Complete guide to providing a letter of commitment to sponsor a Schengen visa application.
If you plan to visit one of the countries that are part of the Schengen Area, you must apply for a Schengen visa. As part of your Schengen visa application, you are required to attach several documents to support your application. One of these documents is a sponsorship letter.
What Is a Sponsorship Letter for a Schengen Visa?
A letter of sponsorship is a statement made by the sponsor that they will pay for the applicant’s travel, accommodation, and everyday expenses when they apply for a Schengen visa. The letter contains information about the sponsor’s personal information, relationship to the applicant, itinerary information, and financial commitment. It is presented along with the Schengen visa application and acts as evidence of the applicant’s financial stability.
The sponsorship letter is addressed to the embassy or consulate of the country where the applicant intends to travel to, and it serves as a guarantee that the applicant will be taken care of financially during their stay in the Schengen Member State. It will outline the specifics of the financial support, e.g., they will take care of accommodation, food, transportation, and all other expenses that might come up.
This is important because the Immigration officers must be convinced that the applicant will not become a burden on the country’s resources. The letter will help to reassure the embassy or consulate that you have a valid reason for travel, you have a legitimate sponsor, and all the financial means necessary to travel to your destination country.
Why Do I Need a Sponsorship Letter?
A sponsorship letter helps you demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your expenses. Some situations in which a sponsorship letter is required or recommended include:
- You do not have sufficient funds to cover your expenses. If you do not have the financial means to support your trip, you need a sponsor.
- You are staying with a family member or friend. If you will be staying with a family member or friend who is a citizen or permanent resident of the country you plan to visit, and they will take care of the expenses, they are considered your sponsor. Therefore, you need to submit a sponsorship letter.
- You are attending an event or conference. If you will be attending an event or conference and the organizer will cover your expenses, you must submit a sponsorship letter. They must declare that they will take care of all the expenses while you are in the Member State for the event, conference, etc.
- You are participating in a cultural or educational program. If you will be participating in a cultural or educational exchange program, and the program will sponsor your expenses, you must submit an application letter.
Keep in mind that a sponsorship letter is not a guarantee that your visa application will be approved, but it can strengthen your case if you can provide evidence that you have a reliable sponsor who will cover your expenses.
What Does It Mean to Sponsor Someone for a Schengen Visa?
A Schengen visa sponsorship means that you will be providing financial support to an individual who plans to travel to one or more countries in the Schengen Area. The sponsor is responsible for the applicant during their stay in the Schengen Area. They will cover the applicant’s travel expenses, accommodation, and other necessary expenses. Besides this, as a sponsor, you will be required to provide evidence of your own financial stability and ability to sponsor the applicant. Some of the documents which you must submit that will serve as proof that you are able to support the applicant and their activities in the Member State include:
- Bank statements
- Employment letters
- Business documents
- Documentation to state financial situation, such as vehicle registration/license
In the sponsorship letter, the sponsor is required to outline the details of the financial support that they will provide. Acting as a sponsor comes with responsibility, so carefully consider those responsibilities and requirements so that you know what is required of you.
What to Include in a Sponsorship Letter?
You must include the following information on the sponsorship letter for the Schengen visa:
- Sponsor personal details. You should start the letter by introducing yourself. Write down your full name, address, and other contact information, such as your phone number and email address, in case the embassy or consulate needs to contact you.
- Applicant’s information. Write down the full name and passport details of the applicant you will sponsor.
- Relationship between the sponsor and the applicant. Explain your relationship with the applicant who you are sponsoring. Include the amount of time you have known them and the nature of your relationship.
- The reason for sponsorship. Explain why you are sponsoring the applicant, for example is it a family visit, for tourism, business purposes, etc.
- Details and itinerary of the trip. Give details of the applicant’s itinerary, e.g., what they will be doing, what places they are going to visit, etc.
- Financial commitment by the sponsor. Give details about the financial support that you will provide for the applicant, e.g., you will be covering their travel, accommodation, and daily expenses. You can include the amount of money that you will provide as well.
- Sponsor’s financial documents. You must include bank statements, proof of income, tax returns, and other documents that vary depending on the requirements of the embassy or consulate where the applicant is applying for a visa.
- Signature. Do not forget to sign the letter and date it at the end.
Tips for Writing a Sponsorship Letter
While writing a sponsorship letter, remember the following tips:
- Go through the embassy or consulate’s requirements. The first step is to check the requirements of the embassy or consulate where the applicant is applying for a visa. This way you will be able to make sure that you write a sponsorship letter that meets their requirements. Different embassies or consulates have different requirements regarding the format or the content it should contain.
- Be clear and to the point. You must clearly state the purpose of travel of the applicant. Avoid using too many words that might confuse the Immigration officers. Simply said, do not beat around the bush. Use simple language and be as clear as you can.
- Attach supporting documents. To simply state that you have the sufficient means to support the applicant is not enough evidence to convince the Immigration Officers. You must include additional documents, such as bank statements, employment letters, or other documents.
- Include your contact information. Do not forget to include your contact information, as the embassy may need to contact you for additional information, clarification, etc.
- Explain your relationship with the applicant. Simply state the relationship with the applicant, e.g., are they your spouse, parent, friend, etc. This will help you understand the nature of your relationship and the reason why you are willing to sponsor their trip.
- Watch out for spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Remember to review your letter before you finally submit it, to make sure it is grammatically free of errors and accurate.
It is significantly important to write a good sponsorship letter. This will help the applicant immensely, as the visa application will seem more genuine. The Immigration Officials will closely review the application and determine whether the sponsor is legitimate and will take care of the applicant during their stay in the Schengen Area.
Sponsorship Letter Sample
Dear Sir or Madam,
I [Your Name] am writing to confirm my sponsorship of [applicant’s name] for their upcoming trip to [destination country]. As [applicant’s relationship to sponsor], I have known [him/her] for [length of time], and can confidently certify to the truth and genuineness of their intention to travel to [destination country]. As [applicant’s relationship to sponsor], I will provide [him/her] financial support during their stay in [destination country], including [details of financial support, such as accommodation, food, transportation, travel activities, etc].
I have attached supporting documents to this letter to prove my financial stability, including bank statements, employment letters, etc.
I am also responsible for [applicant’s name]’s return to [applicant’s home country] at the end of [his/her] stay in [destination country], and will make sure that they comply with all regulations and laws in [destination country]. Moreover, I can guarantee that they will not overstay, engage in any illegal activities or carry out any other activity that the visa does not permit.
I kindly request that [applicant’s name]’s visa application be considered favorably.
I am available and willing to submit any additional information or documentation that might be required.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[Sponsor’s name and contact information].