Kenya Visa For UK
Want to visit Kenya from the UK but not sure how to get a visa? In this blog you will find everything there is to know about getting a Kenya e-Visa, including fees and requirements
13 Apr 2023
16 min read
You might be required to submit a letter of invitation for your tourist visa. Luckily, everything related to a visa invitation letter is simple and easy.
Now, I know—writing a letter sounds like a daunting task. But, after reading our guide, you'll be able to confidently write your own letter.
No matter what type of visa you apply for, Atlys will provide you with the necessary visa application letter to ensure that your visa is approved.
An invitation letter is a common requirement for many visas and generally states that you're invited by someone who resides abroad. The person inviting you acknowledges that you will be traveling to their residence.
An invitation letter in a nutshell:
Although only some embassies in the world require it, it is still highly advised to submit a letter of invitation, even if it is optional.
The host must meet the following requirements for the letter of invitation to be accepted:
Many people may need clarification, but if you correctly understand its purpose, writing a letter of invitation could be the simplest part of applying for a visa. The host must write the letter themselves, and it must be addressed to you or the consular officer.
When you receive the documents needed for a visa, double-check whether any embassies have their invitation form. If they already have a form, your host will only need to fill in the blanks with the necessary details.
But even if they don't, we've included some examples below that you can use to change the details to fit your situation.
The main focus when writing a visa invitation letter is that the letter must have some important information about both the host and the guest. Therefore, the following details about the host must be included in the letter:
Many visa applications are rejected because the host needs to format the letter properly. You should also pay attention to the tone; it shouldn't sound overly formal or professional. It would help if you showed that you and the visitor have a close relationship.
In this section, I'll provide a sample invitations letter you can use when visiting friends or relatives.
Immigration Officer
[Embassy Name]
[Embassy Address]
[Embassy Phone Number]
Subject: Invitation Letter for [Applicant's Name] with Passport No. __________________
Dear Sir/Madam,
I, [host's Name], am writing this letter on behalf of [applicant's Name] to support their visa application to [country name]. I >currently reside in [country name] as a citizen/permanent resident at [address].
[Include information of the relationship between the host and the applicant]
[Applicant's Name] will be visiting me from [enter date DD/MM/YY] to [exit date DD/MM/YY] for tourism purposes in [country name]. We plan to visit [tourist destinations/cities/places] during the specified dates to engage in numerous tourism activities such as [add booked tours/agenda/itinerary]. Furthermore, [applicant name] will be staying with me at [host's address] until their departure date to [applicant's home country]. All expenses for the planned trip will be covered through [provide means of funding] by the [applicant name].
Should you need additional information or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Kind regards,
[host's Signature]
[host's Name]
[host's Address]
[host's Phone Number]
[host's Email]
The host should include copies of their residence permit, proof of residence (address), and other applicable documentation.
Suppose you're applying for a US visa. In that case, the visitor's letter and visa application form are delivered to the U.S. embassy or consulate. The guest will submit it along with the other required supporting documents on the day of their visa interview at the embassy or consulate when the host scans and sends it to them.
Simply put, the visa cover letter is a letter that includes important details regarding your trip to a desired country. Think of it as a proposal of why you are eligible to receive your visa.
Please note that it should be addressed to the Embassy, Consulate, or Visa Application Center where you plan to submit your Visa application. Now, not all cover letters are the same. You'll find that your trip's purpose will determine your visa letter's content.
As I just mentioned, the purpose of your trip will determine the content of your visa cover letter. There are mainly 3 types of cover letters:
These are self-explanatory. Just remember to include applicable information supporting your trip — I'll get to this next.
The key to writing a convincing cover letter is details, details, and details. Remember, you must convince Embassy/Consular staff that you're eligible for a visa. Remember that a standard visa cover letter is used to prove the purpose of travel to the intended destination. Within this section, I'll include a sample letter about the purpose of travel.
Generally, your visa letter will include the following details:
Quick note: You can use your supporting/required documents to help prove the purpose of your trip. For example, enter the hotel name and refer to your proof of accommodation. "My friend and I plan to stay at ABC Hotel in Paris; our complete hotel reservation is attached."
The information included in your cover letter for medical purposes (typically written by the doctor/specialist):
Quick note: You can also request the hospital/medical center abroad to write you an invitation letter. This is known as a Hospital invitation letter and will include relevant details regarding your medical treatment, trip details, personal information, etc.
When traveling for business purposes, your employer must include a cover letter for a business visa. A cover letter for a business visa must include the following:
Quick note: You'll sometimes receive an invitation letter from the company for a visa from abroad. The company you plan to visit abroad can also write you a visa invitation letter that can be attached to your visa application.
Next, you'll find samples of the different cover letters you can provide for your visa application. Remember that these samples are only guidelines; you should edit the letter to suit your specific needs.
Date:
Immigration Officer
[Embassy Name]
[Embassy Address]
[Embassy Phone Number]
Subject: Cover Letter for tourism to [Desired Country] of [applicant name] with Passport No. __________________
Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to apply for a visa to travel to [country name] from [enter date DD/MM/YY] to [enter date DD/MM/YY]
My trip to [country name] is for tourism. I am excited to visit numerous tourist destinations such as [add places you plan to see] and experience [country name] 's unique cuisines and culture. Furthermore, I plan to visit the [city name(s)] to ensure I have the ultimate tourist experience.
[Feel free to add your schedule/itinerary and elaborate more on what you plan to do]
While visiting [country name], I plan to stay at the following hotels:
- [hotel name and address] - [date DD/MM/YY]
- [hotel name and address] - [date DD/MM/YY]
I am currently employed at [company name] with the title of [position]. I have received approval for vacation days for the dates specified above. Furthermore, I will support myself financially for my trip using [provide means of finances].
I am attaching all the required documents for my Visa application.
I trust that you will find everything is in order. However, if you have any questions or requirements, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.
Thank you in advance for a favorable reply to my application.
Sincerely,
[Your Complete Name]
[Your Address]
In most cases, your medical examiner/specialist will provide this visa letter to you.
[Official letterhead of hospital/medical institution] [Current Date]
[Name of Referring Hospital]
[Address and Phone]
[Patient Name]
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing on behalf of my patient, [patient Name here], to document the medical need for [medication/treatment/equipment in question] for the treatment of [the exact diagnosis]. Please, find in this letter the information regarding the patient's medical diagnosis and history and a summary of my treatment motive.
I am writing on behalf of my patient, [Name], to confirm the medical necessity of [treatment/medication] for [the treatment in question]. This visa letter will contain information regarding [name ('s)] medical diagnosis, history, and a summary of my treatment motivation.
Patient's Diagnosis and History:
(Add applicable information of the patient's diagnosis and medical history) Treatment: (Add applicable information about the patient's treatment, the reason thereof, and how it will benefit the health of the patient)
Treatment Duration:
(Add the expected duration of the treatment)
Summary:
As highlighted, the [medication/treatment] is necessary for my patient's medical condition. My patient could recover/improve successfully with the correct treatment and care.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if any further information is required to guarantee the approval of my patient's medical treatment.
Sincerely,
[name and signature of physician]
Quick note: Ensure that you include other relevant required documents alongside your medical cover letter. These can include records of your medical condition, health insurance policies, and so on.
In this section, I will show you the Business visa cover letter sample.
[Letterhead of Company]
[Date]
[Embassy name]
[Embassy address]
Dear Consul General:
I'm writing this letter to confirm that Mr./Mrs.[Name and Last Name] is an employee at [company name] as [job title/position].
During the last [number of years you've been working at the company], Mr./Mrs. [Name] has been key to improving relationships with our investors abroad. As such, Mr./Mrs. [Name] will be traveling to [Name of city], [country] from [Date of entry] until [Date of exit] for a total of [number of days] to attend to the following work-related activities: [Write in as much detail as possible about the business that will be conducted abroad]
Furthermore, during this time, Mr./Mrs. [Name] will attend an important business meeting in (city name) to improve corporate relations with our partners abroad.
Mr./Mrs. [Name] will be staying at [hotel name, address, phone number] and will return to [country of origin] on the dates specified above.
I kindly ask for the [visa type] to be issued to Mr./Mrs. [Name and surname] at your earliest convenience.
Please, do not hesitate to contact me if you need additional information.
Kind regards,
[Supervisor signature]
[Name and last name]
[Title]
[Phone number]
[Address of employer]
A sponsorship letter is required when you (the applicant) won't provide the funds for your trip abroad and is written by the person who will be funding your trip (the sponsor). It's an important document that proves you'll have the financial means to support yourself for the duration of your trip (for expenses such as accommodation, food, transport, etc.)
Quick note: This should be distinct from an visa invitation letter. Here I'll provide a Visa letter sample of sponsorship you can use for sponsorships.
The sponsorship visa letter should include details of both the applicant and the sponsor. Here's what you can include:
One more thing: Your sponsor should also submit copies of the following required documents:
Copies of their passport/I.D.
Proof of sufficient funds such as bank statements or payslips
A travel itinerary (if applicable)
Proof of accommodation for the applicant
A flight itinerary to prove that you will return to your home country (if applicable)
The Visa sponsorship letter sample can be used as a guideline. For this sample visa letter, we'll look at a husband sponsoring his wife's trip (you could replace "wife" with the applicant's Name).
Date:
Immigration Officer
[Embassy Name]
[Embassy Address]
[Embassy Phone Number]
Subject: Sponsorship Letter for [Wife's Name] with Passport No. __________________
Dear Sir/Madam,
I, [Your Full Name], currently residing at [address] and a [country] citizen, am writing in support of my wife, [Wife's Full Name], visa application.
[Wife's Name] will be traveling with me to [Destination name] for tourism and the purpose of the visit. My wife and I will depart on [enter date DD/MM/YY] and return to [enter the home country/another country] on [enter date DD/MM/YY]. During the dates specified above, my wife and I plan to visit [places you plan to visit] [add more details if applicable - a schedule, tours, etc.]. In addition, [Wife's Name] will be staying with me at [hotel name(s)]. Furthermore, I will cover all expenses through [provide means of funding].
Please find all the required documents attached to this letter to support the statements.
Kind regards
[Applicant name]
[Your home address]
[Your phone number]
[Your occupation]
[Your signature]
How to write a visa letter is one of many things you should know. Writing a cover letter can be effortless if you understand what information authorities are looking for. However, it may seem daunting if it's your first time writing a visa letter to official embassy authorities. Therefore, I recommend using Atlys when applying for any visa, as they will generate a visa application letter for you. Even so. I'll include some useful tips you can use when writing your next cover letter.
After reading through this post, you'll be able to easily write your visa letter no matter the visa you plan to apply for. Remember, you can use the sample visa letters as a guideline. However, it would be best if you make it your own. You now know everything there is on how to write a visa letter.
Once you have written your cover letter, you must submit it alongside your visa application form and other required documents at the Embassy, where you will lodge your visa application.
As a U.S. visitor, you must ensure your visa invitation is complete and includes all of the sponsor's information( a U.S. citizen). In addition, it would be helpful to include a letter of invitation for a visa and supporting documentation.
With your Schengen Visa, you can visit the following Schengen Member States in Europe:
Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
In some cases, you might not be able to attend an in-person interview with a visa officer, especially when applying through a Visa Application Center (like VFS global). A cover letter will help clearly explain the purpose of your travel to the embassy authorities responsible for processing your visa application. Not only will a cover letter facilitate the visa processing time, but it will also potentially increase the chances of a successful visa application.
When traveling for any purpose to a Schengen area country, it's definitely recommended to have an invitation letter. The letter will make it much easier for the Embassy to grant you the Schengen Visa.
For a successful visa application, you'll need to submit certain documents that form part of the Schengen Visa requirements. You must submit the following documents in addition to your cover letter:
Writing a cover letter for VFS Global is as simple as writing a letter to the embassy. Keep in mind that VFS Global acts as a bridge between you and the embassy. So when writing a cover letter for VFS Global, use the samples above (depending on purpose). In any case, remember that any visa cover letter follows the same principle and format.