Sports Visitors

The following are key features:

• Six month maximum period of stay;

• Entry clearance requirement for visa nationals only;

• Availability of multiple entry visas for between 6 months and 10 years;

• Permission to take part in events (including charity events), tournaments (e.g. British Open Golf or Wimbledon) or series of events;

• Provision for amateur and professional sportspeople - individuals and teams - and their support staff (e.g. psychologists, press officers) to enter via this route;

• Provision for officials (e.g. linespersons and umpires) attending the same event as sportspeople to enter via this route;

• A need to satisfy standard requirements including financial support without recourse to public funds, intention to leave at the end of the visit and ability to meet costs of return/onward journey.

A series of events is two or more linked events, such as a tour, or rounds of a competition, which do not add up to a league or a season. Sportspeople coming to play for a whole season or in matches or games which are part of the UK domestic season would enter under Tier 2 or Tier 5.

An amateur is someone who engages in the sport solely for personal enjoyment and who is not seeking to derive a living from the activity. No financial reward (including cash prizes, appearance money, fees and sponsorship) can be received.