👨👩👧👦 UK Visit Visa Sponsor Requirements (2025 Guide)
If you're applying for a UK family visit visa, it's very common to have a sponsor — someone in the UK who supports your application by providing accommodation, financial help, or simply inviting you to stay.
This guide explains who can be a sponsor, what documents they need to provide, and how AskVisas can help sponsors prepare strong supporting evidence for a successful UK visitor visa application.
✅ What Is a Sponsor for a UK Visit Visa?
A sponsor is someone in the UK who is helping to support your visit. This is most often a:
Family member (such as a sibling, parent, or child)
Friend or partner
UK-based business, organisation, or medical provider
🔑 While a sponsor can help, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) will assess you, the visitor, first. Your sponsor supports your application, but you must still show your own financial and personal ties.
📄 What Should a Sponsor Provide?
At a minimum, the sponsor should provide a clear and honest invitation letter for the UK visa application. Depending on the support they offer, they may also include documents about their income, accommodation, and relationship with you.
📝 Sample Invitation Letter for UK Visit Visa (Simple Example)
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to invite my [sister], [Full Name], to visit me in the United Kingdom from [date] to [date].
I will provide her with free accommodation at my home during her stay at [full UK address], and I will also support her financially as needed. She is visiting for family reasons and will return to her home country after her visit.
Please find my supporting documents attached.
Sincerely, [Full Name]
[UK address]
[Phone number]
[Email address]
[Copy of passport or UK visa/BRP]
📎 Supporting Documents From a Sponsor (Recommended)
To strengthen the visa application, the sponsor should include:
✅ Copy of UK passport or valid immigration status document (e.g. BRP, visa)
✅ Recent bank statements or payslips (if offering financial help)
✅ Proof of accommodation (e.g. tenancy agreement, council tax, utility bills)
✅ Evidence of relationship to the applicant (e.g. family documents, photos, messages, past visits)
✅ Signed invitation letter (as above)
💡 UKVI wants to see a genuine personal relationship and clear ability to support the visitor during their stay.
💡 Why the Sponsor’s Role Matters (But Isn’t Everything)
Even if a sponsor is paying for your trip, UKVI still assesses the applicant’s own situation first. You must show:
Your own financial situation (job, income, savings)
Your reason for visiting
Strong ties to your home country
A sponsor’s documents support, but do not replace, your own evidence.
🏢 What About Business or Organisation Sponsors?
Sometimes, a UK-based company or institution sponsors a visitor — for example:
Business meetings or training
Cultural performances or sporting events
Private medical treatment
In these cases, the organisation should provide:
A formal invitation letter on company letterhead
Details of the visit (dates, purpose, itinerary)
Who is paying for flights, accommodation or other expenses
Company registration or contact information
✅ The company must appear genuine, with contactable details and a clear reason for your visit.
🤝 AskVisas Can Help Sponsors Too
Whether you're a family member inviting someone to visit, or a company hosting a guest, AskVisas can help you prepare sponsor documents correctly.
We can assist with:
Writing a strong invitation letter
Advising on evidence of relationship
Making sure your financial support looks genuine and acceptable
Checking your accommodation proof
🧾 Sponsor Documents Checklist (UK Visit Visa)
Signed invitation letter
Copy of sponsor’s passport or UK visa
Sponsor’s bank statements or payslips (if giving financial help)
Proof of accommodation in the UK
Evidence of relationship with the applicant
Company invitation letter (if sponsored by a business)
🎯 Want to sponsor someone to visit the UK?
Let AskVisas help you submit the right sponsor documents for a smooth and stress-free application.