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 1^st September 2024 to a maximum of 30^th 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.

Documents

• Governing body criteria document in full 2025 (PDF)

• Non UK Residents Vetting Form (PDF)

• ECB Coaches Code of Conduct (PDF)

• Coach Course Information

• Contract Heads of Terms - Coach/Player (PDF) 
  
  
• Contract Heads of Term - Coach Only (PDF) 

• Application BACS payment guidance (PDF)

• Annex 1 (PDF)

• Annex 2 (PDF)

• Annex 3 (PDF)

• Annex 4 (PDF)

• Annex 5 (PDF)

• Annex 6 (PDF)

• Annex 7(PDF)

• Annex 8 (PDF)

• Annex 9 (PDF)
  
  

Additional information

• Additional Information For Cricket Clubs - June 2024

• Player Registration Information - June 2024

• ECB Health and Safety Pack 

• Visa Overview Guidance - June 2024

Useful contacts

• ECB Governing Body Endorsements: managedmigration@ecb.co.uk 

• Immigration Enquiry Bureau / Sponsor & Employer Enquiries: 0300 123 4699 or BusinessHelpdesk@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk.

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.