Overseas Coach/Player
The Government's Points Based Managed Migration system means that
cricket clubs will need to obtain a sponsor licence from the UK Borders
Agency in order to bring cricketers and coaches from outside the EU into
the country.
As part of this process, clubs must obtain from the ECB, a Governing
Body Endorsement BOTH for their sponsor licence and for individual
players and coaches.
Following Home Office approval of ECB's Governing Body Endorsement
requirement process, the guidance document, together with application
pack to be used when applying for these endorsements, are found at the
foot of this page.
For further information on the Points Based Managed Migration System, please see the Home Office website.
Annexes 2, 5 and 6 are for use for County Cricket Boards endorsement applications.
Annexes 1,4,5 and 6 are used for First Class endorsement applications.
Annexes 3, 7 and 8 are for use for Non-First Class endorsement applications.
Annex 9 is for use in all relevant applications.
The ECB cannot provide advice or guidance on immigration routes,
processes or an individual’s status. You will need to contact an OISC
registered immigration adviser using the contact information listed in ‘Useful Contacts’.
Applications for the 2025 season can be submitted from 1 September
2024. All endorsements for players, coaches and coach-players will be
issued with effect from 1st September 2024 to a maximum of 30th
September 2025 or to the length of the contract, whichever date is
sooner. ECB Level 2 Core Coach and Foundation Coach Courses will be
available to book via the CVENT system, when course dates are
confirmed.
For clubs going through this process for the first time please click here for a Step by Step Guide (PDF).
Current processing times for all endorsement applications are 7-10
working days from receipt of complete applications, (this includes
payment)
PLEASE NOTE: UPDATE for 2025- recreational clubs: Sponsor endorsements are no longer needed to be renewed.
Due
to the rolling on of sponsor licences by the Home Office, sponsor
licence endorsements no longer need to be renewed. However, to ensure
that clubs continue to meet the expected level required to bring
migrants over via the ISP, the club endorsement criteria will now also
be applied to migrant applications.
PLEASE NOTE: WE ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FROM ANY
THIRD PARTIES INCLUDING AGENTS. APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED DIRECTLY
BY SPONSOR CLUBS.
Certificates of Sponsorship must be issued in line with the migrant
endorsement, they should not be issued for longer. Player Only and
Coach-Player endorsements will only be issued until the end of the
season in which the application is received. Any club found to be
issuing Certificates of Sponsorship for longer than the endorsement will
be in breach of Home Office process and will be reported directly to
them.