Our Group CEO, Andy Morgan, has been active in the sports market over the last year, establishing a network of global partners for our multi-family office solution, Affinity Sports. We cater to professional athletes, assisting them with bespoke financial services and lifestyle services. As part of this, residency programmes has become a common theme athletes seek support with. We hear from Andy below on some of the most popular immigration schemes amongst professional athletes.

In today's sports landscape, professional athletes are thinking strategically about their futures, planning beyond lucrative endorsement deals to create lifestyles that secure their financial future and prepare them for retirement.

One favourable way to achieve this is by obtaining a residency permit. Residency visas offer athletes numerous opportunities, including tax advantages, global mobility, and a high quality of life. All of these benefits can be incorporated into an effective wealth management plan and lifestyle strategy for their life after sports.

For rising-star athletes, securing residency can also provide a pathway to career progression and potential greatness. Visas in countries with established sports sectors grant access to prestigious sports leagues, world-class facilities, and elite networks, exactly what an athlete needs to establish their name on the global stage.

In this article, I will cover some of the world’s leading residency visas for professional athletes, specifically in the UK, the USA, and Portugal. I'll discuss what these countries offer in terms of lifestyle, wealth management, and career opportunities for athletes seeking new residency.

UK International Sportsperson Visa  

The UK International Sportsperson Visa enables individuals to work in the UK as elite sportspersons or coaches, competing at the highest level of their sport or coaching elite athletes or teams. This visa is a favourable option for individuals seeking to advance their careers in competitive sports within one of the world’s top sporting nations.

The visa requires endorsement by the relevant UK governing body for the sport, ensuring the athlete or coach is recognised for their elite status. This also ensures that the visa holder has a clear, legitimate pathway to work in the UK in a sporting capacity.

The UK hosts some of the world’s most prestigious sporting events and has state-of-the-art training facilities, providing an exceptional environment for athletes and coaches. Visa holders will gain access to the attractive professional development opportunities available in the UK’s sports market, including media exposure, sponsorship deals, and commercial partnerships.  

The visa also allows the athlete to compete in UK-based teams and participate in domestic and international competitions, and permits a variety of activities under the visa, including:

• Work for the sponsor in the specified role

• Engage in secondary employment under certain conditions

• Play for the national team in the UK

• Work as a sports broadcaster

• Pursue voluntary work and study, provided it does not interfere with the sponsored role

Timeframe and requirements

The visa can be granted for up to 3 years initially, with the option to extend up to a maximum of 6 years. The visa also opens a path to settlement, which can be obtained after 5 years in the UK on this visa. The visa also allows holders to bring their partner and children with them to the UK, and dependents can work or study while in the country.

There are several eligibility requirements the applicant must meet to apply for the visa, these include:

• Applicants must be 16 years or older

• Must obtain an endorsement from the relevant UK sport governing body, confirming international recognition and significant contribution to the sport's development in the UK

• A valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a UK-based sponsor holding an International Sportsperson sponsor license

• Demonstrate maintenance funds of at least £1,270, held for a minimum of 28 consecutive days, unless exempt

• For stays exceeding 12 months, applicants must prove English language skills at level A1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)

Why the UK?  

• High quality of life

• Potential non-domicile tax advantages

• Established sports industry, with world-class infrastructure

• Suitable for active players in global leagues

• Access to London, which is a global capital for media, finance and sports

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USA EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa

The US EB-5 visa is suitable for elite athletes looking to establish a long-term presence in the United States. It grants permanent residency without needing to rely on sponsorship or sporting contracts.  

Successful applicants can live, work and study in the US, and the visa also opens a strategic pathway to gain citizenship in the US after 5 years of permanent residency. The visa also grants residency for the applicant’s spouse and unmarried children under 21, giving them the freedom to live, work, or study anywhere in the US.

The EB-5 visa is accessible for athletes at various stages in their career, such as at the peak of their career or planning for life after competition and can be obtained by making a qualifying investment into the US economy.  

The US sports market holds huge commercial opportunities for athletes, including attractive endorsement and sponsorship deals. The vast landscape offers world-class facilities, access to top medical care, and a high quality of life, complemented by world-leading education and infrastructure.  Whether the athlete wants to train in Florida or invest in New York real estate, the EB-5 provides nationwide flexibility.

Timeframe and requirements

The visa requires the applicant to invest in the US economy to support the economy and employment, which includes a minimum capital investment of $1.05 million into a new commercial enterprise or a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), which is a rural area with high unemployment, of $800,000. The capital invested must remain at risk for potential return, like other commercial investments and each investment must create or preserve 10 full-time jobs for qualified US workers, which must be met within 2 years of the investment. The applicant must demonstrate that investment funds were earned lawfully, and prize money, endorsements, salaries, and transfer fees can all qualify with proper documentation.

‍The estimated timeframe for processing the application is around 12-24 months once it has been submitted, and the legal and financial due diligence is completed. Once the application is approved, the applicant can apply for a conditional green card.  

‍Why the US?

• High standard of living  

• Diverse investment opportunities  

• Travel opportunities  

• Prestigious sports sector with world-class facilities and leagues  

• Suitable for elite athletes in major sports

• Attractive landscape for wealth planning  

• Movement across 50 states

Portugal Golden Visa  

The Portuguese Golden visa is an attractive option for athletes who are seeking residency in Europe to benefit from free movement across the EU. This is particularly useful for athletes competing, training or managing commercial obligations in multiple jurisdictions.

In addition to permanent residency, the visa has also gained in popularity due to its fast route to citizenship within just 5 years (if requirements are met), which is a quicker timeframe than many other citizenship programs. The program also has a particularly low minimum stay of just 7 days per year to maintain their residency status and offers a wide range of qualifying investment requirements.  

Portugal is a favourable location in Europe, offering a pleasant year-round climate, an attractive outdoor lifestyle, and access to free healthcare. The visa grants applicants the ability to live, work and study in Portugal with dual citizenship, in addition to their dependents, who are eligible for citizenship after 5 years. Portugal also offers some favourable tax advantages, including the absence of wealth tax and inheritance tax.  

Timeframe and requirements

The visa application typically takes around 3-6 months to complete and offers a variety of investment options from one of the following investment options:

• €500,000 investment into qualifying Portuguese funds, either private equity or venture capital.

• €250,000 government-approved charitable investment or donation in the arts or preservation of a cultural heritage site.

• €500,000 research contribution in science or technology activities by a public or private institution.

• The creation and maintenance of 10 jobs due to an investment in a business.

• €500,000 investment in the incorporation of a company or reinforcement of a company’s share capital, in addition to the creation of a minimum of 5 jobs.

The qualifying investment must be held for a minimum of 5 years for the applicant to be granted citizenship.  

Why Portugal?

• Access to the EU

• High quality of life  

• Attractive climate

• Free healthcare

• Favourable tax environment  

• Strategic location in Europe for travel

• Suitable for athletes seeking a training base or retired athletes

How I can help

Having worked with High-Net-Worth Individuals for many years, providing support with private wealth services and residency, I understand the unique challenges in managing a diverse wealth portfolio and global lifestyle. I have also recently experienced obtaining a residency visa first-hand, having re-located to the U.S to work from our Miami office.

This experience, in addition to my knowledge and network of connections, enables me to provide guidance and support to athletes seeking to visas into the U.S, U.K, Portugal and other jurisdictions. Our services at Affinity sports provide athletes with dedicated assistance and a hands-on approach through the visa application and beyond. This includes introductions to our network of trusted partners, such as real estate agencies, lawyers and more.  

I have worked with professional athletes at many levels and can offer bespoke consultancy on which residency programmes suit their short-term and long-term goals. If you are interested in the visas mentioned above, or have another in mind, contact me today for a one-to-one chat about your residency and citizenship goals.

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