The London Marathon: International Entry Requirements

The TCS London Marathon is one of the biggest marathons in the world, and out of the 50,000 runners that take part, 30% are international runners. As part of the prestigious Abbott World Marathon Majors, this event attracts athletes from all around. However, for runners looking to take part in a marathon overseas, this comes with some additional considerations for the locals taking part.

In this post, we will share our guide to securing your overseas entry into the London Marathon, from the traditional London Marathon ballot, International Tour Operators, and Charity bibs.

Overseas Entry London Marathon Requirements

There are three entry options to secure your place at the next TCS London Marathon. Which include the global ballot, international tour operator or a place through a charity. To be able to enter you must be over the age of 18 or of age on race day or before.

The London Marathon does not require time-based qualifications for runners to enter the ballot, unlike other majors including Boston and Tokyo. For runners looking for fast time entries (Good for Age or Championship Entry), these are restricted to UK residents only.

For any overseas athletes looking to enter the London Marathon, each pathway has its unique requirements.

The London Marathon Global Ballot

The most popular way to enter the London Marathon is to enter the official TCS London Marathon ballot. However, on average, each year around 400,000 to 500,000 people enter the ballot in hopes of being offered a place. This average had significantly increased for 2026 and 2027, with entry applications surpassing 1,300,000.

The ballot window is shorter than other marathon ballots, with the ballot going live shortly after the event takes place in April and being announced in early July. To apply for the London Marathon ballot, this is at no cost. If your name is drawn, you are required to pay the £225 international entry fee.

Official International London Marathon Tour Operators

International tour operators are responsible for creating seamless experiences for overseas runners looking to take part in marathon events such as the London Marathon. By choosing to enter the London Marathon through an international tour operator, you are benefiting from bypassing the ballot entirely and guaranteeing your entry.

When picking the correct tour operator, you must ensure you are booking through a tour operator assigned to your home country. There are strict requirements between London Marathon Events and the tour operators that only allow bookings made for runners located in their specific country.

When booking through a tour operator, you are not only booking your entry, but you are booking an experience package. This usually includes accommodation, on-site support, guides, shakeout runs, sightseeing tours and even race-day after parties to celebrate.

For a list of tour operators in your country, find your local tour operator on the London Marathon website.

International London Marathon Charity Place

Another option for international runners to enter the London Marathon is to find a charity offering London Marathon entries and raise money for that charity. Charities usually charge an upfront registration fee of around £50 – £100 to secure your charity bib.

You can usually find charities such as:

• Brain Research UK
• Children with Cancer UK
• Barnardo’s
• Shelter
• TEAM PAWS Chicago
• Mind
• Cancer Research UK
• Samaritans

You can only run for a charity that is partnered with the London Marathon. To find out the list of charities offering London Marathon bibs, check out the list on the London Marathon website.

Skip the London Marathon Ballot and Secure Your Entry

When booking your London Marathon trip with Sports Tours International, you’ll benefit from a package designed specifically for marathon runners. Removing the stress of fighting the 1.3 million ballot entries.

The Official International London Marathon Tour Operator

Depending on your chosen package, inclusions may include:

• Guaranteed London Marathon entry
• Carefully selected central hotel accommodation
• Dedicated Sports Tours International team support throughout your stay
• Pre-race information and guidance
• The biggest London Marathon after-party
• The confidence of travelling with the Official International Tour Operator
• Plus much more!

With thousands of runners travelling with us every year, we understand what it takes to create a smooth, enjoyable and memorable marathon experience from start to finish.