I want to invite a family member/friend to visit me – what do I need to do?

If you want to invite a relative or friend to come and visit you in the UK, and they need a visa, they will need to apply for a Standard Visitor visa. If your visitor is a visa national they should apply for a visitor visa in the country where they are living (Non-visa nationals are allowed to request a visitor visa on entry). Your visitor should enter their information here to find out the process relevant for them.

Full details concerning which type of visitor visa they should apply for and how to apply, can be found on the UK Visas and Immigration website:

Your visitor must show some documents, which can include:

  • Evidence of their financial and employment circumstances, e.g. bank statements or pay slips(and yours if you are funding the trip). This could include bank statements or pay slips, and show that they can pay for the trip and have enough money to support themselves
  • Evidence that they intend to leave the UK at the end of their visit (e.g. a letter from their employer or return travel tickets).
  • Proof of your enrolment at Sussex. This can be obtained from your School Office (UG students), the Student Systems and RecordsOffice (PGT students), or the Research Student Administration Office (PGR students). If your visitor is coming to the UK to attend your graduation ceremony, make sure their letter includes the date of the ceremony
  • Copies of the bio-data pages from your passport and a copy of the valid visa or immigration stamp you have
  • A letter of invitation from you (see below). Students sometimes ask us for an additional formal letter of invitation for their visitor, but this is not necessary

Further details on the documentation can be found here:

If you are a from a country which is currently experiencing any political unrest, please contact an International Student Adviser for advice on additional documents you could provide for financial evidence and evidence that your visitor intends to leave the UK.

Your letter of invitation

Write a letter, addressed to UK Visas and Immigration. Include in your letter:

  • the full name and date of birth of the proposed visitor(s)
  • their relationship to you (parent, friend, etc)
  • why they want to come and visit you (for a holiday, to attend your graduation, etc.)
  • how long they want to stay in the UK and, if possible, their proposed arrival and departure dates
  • where they intend to stay; if they plan to stay with you, give your full address
  • your own immigration status in the UK (for example, student until September 2015) and that you have included copies of your passport/visa and proof of enrolment at Sussex

What to do next

Send your invitation letter, copies of passport/visa and proof of enrolment/graduation letter to your friend or relative so they can include them with their visa application. Do not send these direct to the Embassy.

Updated July 2016