Players' Agents Licence Applications

The process for becoming a licensed Players’ Agent is relatively straightforward and begins with your application to the national association of the country of which you are a national (in accordance with Art. 2.1 of the FIFA Players’ Agent Regulations).

The FA has adopted an “application window” system to ensure that our applicants have maximum time to undertake the relevant Criminal Records Bureau (“CRB”) checks and prepare adequately for their examination.

THE APPLICATION WINDOW FOR MARCH 2008 WILL BE OPEN FROM 15th OCTOBER TO 14th DECEMBER

Applicants will be required to have had their application accepted and their subsequent CRB Disclosure returned and approved before being invited to sit the examination.

The process involves the following steps:

1. There are two general stages to applications:
   
   a. Completion of The FA application form and submission of the application fee
   b. Completion of the CRB forms and submission of the CRB fee
   
   
2. To initiate the process, you should initially download an FA application form, available on The FA website only during the application window.
   
3. Please complete and return the application form along with the relevant supporting documents to:-
   Players' Agents Applications
   The FA
   25 Soho Square
   London W1D 4FA
   
   The application fee of £200 (or £150 for resit) (cheque or postal order only please, made payable to “The Football Association Limited”) must accompany your application form.
   
   
4. Part of the assessment of your application will be to undertake a CRB check. Once The FA has received your completed form, you will be sent the relevant forms and guidance notes directly.
   
   You should complete the disclosure form and send this, together with the CRB fee of £48 to the address shown in the CRB Unit pack. Please do not send the CRB form and fee to The FA.
   
   You will not be eligible to sit the examination until clearance of your suitability to become a Players' Agent has been confirmed through the CRB procedure.
   
   At its discretion, The FA appoints Commissions on a monthly basis to approve or decline individuals whose CRB check presents information for which further consideration is deemed necessary. For further information on this aspect of the application process, please click here
   
   Individuals with a clean CRB Disclosure will be eligible to sit the examination (subject to the application form acceptance) without referral to an FA Commission.
   
   
5. The relevant FIFA and FA study materials are availiable to download from the FA website, here. 
   
   However, please note that applications will be rejected where:
   
   - Any aspect of the application contravenes the FIFA Players’ Agents Regulations; and/or
   - The FA Commission deems an applicant unsuitable on the basis of his CRB disclosure, or where an applicant fails to complete CRB disclosure forms.
   
   IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE £200 (or £150 for resits) APPLICATION FEE WILL BE FORFEITED (notwithstanding any appeal in accordance with FA and FIFA Regulations).
   
   If you are in any doubt, you are advised to consult The FA before submitting your application.
   
   
6. Once the application form and CRB checks have been approved, your details will be recorded and you will be notified of the next available examination date, as soon as this information has been provided by FIFA.
   
   
7. All accepted applicants will be invited to an examination sitting. At present, these are held in March and September each year. Two passport-sized photographs and ID will be required upon attendance.
   
   Please note that due to the timeframe of assessing applications and undertaking CRB checks, your place at a specific examination sitting can not always be guaranteed. You are therefore advised to apply as early as possible within each application window, and to complete all necessary paperwork on a timely basis.
   
   The examination is based on both FIFA and FA Regulations concerning Players. 
   
   You are, however, advised to consult the FIFA and FA websites from time to time for all relevant circulars, developments and amendments to the regulations.
   
   The FA does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of the study information which is provided as a courtesy – The FA does not accept any liability for any loss or damage arising as a result of incompleteness or inaccuracy in the information provided.
   
   Following attendance at the examination, entrants will be given their result within 2 weeks and advised of the next steps to take.
   
   
8. Once he/she passed, the applicant must also produce the following documents:
   
   - Signed and dated Code of Professional Conduct – as found in Annexe B to the FIFA Players’ Agents Regulations;
   - Professional Indemnity Insurance – this replaces the old bond and is required of all agents in accordance with Art. 6 of the FIFA Players’ Agents Regulations. This must be renewed each year, with confirmation being sent to The FA.
   
   
9. Once we have all the relevant documents, your licence will be issued and your details submitted to FIFA for the purposes of their website. Please note that you are not entitled to act as a Players’ Agent until you receive the actual licence and our formal acknowledgement.
   
   Thereafter, you may refer to yourself as a “Players’ Agent licensed by The FA” and are permitted to talk to Players without current representation, or accept offers of representation from Players and Clubs directly approaching you.
   
   If you have any doubts over the existence of a current contractual relationship, or wish to report an alleged breach of the Regulations, you may address your concerns in writing to The FA, for the attention of Alison Brown.

Please consult the Frequently Asked Questions’ section, which may address any further queries you may have about the licensing process.