International Sportsperson visa: Indian citizen in United States → United Kingdom
Indian citizens living in the United States need a UK International Sportsperson visa — apply online on gov.uk and give biometrics at a UK visa application centre in the United States.
Lets an elite sportsperson or qualified sports coach come to the UK to work if they meet the eligibility requirements, have a certificate of sponsorship, and their sport's governing body endorses the application.
- Validity
- Your visa can last for up to 3 years.
- Entries
- Multiple entry for the duration of your visa.
- Max stay per visit
- Up to 3 years; can be extended for up to 3 years at a time.
When to start
Start 30 days–2 months before your travel date.
Getting an appointment in United States
- 38 centre locations nationwide plus premium centres (VFS directory, captured 2026-06-11). Ten are full-service Mon–Fri: New York, Washington DC, Chicago, LA, San Francisco, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Miami, Seattle; the rest (Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Portland, Philadelphia and more) run limited schedules.
- With this density, comparing two or three cities usually finds a near-term slot.
- No recent public wait-time reports found for the US — the band below is general guidance.
You must have a valid certificate of sponsorship for your job, which your licensed employer issues.
You can apply for an International Sportsperson visa if you meet the eligibility requirements and your sport's governing body endorses your application.
You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.
You must apply online for an International Sportsperson visa. If you're staying up to 12 months, the fee is £340 per person.
As part of your application, you'll need to prove your identity — using the ID Check app or by giving biometrics at a visa application centre.
Once you've applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you'll usually get a decision within 3 weeks if you're outside the UK.
What you'll need
- Certificate of sponsorship reference number — Your certificate of sponsorship reference number (your employer will give you this). ✓ verified
- Letter of endorsement from your sport's governing body — A letter of endorsement from your sport's governing body. ✓ verified
- Valid passport — A valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality. ✓ verified
- Proof of personal savings — Evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK, for example bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you). ✓ verified· your certificate of sponsorship does not show your employer can support you
- Proof of knowledge of English — Proof of your knowledge of English if you are applying to stay for longer than 12 months (unless you're exempt). ✓ verified· you are applying to stay for longer than 12 months and are not exempt
- Tuberculosis (TB) test results — Your tuberculosis test results if you're from a listed country (this includes India). ✓ verified· you're from a listed country
Where you'll apply
Because you live in the USA, you apply at a UK Visa Application Centre in the US — not in your home country. There are UK visa application centres in 30+ US cities (including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia and Seattle). Use the official VFS US centre directory (linked below) to find and book the one nearest you.
- UK Visa Application Centres — United States — serves 30+ locations across the US — find and book your nearest
Fees
| International Sportsperson visa (staying up to 12 months) | GBP 340 |
Gotchas to watch
- Your sport's governing body must endorse your application before you can apply.
- You'll usually need to prove you can speak and understand English only if you're applying to stay for longer than 12 months.