This post was most recently updated on May 29th, 2019
How to write an Invitation Letter for UK Visa?
An Invitation Letter for UK Visa is one of the documents that an intending visitor to the UK will use to show the reason for their visit. Although an invitation letter can be very useful, it is not required for obtaining a visitor visa to the UK. It is, however, a good idea to send one to your guest to make their application as robust as possible. Writing an invitation letter for a UK visitor’s visa can be challenging if you do not know what to write.
To write a good letter, what is important is to ensure that all the required information is in the letter. There is no specific method or style once all the required information is visible in the letter. This letter is sometimes referred to as sponsorship letter for UK visa
In summary, the following should be on the invitation letter.
Your letter should include the following information about the person being invited:
- Complete name.
- Date of birth.
- The person’s address and telephone number.
- Your relationship to the person being invited.
- The purpose of the trip.
- How long the person you are inviting intends to stay in the United Kingdom.
- Details on accommodation and living expenses.
- The date the person you are inviting intends to leave the United Kingdom.
Your letter must also include the following information about the person writing the letter:
- Complete name.
- Date of birth.
- Address and telephone number in the United Kingdom.
- Occupation.
- Your status in the United Kingdom
- A photocopy of documents proving your status in the United Kingdom and financial Status.
Find a list of documents required for visa application here
Writing an Invitation Letter is just one piece of the puzzle, your guest may need help with Visa Application or Interview.
To whom do you address your Invitation Letter for Visa
Invitation letter for visa purposes can be addressed to either the guest (the person you are inviting) or the Consular Office, Embassy or Visa Application Center. In most cases, the letter will be given to the guest to attach to their application for a visa. This means that whether you address the letter to your guest or the Embassy, you will still send the letter to your guest.
Before you start writing your letter
If you do not have Grammarly - A grammar checker that I use every day for all my writing, please get it free from here Now. Grammarly. You can read my full story on how I discovered Grammarly here.Sample Invitation Letter for UK Visa written to a friend
Below is a sample invitation letter for UK Visa. The names on it are fictitious but this format has been used and visas have been issued using this format. There are other formats that can be used. The most important thing is for the information required to be on it. Remember that this is just a sample and we are not in any way connected to the British High Commission.
The following sample invitation letter is written for a friend. You could use the same format for a parent, parents, cousin, uncle or business partners. All you need to do is adjust the text as it suits each situation.
January 27th, 2019
David Smith
191 Masons Avenue,
London HA3 5AH
United Kingdom
+44 020 8876 1234
To Whom It May Concern:
Application for a Standard Visitor Visa: Dorcas Odu; May 13 1980; Passport No: AO345678
I am writing to confirm I wish to invite Dorcas Odu to visit me in the UK for 3 weeks in order to have a short holiday. I hope she will be able to come on 20th of June 2019.
I am a British Citizen and Electrical Engineer Working at DemsTech in London. I will be on vacation at that time.
I am able to accommodate her for the duration of her stay in the UK. Please find attached evidence of my accommodation.
I have enclosed the following documents:
• Copy of passport
• Tenancy agreement
Should you require any additional information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours faithfully
David Smith
Do not forget to send a scanned copy of your passport. You do not have to notarize the letter.
How to get a UK Visa
Sample Invitation Letter for UK Visa written to a father
As a British Citizen or anyone who has an eligible status in the UK, you are entitled to have a guest visit you from different parts of the world. Many students come to the UK to study from all over the world, these students often need to have their parent or other relatives visit them. Find below a sample invitation letter written by a Naturalized British Citizen who wants his father to visit him in the UK.
Please take note that you can use the same format to invite a mother, uncle, brother, sister, grandparents. All you have to do is adjust the letter to reflect the different relationships. If your situation is different, simply state your case and let your guest present himself. In some cases, you may mention something about your guest but that is not necessary. This letter is just a document that shows that your guest really has a reason to come to the UK.
The sample below is just one format for an invitation letter. There are very many other formats. You may choose to write the letter directly to your guest. In both cases, however, it is your guest that you send the letter to.
204 Rye Lane,
Peckham
London,
SE15 4RZUK
12 Nov 2018
British High Commission
Upper Hill Road
Nairobi
Dear Sir/Madam
Application for Visit Visa: JAMES DONALD MARK – PASSPORT NO – 123456
I am writing to confirm that I Moses Kevin Mark am inviting Mr JAMES DONALD MARK to visit me in the UK.
Mr JAMES DONALD MARK is my father. His passport number is 123456 and his date of birth is 20 April 1945.
He is going to visit the UK from Feb 13, 2019, and will be staying for 10 days. He would be leaving on Feb 23, 2019.During his stay in UK, he will be staying with me and I will be responsible for his transportation in and around the UK.
I am a British Citizen with passport No – 234565. I currently work at British Airways and reside at 201 Rye Lane, Peckham. I have attached a copy of the Biodata page of my Passport and my tenancy agreement.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.
Yours faithfully,
Moses Kevin Mark
Moses@ba.com
44-078-111-1111
Sample Formal Letter of Invitation for Standard Visitor Visa to the UK written to a husband and wife
Below is a sample letter of invitation. The names on it are fictitious but this format has been used and visas have been issued using this format.
Moses is a 35 year old accountant that lives in Stevenage UK. On his last trip to Hong Kong 4 years ago he met Cindy and Dave (Kenyan citizens) who are also accountants attending the same conference that Moses went to attend. They have been corresponding since then over Facebook and phone calls. This year Cindy and Dave decided to visit Moses in Stevenage Uk.
Here is a sample formal invitation letter that Moses would write to invite Cindy and Dave to UK. This particular letter is addressed to the Consular Officer rather than to Cindy and Dave. All the necessary information are included in the letter. This letter forms one of the supporting documents for the visa application.
February 27th, 2018
(The Address of Moses can be formatted like a personal letterhead)
Moses Mark
234 Jessop Road,
Stevenage, Hertfordshire
SG1 5LL, United Kingdom
+44 020 8669 1234
The Consular
British High Commission
P.O. Box 30465-00100,
Upper Hill Rd,
Nairobi City, Kenya
Dear Consular,
Application for Standard Visitor Visa for Dave Malaba and Cindy Malaba
I am writing to confirm I wish to invite my friends Dave and Cindy to visit me in the UK for 3 weeks during their vacation from April 1, 2018 to April 21, 2018.
I am a British Citizen and a chartered accountant Working at Frank and Coopers Chartered Accountants. I have known Dave and Cindy for 5 years, they are both chartered accountants in Nairobi Kenya. They will be staying at my home in Stevenage during their visit. Please find attached evidence of my accommodation.
Here are some more details about Dave and Cindy Malaba
Dave Malaba
Date of Birth: January 1st 1980
Passport No: 000000000
Occupation: Chartered Accountant
Address: 234 karibu St, Nairobi, Kenya.
Telephone: +200-000-0000
Cindy Malaba
Date of Birth: May 1st 1985
Passport No: 000000000
Occupation: Chartered Accountant
Address: 234 karibu St, Nairobi, Kenya.
Telephone: +200-000-0000
I have enclosed the following documents:
• Copy of passport
• Tenancy agreement
Should you require any additional information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours faithfully,
Moses Mark
Do not forget to send a scanned copy of your passport. You do not have to notarize the letter.
Sponsorship Declaration to accompany invitation letter for UK visa.
It is possible that you may want to invite a family member or friend who is not in the position to sponsor themselves to the UK or you have simply chosen to sponsor their trip as a gift. If this is the case, it is advisable to fill out a sponsorship declaration form which can then be attached to the invitation letter for UK visa application. You may also choose to write a sponsorship letter.
Once the sponsorship declaration is filled and signed, send them to your guest. (Here is the form again)
How should the Invitation letter for Visa be delivered?
There is no stipulated way of delivery for your letter of invitation. You can mail it to your guest or scan it and send via email. Some countries however, require that the letter be notarized. In this case, you have to find a way to get the original copy to your guest. In USA, Canada and United Kingdom, a scanned copy of the invitation letter for visa can be sent.
What happens next? After you send the Invitation Letter?
You guest would add the letter to their Visa Application package. They would then submit the application package to the British Embassy in their country or to a visa application collection company (depending on the company). They would pay the visa application fees and wait for an interview with the visa officer at the British Embassy. The procedure for issuing a standard UK visa differs from country to country. What I have provided is just a general overview.
Here is a suggestion of how much the visa fees are as at 2019 according to UK government site.
A Standard Visitor Visa costs £95.
The fee for a long-term Standard Visitor visa depends on its length:
- 2 years – £361
- 5 years – £655
- 10 years – £822
Other Invitation Letters for UK Visa
Now check out our Ultimate Visa Interview or Application Kit.
Hi hi
I am rakeshkumar Patel from india, my friend a british citizen wants to invite me for a family gatherin 15 days to the uk, he will be paying for my visit and all other expenses, but he is unaware of how to write the letter and does she have to write a sponsorship letter or an invitation or both and what would be the format and what documents do i need to to submit here for visa, and one more thing does the letter have to be a wriiten one or an email would also work.
Please guide me as i need to inform him the same
Hi
We are a family of four 2 adults and 2 children. Now I am inviting my parents to come and stay with me for 6 months in a visit visa. I am residing in a 2 bedroom apartment is it alright to apply being in the 2 bedroomed flat.
Hi Nandu,
From my experience this has not been a problem. Just don’t attach a copy of your rental or tenancy agreement.
Thanks for the details. we need to provide a accommodation address for them. What document should we have to provide for the accommodation. Please let me know.
Hi Nandu,
You can provide your address. Your parents are not required to attach a document to show a proof of where they would be staying? An address should be sufficient.
Hi admin
I’m inviting my boyfriend off 2years to now visit me in Manchester. I own my own house and business and I have all the info and forms required. Do I need to pass all these documents to my boyfriend for him to take to his appointment? Or where do I send them ?
Thank you Anna
Hi Anna,
Yes. You should send copies (not original) of your details to him. He should apply for the visa in his home country and use your documents as a support for his application.
please i need to know, my fiance wants to send an invitation from the uk to me, she is a citizen and works as a carer, where does she address the invite letter to? does she need to go to the embassy? and how easy is it for me to get a visa in nigeria or ghana as i am presently in ghana but a nigerian… what do i need to do in other to make a good passmark when interviewed… please do help me with vital information as i eager to know. thank you
Hi Niyi,
She should send the letter to you and you will apply at the British embassy in Ghana or Nigeria. To get the visa, you would need to show that you are coming back to Nigeria or Ghana after the visit.
Dear Dems,
Can you help me in some questions to clear?
1. I have an invitation letter from my brother and he is national there. He got the invitation after proving all the necessary documents and proofs of his income even shown house paper too for accommodation. Now what i want to ask is that when i go here to apply the visa , do i need to show my financial statements too? (cause he showed that i can take care of him and have ample amount in bank for his stay here-including accommodation and money)—So how should i apply the visa now?? like do i have to submit my financial statements
2. How long it takes after this invitation to get the visa?
3. should i hire some service provider for visa help or i can apply directly?
Regards
Hi Seo,
Yes I can answer your questions.
1) Yes you will need to show your financial statements as well.
You can visit this link to find out how and where to apply for the visa in your home country – https://www.gov.uk/apply-uk-visa
2) The time between when you submit your application and when you get it depends on the country from which you are applying. Usually you can apply for upto 3 months before your travel date.
3) If you follow the link for visa application, you should find all you need there. In my experience, most of the people I have helped have done it themselves directly. If however you know you are busy and would not be careful enough, you should get a service provider.
I wish you the best.
Have been given invitation latter from my sister in the Uk, including all other documents , letter addressed to British Embassy, do i still need to submit any other documents of mine or just passport and documents sent to me ?
Yes Kelly,
You will still need to add your own documents. You will usually get a list of documents to attach as you fill out the application forms. I wish you the vey best with your application.
Hi, I have found my long lost boyfriend since December last year I have visited him two times now but I want to visit him to London to come for my son’s 13th birthday , but he leaves in Italy as refugee with their six month sorjonor ( stay) . What can I do I need help.
Hi Thomashia,
I am sorry I do not have much experience with the refugee status in Italy.
So, maybe i misread something, but should it be printed and signed or written and signed.
Can I get a copy of it via mail? Or it’s better for my friend from Britain (Jersey) to send this letter (original) to me via standard mail?
Hi Daniel,
It should be printed and signed. You can use a scanned copy in many countries but it is good if you can get a copy via standard mail.
Am a university university student and I want to visit the uk during my summer break but I don’t have an invitation I want to know if I can apply for a visa with a hotel reservation
Hi Mandy,
You can apply for a visa with a hotel reservation and tourist itinerary. It helps to contact a tourism company in the uk if you have the budget.
Sir, in an instance where errors were made in filling parents year and date of birth in the online form and wrong declaration of relationship status i.e Married instead of Single in previous visit visa application which was refused. Does that have anything to do with decision/approval or granting visa for new application?
Hi SaMoore,
Such errors do affect. However you can make the corrections and see how it play out. Never say never my friend.
Visa issued. Thanks so much for your advice.
Congratulations SaMoore,
Thanks for taking the time to let me know! I’m sure some of my readers will be encouraged!
Hello, My Question is, how can I send my brother an invitation letter to the UK, he is not a citizen just there to visit. is it possible to do so? I live in the united state, where can I send the letter to?
Hi Nico,
I don’t think I understand your question? Are you in the USA, trying to invite your brother who is in uk to visit USA?
I am a father of a seven year old British citizen who resides in UK with his mother my fiance.I have never seen my son since birth and have finally decided to apply for a Visa after years of being told its impossible.My fiance is planning to send an invitation letter and sponsorship but she is not financially stable and is renting a small apartment can this pull through or we are just dreaming.
Hi Dumi
So sorry to hear that you have not seen your seven year old boy in person. I would suggest that you go ahead with the application for standard visa. You have a chance of getting the visa if you have documentation to show that you have ties in your country that would make you want to go back after the visit.
You should also consider the visa for joining a family member. Read more about it here. https://www.gov.uk/join-family-in-uk/overview
Special thanks to the Admin(s) of this helpful website.
I’m Mike, a Nigerian but living in Ivory Coast. someone sent an invitation letter to me from Brazil. But instead of sending the letter to Ivory Coast, the letter was sent to Nigeria. However; I’ve the scanned copy of the letter in my mail box. Is it right to use the scanned one or must I go to Nigeria to get the one sent through DHL before I can be given a visa.
Another question I have is, how much is ideal to have in my bank account to get visa. It has been stated in the letter that my financial responsibility and accommodation are on the person inviting me for the period of one month that I’m to spend in Brazil.
I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thanks so much
Hi Mike,
You can use the scanned one. I have sent scanned copies a few times. If you have say double your ticket fees in your account you should be okay.
Hi,
My girlfriend is coming as a general tourist and I booked flight and accommodation for her, she is a software engineer working in India but she is having two bank accounts one salary and one saving. Salary account is not holding balance but savings one has. Is it fine if she is giving both the bank statements to prove she can manage her expenses in U.K.?
Yes she can use more than one account..
Hi,
Can you please let me know if the below documents are good to gov for visa appointment
1.passport
2. Print of application form, appointment slip.
3. Salary slips, bank statements,(min 6 months)
4. Current employ appointment letter.
5. Cover letter
6. Passport size ohÿ
Hi Abhinav,
I could not see what you have as (6). You may need to add – Leave approval letter from your office, landed property if any.. proof of relationship….
Hi,
Can you please let me know if the below documents are good to gov for visa appointment
1.passport
2. Print of application form, appointment slip.
3. Salary slips, bank statements,(min 6 months)
4. Current employ appointment letter.
5. Cover letter
6. Passport size ohÿ
she is coming as a tourist and she just mentioned about me as a friend in the cover letter whom she will meet. Do we need to give any proof of relationship? As she has not mentioned me as boyfriend rather just a friend. Sorry for the typo in the above comments but the documents that she is providing are:- Bank statement, payslips, letter from employer on employee status, leave approval letter, tax returns, travel and Accommodation details , cover letter stating her reason to come and when she will be back. Are these fine?
Yes I think those are Fine!
Thanks a lot Dems!!!
Hi
I am a British citizen and am planning to sponsor my in-laws to come and visit my family for 2 months. They have another daughter living in the England as well as my father-in-law having a sister in England. When writing the sponsor/invitation letter, will it do any harm to mention that my in-laws have other family living in England. They will also be attending a family wedding. Again, it is worth mentioning this?
Many thanks
Mitul
Hi Mitul,
There is no need to mention other members of the family. I do not think it will hurt them if you add the names of other family members who are legally in the UK to the invitation letter though. My thought is that the simpler the letter the better. The invitation letter is just to show the visa officer that the applicant has a purpose for visiting the UK.
As per the family wedding – my guess is as good as yours. I do not think it would strengthen the application in any way though. This is just my thought. I hope this helps.
Hello, I come from the US, and I am spending some weeks in London as a tourist. Can I, as a tourist, make a letter of invitation for a friend who wishes to meet with me in London for a couple of days?
No Camilla, as a tourist you can’t invite someone else! Your friend can come as a tourist! She should present her travel plans!
I want to invite my son-in-law to stay in the UK with my daughter in my accommodation. How do I word my communication to the British Embassy, as it looks like most template letters request a visit?
Hi Quarcoo!
You may need to get an immigration lawyer to help with an immigration type of visa!
Hello admin !
My husband had been sent invite letter to me but he forget to sign this letter… i dont know uk embassy will accept this invite letter or no … i am worrying … can i have your kindly advice ?
He should send another letter!
Who should fill the certificate page which says for official use only?