Registration of Players Definitions
Category 1:
A cricketer is Category 1 qualified if: (i) they are a British citizen and were born in England or Wales; or (ii) they have been resident in England and Wales since 1 April 2022 for a minimum of 210 days between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.
Any player who has played in any overseas cricket league as a ‘home’, ‘local’ or ‘non-overseas’ player in that overseas league in the 12-month period up to and including 31 March 2024 will not be permitted to play as a Category 1 player in any ECB Competition match in the current season.
A club is permitted to play a maximum of one Category 3 player in all ECB Competition matches.
The Premier League Registration Secretary or Premier League Executive
Committee will be responsible for determining whether a player has met
the necessary requirements and shall have full discretion in the matter.
Category 3:
Category 3: Players not eligible to be registered as a Category 1 Player
must be registered as a “Category 3 Player” if they wish to take part
in the League. Teams may register more than one Category 3 Player as
part of their club (subject to League rules) but must not field more
than one (1) Category 3 Player in the 1st XI at any one time. Clubs must fill in this form to register a Cat 3 player - before then registering them on Play Cricket.
Information on Overseas Players For Clubs
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.
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Annexes 3, 7 and 8 are for use for Non First Class endorsement applications.
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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 a
registered immigration adviser who is OISC registered or by calling
either of the numbers listed in useful contacts.
Applications for the 2024 season can be submitted from
1st September 2023. All endorsements for players and player-coaches will
be issued with an effective from date of 1st September 2023, to a
maximum of 30th September 2024 or to length of contract, whichever date
is sooner. ECB Core 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 July 2023: For applicants
needing to complete the Safeguarding Modules as part of the application,
and/or a Health & Safety Assessment, these can now be completed
online. Please contact either UK Coaching or your local County Cricket
Board for more information with regards to booking on the Safeguarding
and a County Cricket Board to arrange on online Health & Safety
Assessment.
Certificates of Sponsorship must be issued in line with the migrant
endorsement, they should not be issued for longer. Player Only and
Player-Coach 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.
Documents
Additional information
Useful contacts
The ECB is not registered to give advice on immigration. Information
on aspects of immigration policy and law can be found on the Home Office website.
Clubs are advised to allow sufficient time for entry clearance to be
granted. The time needed to obtain entry clearance may vary depending
upon where the player is applying. Service standards for each post are
set out on the Home Office website.
This site also contains a guide to Visa processing times for specific overseas posts.