I’ve come across two different definitions.
1. UK Government Website - Immigration Rules Introduction: This source provides one version of the definition.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration ... troduction
- “Professional Sportsperson” means a person who is one or more of the following:
(a) currently providing services as a sportsperson, or is playing or coaching in any capacity, at a professional or semi-professional level of sport (whether paid or unpaid); or
(b) currently receiving payment, including payment in kind, for playing or coaching, and that payment covers all, or the majority of, their costs for travelling to, and living in, the UK, or has received such payment within the previous 4 years; or
(c) currently registered to a professional or semi-professional sports team or has been so registered within the previous 4 years (this includes all academy and development team age groups); or
(d) has represented their nation or national team within the previous two years, including all youth and development age groups from under 17s upwards; or
(e) has represented their state or regional team within the previous two years, including all youth and development age groups from under 17s upwards; or
(f) has an established international reputation in their chosen field of sport; or
(g) engages an agent or representative, with the aim of finding opportunities as a sportsperson, and/or developing a current or future career as a sportsperson, or has engaged such an agent in the last 12 months; or
(h) is providing services as a sportsperson or coach, unless they are doing so as an “Amateur” in a charity event; or
(i) is providing services as a sportsperson or coach, unless they are doing so as a Student who is studying a course at degree level or above at a higher education provider and playing or coaching sport as an Amateur or as part of a work placement that is undertaken as an integral and assessed part of their course.
The highlighted part was then removed by the following statement of changes in Mar 2019.
2. Statement of Changes in Immigration Rules (HC 1919) - March 2019: This document outlines a different definition.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... ssible.pdf
- “A “Professional Sportsperson”, is someone, whether paid or unpaid, who:
1. is currently providing services as a sportsperson, playing or coaching in any capacity, at a professional or semi-professional level of sport;
2. is currently receiving payment, including payment in kind, for playing or coaching that is covering all, or the majority of, their costs for travelling to, and living in the UK, or who has done so within the previous four years;
3. is currently registered to a professional or semi-professional sports team, or who has been so registered within the previous four years. This includes all academy and development team age groups;
4. has represented their nation or national team within the previous two years, including all youth and development age groups from under 17’s upwards;
5. has represented their state or regional team within the previous two years, including all youth and development age groups from under 17’s upwards;
6. has an established international reputation in their chosen field of sport; and/or
engages an agent or representative, with the aim of finding opportunities as a sportsperson, and/or
7. developing a current or future career as a sportsperson, or has engaged such an agent in the last 12 months, unless they are doing so as an “Amateur” in a charity event.”.
I’m unsure if there have been any further updates or changes to this definition that I might have missed. Could someone please clarify which definition is currently in effect, or direct me to the most recent and authoritative source for this information.
