Posted by Are you living in the UK? Are you planning on inviting your spouse, family, or friends to the UK? Do you need help writing the perfect invitation letter that will guarantee a visitor visa for your family member or friend? If this is you, then you are reading the right article.
In this article, we will teach you how to write an invitation letter for a UK visa and show you a sample of an invitation letter for a UK visa for a family.
What is an Invitation Letter?
A letter of invitation is a letter prepared by a UK-based sponsor to support the application for a visitor visa to the UK made by a friend, member of their family, or romantic partner.
This type of letter is also called a sponsorship letter or sponsor letter. It is usually required if you intend to go to and/or remain in the UK with family, friends, or romantic partners, participate in a (permitted) compensated engagement for a UK-based customer or organization, etc.
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The Purpose of the UK Visa Letter of Invitation
The invitation letter proves to the Home Office that you will be visiting the UK legitimately. It also serves as additional proof of the reason for your visit, what you will be doing while you are there, and any other pertinent details.
Who should write a UK Visa Invitation Letter?
For a UK visiting visa application, the applicant must present a letter of invitation. The host who composes the letter must meet the following conditions for it to be valid and taken into account by the UK consular officer:
- Be a citizen or legal resident of the United Kingdom
- Be the visitor’s friend, partner, or family member.
- Possess a registered address (home, flat).
- Have adequate space to accommodate the guest throughout their whole stay in the UK.
What an Invitation Letter for a UK visa Should Contain
The invitation letter should ideally contain details about the host, the visitor, and the trip itself.
- The host’s full name
- Full address of the host
- Phone number of the host
- Status of Employment in the UK
- The host’s relationship with the visitor
- The visitor’s full name
- Travel schedule of the visitor
- The visitor’s relationship with the host
- The duration of the visit
- The beginning and end dates of the visitor’s visit
- The objective of the trip
- Accommodation details
- living, transportation, and other costs
Supporting Documents are Needed for an Invitation Letter for a UK visa.
The invitation letter must be accompanied by copies of the supporting paperwork for the information in the letter for the British Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) to accept it. Note that the supporting documents you must provide for your visitor visa application are always based on your unique situation. Thus there isn’t a set of guidelines that can be used universally. The following essentials are required to be enclosed with the invitation letter:
- Scanned UK passport of the host
- A scan of your biometric residence permit or another document that verifies the host’s residency in the UK
- Evidence of the host’s home’s ownership or rental, such as a tenancy agreement
- Financial evidence, such as bank statements
- Copies of any travel, lodging, or activity plans that have already been made
- Any additional legal document that you feel will be helpful in your guest’s visa application.
Who Should the UK Visa Invitation Letter Be Addressed To?
The letter doesn’t have to be addressed specifically to the visitor, even though its goal is to invite them to stay in your house. As a result, you do not need to write the letter in a way that seems you are speaking to, inviting, or otherwise dealing directly with the guest.
You are welcome to write as though you are speaking to the ECO rather than the visitor. In that case, you could want to begin the letter with “Dear Sir/Madam” or “To whom it may concern”.
However, if you insist on addressing your visitor, it would be formatted as “Dear [visitor’s name].”
How to Write an Invitation Letter for a UK Visa for Family
If you need help writing an invitation letter, follow the simple steps below to learn how to write a letter of invitation for a UK Visa.
- Determine to whom you are speaking
Choose whether to address the letter to your visitor or the consular official. Don’t overthink it, it doesn’t matter who you address. The consular official will read it in both situations.
- Employ a formal voice and format
The invitation letter should be formal in tone, with accurate punctuation and spelling. Ensure that it is easy to read and understand. You can use numbered lists or bullet points where appropriate to make it easier for the Home Office caseworker to read and cross-reference.
- Clearly and concisely include all relevant details
All relevant details regarding the planned visit, such as its purpose, expected duration, and location, should be included in the letter. Along with your full name, your date of birth, your location and phone number in the United Kingdom, your occupation, your status there, the full name and address and phone number of the visitor, information on the visitor’s lodging and living expenditures, your signature, etc.
Note that, the content of the letter must be entirely honest and truthful.
Sample of an Invitation Letter for a UK Visa for Family
An invitation letter cannot be written using a set formula. To better understand how to write one, we have included an example of an invitation letter for a family. Keep in mind that addressing it to the consular officer requires a little more formal tone.
Date
To: [Visitor’s name]
[Visitor’s Address]
Dear [Visitor],
I’m writing to extend an invitation to you, my [ state their relationship to you: eg: sister, friend, father], to come to the UK and see me while you’re on holiday. We have discussed visiting [tourist attraction] and taking photos at [tourist attraction] so many times. Additionally, you will get a chance to get to know and experience the beauty of Britain firsthand.
I will take care of all your expenses while you are here, including your round-trip travel, health insurance, food, and other personal costs. Since I have space for you, you will be staying at my home in [put in your current address].
I’m enclosing all the paperwork needed to obtain the relevant tourist visa, such as proof that I have [status in Britain] for [ state number of years] and that I work at/attend school at [state workplace or university].
Sincerely,
Host’s name
Host’s name
Full address
Phone Number
Signature
Conclusion
An invitation letter will be crucial to your application for a visitor visa to the UK if one is necessary. A well-written letter will help you with a visitor visa quickly. This is why we wrote this article on “how to write an invitation letter for a UK visa”. We hope that you found this article helpful.
