New guidelines on visas for sports visitors to the UK

New visitor visa and managed migration legislation is in force for 2009 and sports people entering the UK will have new procedures to follow. This will be particularly important to your organisation if you are hosting international events in the UK.

Requirements for Sports Visitors to the UK

New procedures and conditions for managed migration and visas for foreign sports people entered force at the end of 2008, offering national governing bodies more power to define the standard of player and coach coming permanently to work in the UK and a brand new sports visitor visa for competitors and overseas sports visitors.

Permanent Sport Employment in the UK

In order for sports teams to permanently employ non-European Economic Area players and coaches, the players must reach the standards defined by the national governing body in conjunction with the UK Border Agency. For more information on sportspeople seeking permanent employment in the UK and national governing bodies sponsoring migrants please visit the Home Office website.

Temporary Sport Visitors to the UK

The new sports visa legislation means international sportspeople coming to the UK will have new procedures in order to apply for a visa. CCPR, working in conjunction with LOCOG, UK Sport, UK Visas, FCO and UK Border Agency, has produced a guide to applying for a visa for overseas sport visitors. To see if you or your competitors require a visa and how to apply for it, please download the guidelines.