No sportsperson on child's BRP. No sports at all?

[alisont]

Hi,
Our 9yo child has a dependant visa which reads No sportsperson on his BRP. However he was a bright gymnast in our country and he is keen to continue his training here also.
Does "no sportsperson" mean that he can't register to any gymnastics club (naturally to the UK gymnastics federation) and can't participate to regional/national competitions although he doesn't make money from this?
Any help will be appreciated.

Thank you,
alisont

[manci]

The immigration rules don't allow dependants of skilled workers to work as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach) - this is what the condition on your daughter's BRP refers to.

[alisont]

Hi,
Thank you for the answer.
Just to make it clear; he's registered a gym club and we pay monthly fees for his training. And now he'll be competing solely in a competition for which we'll pay a registration fee. So he's not working as a sportsman, he's not paid for it and it's not professional or semi-professional, I suppose. Do you think that he's not allowed to participate in such a competition?

Thanks

[manci]

There is no issue as long as he doesn't fall under the definition of a professional sports person which is:

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.

In contrast, amateur is defined as:

Amateur” means a person who engages in a sport or creative activity solely for personal enjoyment and who is not seeking to derive a living from the activity.