Visitor Visa Invitation Letter Guide
An invitation letter is not on any GOV.UK list of required documents. This guide explains what one is normally used to evidence, what to put in it, and what the host can supply alongside it.
- Section
- Visitor Visa
- Reading time
- 7 min
- Last checked
- 14 March 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- GOV.UK does not require an invitation letter — it is evidence, not a requirement.
- Include the host's details, your relationship, visit dates, and accommodation.
- The host should provide copies of their ID and proof of address.
- If the host is sponsoring you financially, include their bank statements.
- A host who is not a British citizen proves their status with an eVisa share code, not a card.
GOV.UK publishes no document checklist for visitors and does not require an invitation letter. Where a host in the UK is providing accommodation or paying for the trip, a letter from them is the usual way of evidencing it. This guide explains what to put in one and what the host can supply alongside it.
What to Include in the Letter
An invitation letter for a Standard Visitor visa normally covers:
- The host's full name, address, and contact details
- The visitor's full name and relationship to the host
- Purpose of the visit (family visit, event, tourism, etc.)
- Dates of the visit (arrival and departure)
- Accommodation arrangements (staying with the host, hotel, etc.)
- Financial support (if the host is funding the visit)
- The host's immigration status — British citizen, settled, or holding a visa
Supporting Documents from the Host
- Copy of the host's passport, if they are a British citizen
- Proof of address (utility bill, council tax bill, bank statement)
- An eVisa share code, if the host is not a British citizen. Biometric residence permits stopped being issued at the end of 2024 and European Union Settlement Scheme status has always been digital, so status is now held in a UKVI account and proved with a share code that lasts 90 days — GOV.UK explains how to generate one
- Bank statements (if providing financial support)
- Employment letter (if relevant to showing financial capability)
Sample Structure
Invitation letters are usually laid out like this:
- Opening: State who you are and your relationship to the visitor.
- Purpose: Explain why the visitor is coming (family event, holiday, etc.).
- Dates: Specify the planned arrival and departure dates.
- Accommodation: Confirm where the visitor will stay.
- Finances: Confirm any financial support you are providing.
- Closing: Confirm the visitor intends to return home after the visit.
The letter should be signed and dated. If possible, have it witnessed or notarised, though this is not strictly required. For guidance on the overall Visitor Visa cost, see our fee breakdown.
Common Mistakes
- Vague details. A generic letter without specific dates, addresses, or relationship details evidences very little.
- No supporting documents. The letter alone is not enough — back it up with ID and address proof.
- Inconsistencies. The letter should match the information on the visa application form.
- Overpromising. Do not promise things the host cannot deliver (such as financial support they cannot afford).
For more guidance, see our visitor visa documents guide and refusal reasons guide.
Next Steps
Related guides:
- Visitor Visa Requirements
- Financial Evidence Guide
- Parents Visiting Children
- Visitor Visa Documents
- Refusal Reasons Guide
For official information, see the GOV.UK Standard Visitor visa page and the GOV.UK visas and immigration hub.
Questions and answers
Is an invitation letter required for a UK Visitor Visa?
No. GOV.UK does not list an invitation letter among the documents you must provide, and it publishes no document checklist for visitors at all. What the rules ask is that you show you will leave at the end of your visit, can pay for it, and are coming for the reason you give. Where a host in the UK is providing your accommodation or paying for the trip, a letter from them is the usual way of evidencing that.
What should an invitation letter include?
The letter should include the host's full name, address, immigration status, relationship to the visitor, dates of the visit, accommodation details, and whether they are providing financial support. It should also include the host's signature and copies of their ID.
Does the host need to send original documents?
Copies are normally what is uploaded, because the application is made online. A host who is not a British citizen proves their status with an eVisa share code rather than a document: biometric residence permits stopped being issued at the end of 2024, status is now held digitally in a UKVI account, and a share code lasts 90 days. A British host can use their passport.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.