If you are currently in the UK and meet the necessary eligibility criteria, you can apply to switch to an International Sportsperson Dependant Visa. This application must be submitted online via the official Home Office UKVI website, following the guidelines outlined in Appendix International Sportsperson of the Immigration Rules. To apply as a dependent partner, you must be at least 18 years old on the application date. For quicker processing, you can opt for the Priority or Super Priority Service.

Aden & Co Solicitors specialize in UK immigration law, providing exceptional legal services for visa and immigration matters. Our team of fully qualified and experienced immigration solicitors is renowned for delivering high-quality legal support, as evidenced by our clients’ 5-star reviews.

Our expert team of dependant visa solicitors is here to offer professional advice and legal representation for your International Sportsperson Dependant Visa application. We work on a fixed-fee basis, ensuring transparency and reliability throughout the process. Feel free to ask any questions online for free initial immigration advice or schedule a consultation with one of our experienced solicitors for in-depth guidance on your application.

Which Family Members Are Eligible to Switch to an International Sportsperson Dependant Visa?

Several family members of an International Sportsperson migrant are eligible to switch to a dependant visa. These include:

• The husband, wife, or civil partner of the International Sportsperson migrant.
• The unmarried or same-sex partner of the International Sportsperson migrant.
• Children under the age of 18 who are the dependants of the International Sportsperson migrant.

Additionally, dependant children who were under 18 years old when they entered the UK on a dependant visa and have since turned 18 are still eligible for the International Sportsperson dependant visa.

Eligibility Criteria for Switching to an International Sportsperson Dependant Visa

To qualify for a switch to an International Sportsperson Dependant Visa, the applicant must fulfill the following conditions:

• Valid Application Submission: The applicant must ensure that a valid application is submitted for transitioning into the International Sportsperson Dependant Visa category.
• Switching Eligibility: The applicant must meet the required immigration status criteria necessary to qualify for the transition to the International Sportsperson Dependant Visa.
• Relationship Requirement: The applicant must satisfy the relationship criteria as outlined in Appendix International Sportsperson of the Immigration Rules.
• Partner Age Requirement: If applying as a dependant partner, the applicant must be at least 18 years old on the date the application is submitted.
• Child Age and Care Requirements: If applying as a dependant child, the applicant must be under the age of 18 on the date of application, unless they were previously granted permission as a dependent child of their parent(s). Furthermore, for applicants under 18, suitable arrangements for their care and accommodation must be in place in compliance with UK laws and regulations.
• Suitability Requirement: The applicant must not fall under the grounds for refusal as specified in Part 9 of the Immigration Rules.
• Financial Requirement: The applicant must meet the financial conditions outlined in Appendix International Sportsperson of the Immigration Rules.
• Immigration Law Compliance: The applicant must not have breached immigration laws, except where paragraph 39E applies, in which case any period of overstaying will be disregarded. Additionally, the applicant must not be subject to immigration bail.

Immigration Status Requirements for Applicants

To apply for permission to stay in the UK, applicants must meet certain immigration status conditions. Specifically, applicants must be present in the UK on the date of their application and must not have been previously granted permission under any of the following categories:

• Visitor status
• Short-term student status
• Parent of a child student status
• Seasonal worker status
• Domestic worker in a private household status
• Any status falling outside the Immigration Rules

Relationship Requirements for the Dependent Partner of an International Sportsperson

For applicants seeking to join an International Sportsperson in the UK, the relationship requirement is essential. The applicant must be the partner of the sponsoring International Sportsperson under one of the following conditions:

• The sponsoring International Sportsperson holds an International Sportsperson visa.
• The sponsoring International Sportsperson is applying for (and receiving) entry clearance under the International Sportsperson route simultaneously.
• The sponsoring International Sportsperson is either settled in the UK or has become a British citizen. In this case, the sponsoring International Sportsperson must have held permission under the International Sportsperson route at the time of settlement, and the applicant must have been granted permission as the partner of the International Sportsperson at that time.

In cases where the applicant and the International Sportsperson partner are not married or in a civil partnership, they must fulfill the following additional conditions:

• They must have been living together in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years prior to the application date.
• Any prior relationships of the applicant or their International Sportsperson partner must have permanently ended.
• The applicant and their partner must not be closely related in a manner that would prevent them from marrying or entering into a civil partnership in the UK.

The relationship between the applicant and their International Sportsperson partner must be genuine, ongoing, and intended to remain intact for the duration of the applicant’s stay in the UK.

Dependent Child Relationship Requirement for International Sportsperson Visa Holders

For a dependent child of an International Sportsperson visa holder, the applicant must fulfill the following criteria to qualify:

• The sponsoring International Sportsperson must hold permission under the International Sportsperson route; or
• The sponsoring International Sportsperson must simultaneously be applying for (and be granted) entry clearance or permission under the International Sportsperson route.

Additionally, the child’s parents must either apply concurrently with the applicant or already hold permission to remain in the UK (excluding Visitor status). However, exceptions apply if:

• The parent applying for entry clearance or permission as an International Sportsperson is the sole surviving parent; or
• The parent applying for entry clearance or permission as an International Sportsperson has full responsibility for the child’s upbringing; or
• The parent without International Sportsperson status is either a British citizen or someone with unrestricted rights to enter or stay in the UK, and is or will be ordinarily resident in the UK; or
• There are compelling and serious reasons that justify granting the child entry clearance or permission to stay with the parent holding International Sportsperson status.

For children born in the UK to an International Sportsperson or their partner, the applicant must submit a full UK birth certificate listing both parents’ names.

Age and Care Requirements for Dependent Children

The applicant must be under 18 years of age at the time of application, unless they have previously been granted permission as a dependent child of their parents. If the child is 16 or older at the time of application, they must not be leading an independent life.

In cases where the applicant is under 18, there must be appropriate arrangements in place for the child’s care and accommodation in the UK. These arrangements must comply with the relevant UK laws and regulations.

Financial Requirement for International Sportsperson Visa Applicants and Dependants

To meet the financial requirement for the International Sportsperson visa, applicants and their dependants must demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay in the UK. If the applicant is seeking permission to remain in the UK and has been living lawfully in the country for 12 months or more on the application date, they will be considered to have met the financial requirement and will not need to provide proof of funds.

For applicants who have not been lawfully resident for 12 months or more at the time of application, the following maintenance funds will be required for dependants of the International Sportsperson, as detailed in the table below:

Applicants must have held the required funds for at least 28 consecutive days, with Day 28 falling within 31 days of the application submission date.

Alternatively, applicants may not need to demonstrate maintenance funds if the International Sportsperson’s A-rated sponsor provides a certification. This certification would confirm that the sponsor will ensure the dependent partner and/or children, as well as the International Sportsperson, will be maintained and accommodated for up to the first month of their granted permission to stay in the UK.

Our Fixed Fees for Switching to an International Sportsperson Dependant Visa

At Aden & Co Solicitors, we offer competitive fixed fees for dependant visa applications, ensuring a transparent and straightforward process. The fee structure outlined below reflects our commitment to providing expert legal services tailored to your needs:

The final agreed-upon fixed fee will be based on the complexity of your application and the scope of work involved. In addition to the fixed fee, applicants will be responsible for paying the Home Office UKVI application fees.