A Visa Invitation Letter is a prime requirement for fulfilling your Visa Application to the Embassy. The most important purpose that an Invitation Letter serves is to tell the Visa Processing Panel that you are not planning to stay illegally there, and you have a valid purpose backing up your travel plans. Whether you are travelling to the Schengen region for work, studies, pleasure, or a completely different reason altogether, an Invitation Letter is a must have. It should typically be written by the person who is inviting you there, and should include certain key information for it to be accepted by the Schengen Visa Panel.

Here’s a brief on what you need to know about Invitation Letters and how to go about acquiring them for your Schengen Visa.

1. Business Invitation Letter:
   If you are visiting a Schengen country to finalize a deal, deliver a project, or for any other business-related reasons, a Business Invitation Letter is mandatory. The person authoring the letter must clearly specify the purpose of your visit and the duration of your stay. It would be good if your Schengen business host also had a copy of your travel itinerary, which details the business activities you have planned during your time there. In addition, you should also attach your employer’s letter which contains your employment details such as designation, employment dates, salary, and the reason of your visit.
2. University / College Invitation letter:
   An Invitation Letter for the purpose of education must come to you from the University or College you have enrolled into. This will usually be in the form of an Acceptance Letter, which states that you have successfully joined a particular course in that institution. The letter should specifically state the subject you are majoring in, course duration, and your financial capabilities.
3. Tourism Invitation Letter:
   If you are visiting a Schengen country to visit family or friends, then you will need an Invitation Letter from any of them to get your Tourism Visa. The letter must clearly describe how they are related to you and for how long you will be visiting them. To support this Invitation Letter, you must furnish a proof of relationship, along with dates of your visit, purpose of visit, and finances available.
4. Invitation Letter for Miscellaneous Purposes:
   Schengen Visa Invitation Letters are also required in case you are visiting the region to attend a conference, a seminar, a trade show, or for treatment at a hospital. In all cases, the letter should have the stamp / seal / certificate of registration of the sponsoring authority. In case of treatment, the Letter should be from your doctor who is associated with the hospital where you will be getting treated. Other details such as financial feasibility, costs, and duration of stay should also be mentioned in the letter.

An Invitation Letter plays an important role in the Visa Application process simply because it tells authorities that you have a purpose for your visit and will eventually return to your country of origin. In addition, these letters also provide authorities with the contact information of those persons who are inviting you there. They will thus be able to keep track in case you overstay your Schengen Visa.