If you’ve ever had to invite a visitor to the UK, then you are probably well aware of a Visa Invitation Letter. You may find it confusing at first, but making one is not as complicated as you may have thought. It’s really just a letter in which you explain who you are, whom you’re inviting, and why you’re going there.
The idea is to provide the embassy with proof that your guest has a reasonable purpose to travel and will return home after the visit.
To make it even easier for you, we are also going to give you a Visa Invitation Letter Sample which you can copy or customize based on your situation. With this tutorial, you do not have to worry about what to write or how to arrange your words.
In this article, we will walk you through the process step by step. We will show you what to place in there, how to make your letter sound legitimate, and some tips to make it stronger. So, if you are open to learning and making the process easier, let us start!
Table of contents
- What is a Visa Invitation Letter?
- Who Do You Address The Visa Invitation Letter To?
- What Are the Requirements for a Visa Invitation Letter For a UK Visa?
- How to Write a Visa Invitation Letter For a UK Visa
- What Should a Visa Invitation Letter Have?
- Documents to Support a Visa Invitation Letter For a UK Visa
- Visa Invitation Letter Sample
- Frequently asked Questions
- Conclusions
- References
- Recommendations
What is a Visa Invitation Letter?
A Visa invitation letter (also known as an invitation or sponsor letter) is a letter written by a UK citizen sponsor on behalf of a friend, family member, or partner’s application for a UK visitor visa.
Most likely, this will require you to prove that you are related to the aforementioned visa applicant and that you are willing to house or sustain the applicant during the said applicant’s stay in the UK.
Most of the letter will consist of an invitation to the visitor to sleep at your residence; the rest of the letter must contain your particulars, visit particulars, and particulars of the visitor so as to make the fullest and most comprehensive description of the visit.
In addition to this, you also need to attach copies of some supporting documents which validate and substantiate what has been stated in the invitation letter.
Read Also – Luxembourg Skilled Worker Visas: How to Apply in 2025
Who Do You Address The Visa Invitation Letter To?
Even though the invitation letter should be inviting the visitor to your home, the invitation letter isn’t always addressed to the visitor.
This is due to the fact that the invitation letter is merely a requirement for the purposes of informing supporting details like your information, visitor information and visit information to the British Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) or the UK consular officer.
Thus, the letter does not necessarily have to be phrased in a form that you would invite, pen, or say hello to the guest person.
Alternatively, it is perfectly fine to welcome in the same manner as one would welcome the ECO without welcoming the guest. Having said this, you can then use ‘Dear Sir/Madam’, or ‘To whom it may concern’ for greeting.
But you can instead decide to use the greeting in the invitation letter to the visitor who you are inviting to stay, if you prefer to do that. That would be ‘Dear <visitor’s name>’.
Also Read – Family-Based Immigration in the U.S- Sponsorship & Visa
What Are the Requirements for a Visa Invitation Letter For a UK Visa?
For the invitation letter to stand as legitimate proof, you have to:
- Be a UK citizen, lawful resident, or permanent resident
- Be a friend, relative, or partner/spouse of the visitor
- Possess an official place of accommodation (house or flat which you either rent or own)
- Have ample space for the entire time of the stay for the visitor in question
All the information provided in the letter should be truthful and accurate.
How to Write a Visa Invitation Letter For a UK Visa
When a person wants to visit the UK, he needs a UK Visitor Visa, which in some cases will require a relative, friend, or other entity that has legally been residing in the UK to write an invitation letter to the visitor. The letter is essentially to support his/her application for the provision of proof for the visit purpose, relationship, and sometimes sponsorship or hosting.
Here’s what your invitation letter should include:
Read Also – Visa Interview Questions You MUST Prepare For — And How to Nail Every Answer!
What Should a Visa Invitation Letter Have?
Details of the host, the visitor and the travel should ideally define the Invitation Letter.
Details related to the host:
- Full name
- Complete address
- Telephone number
- Occupation
- Immigration status
- Nature of relationship with the visitor
And it would also be expected to have certain details about the visitor as:
- Full name
- Travel itinerary
- Relationship with host
It must also state details regarding the trip itself. The following must be outlined in the letter:
- Time frame, or duration, of stay
- Arrival and departure dates
- Reason for visit
- Accommodation arrangements
- Living, traveling and other costs
Additional details that must be included in the Invitation Letter
In the invitation letter, the host should show clearly who is going to cover the costs. They can state that they are going to cover the visitor’s living and feeding costs in their entirety, share the costs, or that the visitor will cover part of the costs.
If travel dates are not yet set, it is fine to give an estimate, e.g., “I am inviting [name of visitor] to stay with me for two weeks in August,” or “The visit will be around eight days in November or December.”
If the visitor is going to reside elsewhere during the trip, include that as well. For example, “We are also going to be staying at [address of location] for three nights from [beginning date] to [end date].”
Finally, the letter should affirm precisely why the visit is taking place, if for sightseeing, to be present at an event, to see relatives, or to learn a course.
Also Read – H4 Visa Interview Questions: Avoid These Mistakes!
Documents to Support a Visa Invitation Letter For a UK Visa
On submission of a letter of invitation under a UK visa application, providing the same along with the supporting documents is the key. Supporting documents authenticate information provided in the invitation letter and increase the believability of the visa application, finally aiding the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) to make an intelligent decision.
Some of the key documents that are typically suggested to be provided include:
- A photocopy of the host’s UK passport or biometric residence permit.
- Official documents such as a tenancy agreement or mortgage statement.
- Recent bank statements or other documents that show the host is in a position to take care of the visitor throughout the stay.
- Printed copies of itineraries, flight tickets, or activity or event bookings if already booked.
Also Read – Must-Know B2 Visa Interview Questions for First-Time Applicants
Visa Invitation Letter Sample
Below is an example of what a letter of invitation for a visitor visa or family visitor visa may look like. Note that this is only a rough template, and sections may be added, taken away, or edited as needed according to your own personal circumstances.
Name
Address
Phone Number
Email Address
Date
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am inviting you [Name of Invitee – Date of Birth] ID number, to the United Kingdom from [Start Date] to [End Date]. [Visitor’s First Name] is my [Relationship], and he/she is coming to England, and we will be going to visit around, site-see, and get to know the area.
In regards to lodging him/her, I will be having them at my place in [Location], anyway we have booked a place at [Name of Accommodation or Place] from [Start Date] to [End Date], at [Address].
I am a native born UK citizen and am working as an [Occupation] and completely intend to back up [Visitor’s Name] financially during the visit including the accommodation, food, and internal travel. I do have enough space in my house that will comfortably accommodate them.
Attached are my British passport, tenancy agreement, work ID, reservation details for additional lodging, and a recent bank statement (from [Date]) verifying my financial capability.
Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Yours truly,
[Your Signature]
[Your Name]
Frequently asked Questions
There is no duration fixed for visa invitation letters; however, it is preferable for an invitation letter that is written in close proximity to the visa application date.
You may use a sample visa invitation letter template as reference but adjust it to fit your situation and your needs.
It is merely a supporting document with the UK visa application. Ultimate authority pertaining to grant or refusal of any UK visa application rests solely with the UK Visa and Immigration.
It should be in English, with the requirement that a certified copy is attached in case the letter is written in any other language.
Conclusions
A good Visa Invitation Letter can sway the odds in favor of the applicant for a UK visa. The details in our template should provide you with an adequate sample for laying out the key details to serve as a good supporting document.
Your good letter will only add weight to their success. Best of luck!
References
- www.rovelegal.com – Letter of Invitation for a UK Visa: How to Write One & Examples [2025 Update]
- iasservices.org.uk – How to Write an Invitation Letter for a UK Visa + Sample
