How to Write a Letter of Invitation for a UK Visa? And Sample

Are you inviting a loved one to the UK? A well-crafted invitation letter is a key element in supporting their visa application. This essential document demonstrates the purpose of their visit and your relationship, making the process smoother and more credible.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to write a letter of invitation clearly and professionally, that aligns with UK immigration requirements—ensuring a higher chance of visa approval.

What is a Letter of Invitation for a UK Visa?

If you have friends, relatives, or a partner in the UK, you can apply for a visitor visa to visit them by writing a letter of invitation, which is also called a sponsorship letter or sponsor letter.

This is typically because you will be required to prove that you have a connection to the visa applicant in question and that you will be able to provide support or accommodation for the visitor for their entire stay in the UK.

Your invitation to stay at your house will be the main part of the letter. To provide the most comprehensive and detailed account of the visit, it is important to include details about the visitor, yourself, and the trip itself.

Along with the invitation letter, you should include copies of papers that back up and confirm the information in the letter.

Requirements for Letter of Invitation for a UK Visa

If you want the invitation letter to be accepted as evidence, you need to:

• Be a citizen or legal resident of the UK or a valid permanent resident
• Have a listed place to live, like a house or flat that you own or rent.
• Be a friend, family, or partner/spouse of the visitor.
• Also, have sufficient space to accommodate the visitor for the entire period of their stay.

All of the information in the letter needs to be true and correct.

Who should you send the invitation letter to?

There’s no need to write the letter directly to the visitor, even though the letter of invitation is meant to invite someone to stay at your house.

The invitation letter is just a formality meant to give supporting information to the British Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) or UK consular officer, like your personal information, the visitor’s information, and information about the visit.

Because of this, the letter doesn’t have to be written as if you are directly writing to, talking to, or inviting the person.

It is entirely appropriate to write as if you are addressing the ECO instead of the visitor. If so, you might want to start the letter with “Dear Sir or Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern.”

But, if you choose, you may always write the invitation directly to the guest you’re inviting. Then it would be put as “Dear .”

Which information must be added to the Letter of invitation?

Basic Information

Letters of invitation should include information about the host, the guest, and the trip.

It needs to have the hosts:

• Full name
• Full address
• Telephone number
• Occupation
• Status in the UK
• Relationship with the visitor

Along with this, it should also have the visitor’s

• Full name
• Travel itinerary
• Relationship with the host

The sponsor letter should also provide information regarding the trip. The letter should have information about the following:

• How long the stay will be
• When the stay begins and ends
• The reason for the visit 
• Also, the place to stay
• Costs of living, trips, as well as additional expenses

Additional Information on Letter of Invitation

The host should give accurate information about the costs. This could indicate that the host wants to totally financially support the visitor throughout the trip, including living and eating expenses. On the other hand, the invitation letter may state that the host and visitor plan to split the costs of the trip or that the visitor plans to pay a portion of the overall costs.

It’s possible that you can’t give exact times for the trip because neither you nor the visitor have made final plans yet.

Otherwise, it’s fine to give a rough idea of the date or number of days in the invitation letter. For instance, ‘I am inviting you to stay with me for two weeks in August’, or ‘The visit will last roughly eight days in November or December’.

You should also include information about where you and the guest plan to stay if it’s not your own home. We are also intending to spend three nights at <location’s address> between <start date> and <end date>.

The purpose of the visit may be as simple as sightseeing or the desire to spend time with friends or family when it is specified in the invitation letter. However, if the visitor is visiting the UK for a specified reason, such as to attend an event or to take a course, this should be stated in the letter.

What Documents Should Support the Invitation Letter?

Please ensure that copies of supporting documentation are included with the invitation letter to ensure its acceptance by the ECO.

These may include proof of your ability to pay for the visitor’s expenses during their stay or your citizenship of the UK, among other things.

In addition to the invitation letter, you may choose to attach the following documents:

• A UK passport scan
• A scan of proof that you are in the UK, like a biometric residence permit
• Documents attesting your home’s ownership or renting status, like a rental agreement or deed
• Also, proof of income, like bank records
• Copies of any plans you’ve already made for travel, lodging, or activities
• Any additional legal document that supports the visitor’s visa application.

It’s not necessary to include any certain papers with the letter. The more supporting documents you include, nevertheless, the more solid your immigration application will seem.

Sample of Letter of Invitation for a UK Visa

A letter of invitation for a guest visa or family visitor visa might look like the one below. This is only a basic outline; feel free to add, remove, or alter sections as needed to suit your specific needs.

A letter of invitation for a guest visa or family visitor visa might look like the one below. This is only a basic outline; feel free to add, remove, or alter sections as needed to suit your specific needs.

<Your Name>

<Your Address>

<Your phone number>

<Your email address>

<Date>

Application for visitor visa for <visitor’s name>

To whom it may concern,

This is a letter inviting <visitor’s name, with date of birth> to stay with me in the UK. My full name is [your full name, with date of birth]. They are going to stay with me at my house in <location> for <length of stay> days, from <start date> to <end date>.

<Visitor’s name> is my <type of relationship here, with the amount of time known if applicable>. The trip’s goals are to see family, go on sightseeing trips, and visit interesting places in the area.

We will stay at <name of housing or place> for three days from <start date> to <end date>. <visitor’s name> will also stay at my house. The lodging’s address is <address>.

I was born in the UK and work as a <occupation>. I fully plan to pay for <visitor’s name>’s accommodations, meals, and all of their travel within the UK during the whole trip. Also, there is more than enough space in my own home for <visitor’s name> to stay for the whole trip.

Please find attached pictures of my British passport, my rental agreement, my work ID, and the reservation information for the place I’m staying in <location>. I’ve also included a copy of my bank account from <date> to show that I have the money to pay for <visitor’s name> to come to the UK.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you need additional details.

Yours faithfully,

<your signature>

<your name>

Need Assistance?

Before you start writing an invitation letter for a UK visitor visa, make sure you know what you need to include and what other papers you will need to back it up.

But, UK Immigration Solicitors is here to help if you need guidance with the process or with writing the invitation letter for a UK visa.

Our immigration lawyers are very skilled and have years of experience with UK immigration law. You can get help with any UK immigration or visa problem, and we can even show you how to write, format, and fill out a letter of invitation for a UK visitor visa.

For more information about the services we provide and to talk to one of our trusted lawyers, call us at 02033844389 or fill out our online form.