Visa invitation letters: what they must contain
There is no universal invitation letter. Some countries set out exactly what it must say; some want a formal declaration signed at a government office instead; the United States does not use one at all. Follow the rules of the country you are applying to, on its own embassy or immigration site.
Ireland
A signed, dated letter from each host is required for a visit visa, with set contents.
- Your host types or writes a letter inviting you, then signs and dates it. irishimmigration.ie · read
- It must state why they are inviting you, the dates they plan to see you, and how they know you. irishimmigration.ie · read
- It must include a clear colour copy of the picture page of their passport or national identity card, even if they are Irish. irishimmigration.ie · read
- It must say they understand you must obey your visa conditions, not rely on public services, and leave before your permission ends. irishimmigration.ie · read
- If you will stay in their home: that they are inviting you to stay, the dates, and their full postal address with Eircode. irishimmigration.ie · read
- If your host is not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen: copies of their Irish Residence Permit and current immigration stamp. irishimmigration.ie · read
- If your host will help pay: a cost estimate and what they will pay for. irishimmigration.ie · read
- A separate letter from each host at a different address. One letter is fine for hosts at the same address. irishimmigration.ie · read
United Kingdom
No fixed letter from a host. If someone else supports your trip, you show evidence of that support. A business event needs a letter from the organiser.
- If a sponsor pays for your travel, maintenance or accommodation, give evidence of what support they provide and how, that they can afford it, your relationship, and that they are legally in the UK. gov.uk · read
- For a business event or conference, a letter of invitation from the organiser. gov.uk · read
Germany
An invitation needs no special form. If your host pays, they sign a formal declaration of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) at their local authority.
- No special formalities for an invitation. If the host covers your costs, a formal declaration of commitment signed at their local authority must go with the application. auswaertiges-amt.de · read
Austria
An informal invitation letter for visits; an electronic declaration of sponsorship if you cannot show your own funds.
- For visits, an informal letter of invitation may be presented. bmeia.gv.at · read
- If you cannot show enough money of your own: the eight-digit ID of your host's Electronic Declaration of Sponsorship, made at their local police department. bmeia.gv.at · read
- For business: an original invitation on company paper, signed by the Austrian company, stating the purpose, travel dates, and your name, date of birth and passport number. bmeia.gv.at · read
Sweden
An invitation on Sweden's official form, plus a Population Register extract from the host.
- Your host sends you an invitation on the official form 241011. migrationsverket.se · read
- Your host orders a special Population Register extract (Inbjudan) from the Swedish Tax Agency. migrationsverket.se · read
Czechia
An official invitation, verified by the Alien Police Service, is one route for visits.
- A visit can be based on an official invitation verified by the Alien Police Service. mzv.gov.cz · read
United States
Not needed, and not used to decide the visa.
- A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed for a visitor visa, and is not one of the factors used to decide it. common.usembassy.gov · read
- There are no format requirements for an invitation letter, because it is not a required document. uz.usembassy.gov · read
Other Schengen countries
The Schengen application form asks who is inviting you and who pays (fields 30 to 32), but what supporting evidence each country wants differs. Check the embassy of your main destination. The Schengen application form
Canada publishes its own contents list, which we have not yet read word for word, so it is not shown. Last checked 4 October 2026. Not legal advice. What changed