What is letter of clearance?
A letter of clearance is a FIBA certificate confirming a player is free to transfer internationally and that a new national federation may license the player. The standard fee is CHF 250.
How it works
Under FIBA Internal Regulations, Book 3, in force April 22, 2026, a club abroad cannot register a player moving from another country without it. It can be issued to only one federation at a time and cannot be conditional.
The new federation requests it through the FIBA Information System. The federation the player is leaving has six days to respond; if it disagrees and the request is disputed, FIBA decides within seven days.
FIBA can refuse it for listed reasons, such as a contract running past the transfer date or an unlicensed agent. It may not be delayed or refused over a money dispute between club and player.
The numbers
Per request
Never licensed before
Departing federation
An example
An American moving from a club in Spain to one in Turkey needs a letter of clearance before the Turkish federation can license her, even though her Spanish contract has ended.
What it means for a player
A club that owes you money cannot hold your clearance hostage. That dispute belongs in arbitration, usually before the Basketball Arbitral Tribunal.
Sources
Reviewed September 26, 2026 by McKinley Malbrough III, J.D., MS-HRM, certified WNBA player agent and former certified NBA agent. Figures are refreshed each July. General information, not legal, tax or financial advice.