Unless you are a non-visa national i.e. you are NOT visa-exempt, and need to visit the UK, you will need to apply for a ' Visitor Visa ' to enter the UK.
There are several types of visitor visas, each one permitting different/specific activities:
As well as having a valid passport/travel document for the duration of your trip, the Home Office will also require you to sufficiently demonstrate that you are coming to the UK as a 'genuine visitor', which means that you will need to clearly evidence:
You will demonstrate the above to the Entry Clearance Officer assessing your application, by submitting relevant documents to support your case.
One of the documents you may need to include is a 'letter of invitation', depending on the reason(s) for your visit to the UK.
A letter of invitation (also referred to as an invitation letter or sponsorship letter) is usually required when:
As previously stated, the Home Office wants to see that you will be coming to the UK as a genuine visitor. The letter of invitation serves as (further/additional) evidence of the purpose for your visit, what you will be doing during your stay and any other critical information that is relevant e.g. your family member or friend will be providing you accommodation and/or financial support for your trip.
Ultimately you want to make it clear to the Entry Clearance Officer that you will not be breaching the rules of your visit visa when you come to the UK.
If you are staying with family/friends
The letter will need to be written by the person that will be providing your accommodation and/or they will be financially supporting you, and addressed for the attention of the Entry Clearance Officer.
The person needs to be a British citizen or legal resident in the UK (known as the resident sponsor). Although the person writing the letter of invitation is not required to be a relative of the visa applicant, the relationship needs to be genuine, and needs to be sufficiently proven accordingly.
The letter needs to be written by the relevant UK-based organisation or client that you will be doing work for/with.
The letter needs to be written by the organisation(s) sending you and/or inviting you to attend.
A letter of invitation will need to be provided by the respective event organiser.
The letter should explain the primary reason for the visit, such as to visit family or friends, for a holiday, to attend/perform at an event, for business purposes etc.
The length of your stay
The letter should specify the planned length of your stay, including the planned dates of arrival and departure.
A general background of the Applicant
You should mention the relevant ties to your home country, such as if you are in full-time employment, run a business or have assets there.
The letter should provide an overview of your travel plans in the UK, including any planned activities or events.
A detailed itinerary is only really required if you will be carrying out professional engagements.
The letter should explain the nature of the relationship between the person writing the letter and the visa applicant, such as being friends, relatives, employer, client etc.
If the person writing the invitation letter is offering to cover the costs of the trip, they should include a statement of financial support in the letter. This should include details of the level support they are providing and how the costs will be covered.
You will need to provide the full address where you will be staying, and (if applicable) the name and contact information of the person providing the accommodation.
All of the information included in the letter must be truthful and accurate
As well as being honest and transparent about your intentions for coming to visit the UK, It is important to ensure that the information you include matches with the application form.
The letter should include all the necessary information about the planned visit, such as the purpose of the visit, the length of the stay, and the location of the stay. This information should be presented in a clear and concise manner.
Unfortunately there is no one-size fits all set of documents that can be applied to support your visitor visa application, as the items you must submit will always be subject to your personal circumstances. However, the core items you will be expected to include are:
If you are required to provide one, an invitation letter will play an essential part in your UK visitor visa application. A well-written letter can help to demonstrate that you are coming as a genuine visitor to the UK.
To make an invitation letter most effective, it needs to be well structured and include all the relevant information in a clear and concise manner so it is easy to read, and correlates with the information on the application form and other supporting documents.
Ultimately, it is just one of many supporting documents you will need to submit for a successful application to get the visa granted.
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UK Visitor Visa Letter Templates!
Want professionally written and easy to use letters to support your UK Visitor Visa Application?
Whether you want to provide an invitation letter or need a declaration from your employer, our UK Visitor Visa Letter Templates have got you completely covered!
Prices starting from as little as £9.97!
According to Home Office figures , for the year ending March 2024, a total of over 2.5 million UK Visitor Visa Applications were submitted. The rate of successful applications was 71% (just over 2 million from the total submitted). This still leaves a significant total of over half a million refusals (21% of all applications the Home Office received for the same year). While there are several factors the Home Office will consider when assessing any visa application, the most common reason for refusals, is the lack of sufficient evidence that applicants submit to support their case. This is particularly prevalent when it comes Visitor visas where there is no fixed set of supporting documents that will be applicable for every individual's case i.e. their specific reason(s) for visiting and their personal circumstances, What are the general Requirements for a Visitor Visa? As well as having a valid passport/travel document for the duration of your trip, the Home Office will also require you to sufficiently demonstrate that you are coming to the UK as a 'genuine visitor' i.e. you are coming to the UK for a short stay, and will then return to your country of origin/residence once your trip has ended. Therefore you will need to clearly evidence: The purpose of your visit to the UK (which will need to be a permitted activity in accordance to the type of visitor visa you are applying for) That you will leave the UK when you finish your visit You have sufficient funds for your travel from and to return back to your home country You will be able to financially support yourself and your dependants during your stay You are not attempting to establish permanent residence in the UK or make it your primary residence by frequent or consecutive visits How do you Prove that you meet the Requirements? The Entry Clearance Officer needs to be satisfied that the Applicant has provided relevant documents that demonstrate they meet each requirement and prove their specific circumstances which have been outlined in their completed application form and covering letter (if one has also been provided).
