Visa & Travel Information
Visa Information
We look forward to welcoming you to ECSS Manchester 2027. To help you prepare for your journey, please check the UK entry requirements for your nationality, including whether you need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
Citizens from the EU, Switzerland and the European Economic Area (EEA) – Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein – need to travel with a valid passport and an ETA to visit the UK. Irish citizens do not need an ETA or a visa. Please check the latest UK entry requirements here and the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation details.
Apply for your ETA via the official UK government website or the official UK ETA app. Unofficial third-party sites may charge significantly more for the same service.
Citizens from most other non-EU countries, depending on nationality, may need a visa or ETA, in addition to a valid passport. You can check whether you require a visa using the official ‘Check if you need a UK visa’ webpage and view the current UK Visitor Visa National List.
Important
- ECSS does not communicate directly with Embassies or Consulates regarding individual visa applications. While some delegates may inquire about such support, ECSS is unable to assist in this regard and encourages participants to liaise directly with the appropriate authorities.
- Delegates are also reminded that visa requirements can vary by country and, in some cases, additional documents may be requested by the Embassy or Consulate, such as proof of a Chamber of Commerce registration or other certifications. While these requirements are outside of ECSS’s control, we recommend checking with your local authorities well in advance.
- ECSS is unable to take responsibility for any visa processing delays that may affect your ability to attend the Congress. We also kindly remind you that, unfortunately, the Congress registration fee cannot be refunded in cases where a visa is denied or not issued in time. Please also refer to our Terms and Conditions.
ECSS Congress Invitation Letter
Should your Embassy or Consulate require an official invitation letter for visa purposes, the ECSS local organisers can provide one after your Congress registration is complete.
Please follow these steps:
- Log in to your ECSS Account or create a new one.
- Complete your Congress registration and pay the applicable fees within ‘myCongress’.
- Send a request for your invitation letter by email to office@sport-science.org, stating your ECSS Account ID.
Invitation letters are issued in PDF format and sent via email. If a printed copy is needed, please include your postal address in the request email. Allow sufficient time for delivery, as postal services may take several weeks. Express delivery costs are to be covered by the applicant.
Note
- ECSS issues a standard invitation letter that includes all necessary details typically required for visa purposes. These include personal data (e.g., name, date of birth, passport number), proof of Congress registration and participation details.
- Requests for custom amendments, such as flight details, hotel bookings, extended stays or funding acknowledgements, cannot be accommodated. ECSS cannot verify such individual circumstances and therefore will not modify standard letters.
- We kindly ask all delegates to refrain from requesting multiple versions of the invitation letter. The standard letter is considered sufficient for visa application purposes.
- Express courier delivery of printed invitation letters will only be arranged after ECSS has received the required wire transfer for the delivery cost. Delegates are advised to request this well in advance, as delivery may still require additional time.
Travel Information
Getting to Manchester
Manchester is well connected by air, rail and road, making it easy to reach from across the world. With direct international flights and extensive rail and road connections within the UK and Europe, there are a range of convenient options for getting to the 32nd ECSS Annual Congress. Where possible, we encourage participants to consider rail travel as a comfortable and more sustainable way to travel to Manchester.
Manchester Airport is one of the UK’s largest international airports, offering direct flights to more than 200 destinations worldwide. It has excellent connections to Manchester city centre and beyond, with a railway station, bus station with National Express coach services and a Metrolink tram stop all located on site.
Trains from Manchester Airport to Manchester Piccadilly in the city centre take around 20 minutes and run every 10 minutes, seven days a week. Services are operated by TransPennine Express and Northern Rail.
For more information, visit the Manchester Airport website.
Manchester is one of the most accessible cities in the UK for both national and international visitors. It takes a little over two hours to reach Manchester from London and also has direct connections to most major UK cities. Services arrive at Piccadilly or Victoria stations, where passengers can connect with Metrolink trams for easy access to the city centre.
Manchester Central is a 20-minute walk from Piccadilly Station, five minutes by taxi or a short connecting train to Oxford Road Station, five minutes on foot to the venue.
More information about train services is available from National Rail, Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express and Northern Rail.
Manchester is well connected by roads, with the M60 orbital motorway providing easy access from north, south, east and west. If using a satellite navigation system, follow the postcode M2 3GX.
There is an NCP (National Car Park) directly below Manchester Central that is open 24 hours a day, all year round.
For more information, click here.
Getting around in Manchester
Manchester Central is located in the heart of the city and its vaulted arches and station clock have made it an iconic city feature for more than 140 years. The venue is surrounded by a vibrant cultural and social scene, with a wealth of restaurants and bars on the doorstep and more than 2500 hotel accommodations within a 5-minute walk.
Manchester Central Convention Complex
Windmill Street
Manchester M2 3GX
United Kingdom
For venue information, maps and accessibility, visit here
Manchester has an extensive bus network serving the city centre and surrounding areas.
In addition, two free bus routes (Free Bus 1 and 2) circle the city centre, linking the city centre’s main rail stations, shopping areas and businesses, free of charge. For details, click here.
Licensed black cabs and private hire vehicles are available throughout Manchester.
Black cab taxis are readily available at Manchester Airport and both Piccadilly and Victoria train stations. Manchester Central has a dedicated taxi stand at the front of the venue for pick-ups and drop-offs.
There is a National Car Park directly below the venue and is open 24x7, all year round.
Visitors can pre-book a parking space online by selecting the arrival and departure dates and duration. For more information and bookings, visit the NCP website.
Manchester has an extensive network of cycle lanes and dedicated routes.
Visit the Transport for Greater Manchester cycling website for everything about cycling in Greater Manchester, from maps and route planning to local events and news.
Manchester Central is within easy walking distance of restaurants, shopping areas and attractions.
Explore the city before or after Congress sessions as per your convenience. City Hosts are dotted around the centre to guide you with directions, public transport information and details on events taking place.
System One
To make travel within the city more convenient, purchase a System One Travelcard, which allows visitors to use a combination of buses, trains and trams. Accepted by most local bus, train and tram companies, the card can offer seamless transfers from bus to bus or from one transport mode to another innumerable times. Visit the website for more details.
Manchester’s Metrolink tram network provides easy access across Greater Manchester. The nearest stops to Manchester Central are St Peter’s Square and Deansgate-Castlefield, both just a short walk from the venue.
Travelcards offer unlimited travel across the network. Buy a ticket from the ticket machine at the platform before boarding or tap a contactless card or device on the smart readers at the start and end of your journey. Tickets can also be bought in advance via the Bee Network app, or from TfGM Travelshops and PayPoint retailers. (For combined travel on bus, tram and train, see System One below.)
To plan your travel within the city, visit the Bee Network website.
