Did you know that more than 6 million tourists visit Singapore every year. A tiny city-state in Southeast Asia, Singapore attracts the interests of people from all over the world. Architecture, culture, and entertainment await you in Singapore. Moreover, it is one of the important business hubs in the modern world. Once you have checked the best time to visit Singapore, the next step is to apply for a Singapore visa, whatever reason you might have for visiting Singapore. While you are applying for a Singapore visa, you need to submit several documents along with the visa application form. One of these documents is the invitation letter. What exactly is the letter of invitation or letter of introduction for Singapore visa? Let us find out.
What is a Letter of Invitation for Singapore Visa Application?
As the name suggests, a letter of invitation is a document or letter that a host writes to invite a person to Singapore. The LOI for Singapore visa application is required for all kinds of short-term visas, be it business visa, tourist visa, or visit visa. Both criteria of people, including people applying for a Singapore e-visa and those applying for a paper visa need to get this invitation letter. The letter should be written by a citizen or permanent resident of Singapore.
Eligibility for Writing a Singapore Visa LOI
- If you are applying for Singapore visa from Dubai, you will want to know from where you can procure the letter of invitation. Here are the details about who can write a letter of invitation.
- You can get the Singapore visa invitation letter from a family member, relative, or friend living in Singapore. This person must be a permanent resident or citizen and should be at least 21 years old. This will work for tourist or visit visa.
- In case you are applying for a business visa to attend a meeting or a conference, the letter of invitation should come from the organization or company you are visiting.
- If you are visiting Singapore as a tourist but do not know anyone in the country, a reliable and registered travel agency can help you to procure one. The travel agency may charge you extra for the same.
Is Submitting the Letter of Invitation Enough?
The letter of invitations Singapore visa is just one of the series of documents you need to submit. The others include your passport, UAE resident visa, and two passport size photographs. Apart from this, the sender of the letter also needs to submit some documents to support the invitation letter. These documents are as follows:
- Letter writer’s passport photocopy
- Sender’s Singapore identity card photocopy (both front and back sides)
- Sender’s bank statement photocopies (if he/she is sponsoring your entire trip)
- Sender’s rental agreement or proof of property ownership.
What are the Key Elements of an Invitation Letter?
Here are the key things that you must include in your invitation letter for Singapore visa.
- Details of the Sender: The letter should begin with the personal information of the sender. This includes name, contact details, address, passport number, and company name. The sender should also include his/her relationship with the visa applicant.
- Details of the Visa Applicant: The visa applicant’s information comes next. One needs to include details like name, nationality, and passport details.
- Purpose of Visit: The letter should mention the reason for visiting Singapore clearly. It could be tourism, visiting a family member or friend, or even a business meeting or conference.
- Duration: The sender of the letter of invitation should mention exactly how many days the visa applicant will be staying in Singapore. It is important to mention the date of arrival and date of departure.
- Accommodation: The next element would be the accommodation. The sender has to mention where the applicant is going to stay when in Singapore. This could be the sender’s residence or a hotel.
- Sponsorship: If the sender of the invitation letter is also sponsoring the visa applicant’s Singapore trip, this needs to mention in the letter. On the other hand, if the applicant is sponsoring the trip himself/herself, this also needs to be mentioned in the invitation letter.
- Closing Statement: The closing statement should be a request about issuing a Singapore visa to the applicant. The sender should mention that he would be willing to submit additional documents if it is necessary.
Sample Letter of Invitation for Singapore Visa
If you are still unsure about how to word the invitation letter, here is a template of letter of invitation for Singapore visa.
Dear Sir, Madam
I am (name of the host/sender) and I am from (nationality – if not a citizen of Singapore). I am a permanent resident of Singapore and am currently residing in (Singapore address). I hold the position of (job title) at (name of the company).
I am inviting (the name of the visa applicant or invitee) to Singapore for a few days/weeks. He/she is my (relation with the applicant – it could be spouse, sibling, parent, partner, business associate, friend) and is (nationality of the applicant). He/she would stay with me for a few days or weeks. He/she would be arriving in Singapore on (date of arrival) and leaving on (date of departure). The reason for his/her visit is (mention the exact reason: tourism, wedding, family reunion, business meeting, etc.)
I would be handling all the expenses of (the name of the guest/applicant) during his/her stay in Singapore. This includes the flight tickets to and from Singapore.
I request you to approve his/her multiple-entry/double-entry Singapore visa at the soonest opportunity.
I am willing to provide any further information or additional documents you require regards to this visa application.
Yours Sincerely,
(Name of the sender)
(Email id)
(Telephone number)
Tips for Writing a Letter of Invitation for Singapore Visa
The invitation letter is an official document that will be read by a visa officer. Hence, the tone of the letter should be formal and respectful.
- While it is important to put all the details in the invitation letter, it is equally important to ensure that it is not lengthy and verbose. Make sure that your letter is short and to the point.
- There should be no room for any errors in the letter. You must double-check spellings and important things like passport numbers, dates of arrival and departure, and such other things.
- Make sure the supporting documents mentioned above are attached along with the letter. The invitation letter does not have any meaning without these documents.
FAQs About Letter of Invitation for Singapore Visa
1. Is Singapore invitation letter a mandatory document?An invitation letter is not often considered as a mandatory document. But submitting it gives more credibility to your visa application.
2. What should be the form of the letter? Should it be digital or printed?
It depends on how you submit the visa application. In the case of an e-visa, the invitation letter can be sent by email. On the other hand, if you are applying for a paper or actual visa, you need to get it printed.
3. Does submitting an invitation letter guarantee Singapore visa approval?
No, submitting the invitation letter does not guarantee that you will get the visa. All other parameters should be correct too like your passport, photographs, etc.
4. Do I need to get the Singapore visa invitation letter notarized?
No, there is no need to get your Singapore visa invitation letter notarized.
Singapore visa invitation letter is a crucial document. So, before you check out the things to do in Singapore and best Singapore travel hacks, you must prepare yourself with all the aspects of visa application, including the invitation letter.
