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Tier 2 (Sportsperson)

Image of sportsperson playing football.

Extension of leave using form T2(W)

This page explains how to apply for an extension of stay if you previously switched into this category under the transitional arrangements listed below, and your total stay in a work category will be less than 5 years when your current permission to stay expires.

Can you apply?

To qualify for the additional leave, you must have previously been given permission to stay for less than 2 years as:

  • a Business and Commercial work permit holder (which includes ICT work permits); 
  • a Sports and Entertainment work permit holder; 
  • a Jewish agency employee; 
  • a member of the operational ground staff of an overseas-owned airline; or 
  • a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order.

Additionally, you must meet the following requirements:

  • you applied for, and were granted, leave to remain under Tier 2 through the transitional arrangements in place for migrants in these categories; 
  • you are still working for the employer who assigned your certificate of sponsorship, and being paid the appropriate salary for your job; 
  • you intend to continue working for the same employer; 
  • you currently have valid leave to remain in a Tier 2 category (General, Intra company transfer, Minister of religion or Sportsperson); 
  • you were granted the maximum period of 3 years' leave to remain under Tier 2; and 
  • you can prove that you still meet the conditions of your existing leave.

If you are granted additional leave, this does not guarantee that you will qualify for permission to settle in the UK (known as 'indefinite leave to remain') when you have been here for 5 years, you will need to meet all the settlement criteria in force at the time when you apply for settlement.

How to apply

If you meet all the requirements listed above you can apply, free of charge, for additional leave under these arrangements.  You should use application form T2(W), which you can download from the right side of this page. If you do not meet the requirements you should use the Tier 2 application form found under 'Applying from inside the UK'.

The application form will list the supporting evidence that you will need to send with your application.

When you make your application you will not need to obtain a new certificate of sponsorship, but you will need to:

  • enrol your fingerprints and facial image (known as 'biometric information'); and 
  • provide evidence that you are working for the same employer.
Dependant applications

Your family members will need to apply using the T2 (W) (Dependent) application form, which you can also download from the right side of this page.