following are true:
- you worked in the job on your certificate of sponsorship for at least 6 months
- you met the earnings requirements during at least half of your stay with your most recent visa
You do not need to get a new certificate of sponsorship from your employer.
Your partner or child’s visa will not automatically extend if you extend yours. If they do not extend their visa, it will be valid until its original end date.
They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.
Switch to this visa
You might be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to a Scale-up Worker visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa.
Your partner or child’s visa will not automatically switch to this visa if you switch yours. If they do not switch their visa, it will be valid until its original end date. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.
You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.
How long it takes to get a decision
You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date.
You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:
- your supporting documents need to be verified
- you need to attend an interview
- of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.
Frontier Worker Permit
You need to get a Frontier Worker permit if you want to work in the UK but live in another country.
You may be eligible if all of the following apply:
- you’re from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
- you live outside of the UK
- you began working in the UK by 31 December 2020
You must usually have worked in the UK at least once every 12 months since you started working here. You may still be able to apply if you’ve had periods of unemployment or were unable to work during this time.
If you’re an Irish citizen, you do not need to apply for a Frontier Worker permit but you can choose to do so.
You cannot apply if you’re a British citizen (this includes dual citizenship).
Get an exempt vignette
You can apply for an exempt vignette if you do not normally need a visa to work in the UK because you’re exempt from immigration control.
It can help you avoid delays when you enter the UK, but you do not have to have one.
You can apply if you’re:
- a diplomat, or working for a diplomatic mission in the UK, and you were outside the UK when offered the post
- an overseas government minister on official business, or travelling with one as part of your job
- a member of Commonwealth or Overseas Territories armed forces posted in the UK or training in the UK
- a head of state, or working for a head of state (for example, on a state visit)
- exempt from immigration control for any other reason
You may be eligible for or have rights in any of the above categories depending on your visa status or circumstances.
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