[Host full name] [Street address] [Suburb, State, Postcode] [Date] To the Department of Home Affairs, I am writing to invite my [relationship — e.g. mother], [visitor's full name], passport number [number], to visit me in Australia. I am an Australian [citizen / permanent resident] and I have lived at the address above since [month, year]. I have attached a copy of my [citizenship certificate / visa grant notice] and my [lease / rates notice] as evidence. The purpose of the visit is [specific reason — e.g. to attend my wedding on 14 March, to meet her first grandchild born in February]. [Visitor's name] intends to arrive on approximately [date] and depart on approximately [date], a stay of about [number] weeks. During the visit, [visitor's name] will stay with me at the address above at no cost. [State clearly what you are covering: accommodation only, or accommodation and living costs, or nothing beyond accommodation.] [If relevant: [Visitor's name] remains employed as a [role] at [employer] and has been granted leave for this period; a copy of the leave approval is attached.] I can be contacted on [phone] or [email] if any of the above needs to be confirmed. Yours faithfully, [Signature] [Host full name]
⚠️ Important
This page contains a general example only. It is not legal advice, migration advice, or an approved template. Visa requirements and document expectations can change. Do not copy this example without personalising it for your circumstances. For advice specific to your situation, speak with a registered migration agent.
Visa Translation Hub · Letter Guide
Visitor Visa Invitation Letter — guide and example
An invitation letter is commonly written by an Australian resident or citizen to support a family member or friend's visitor visa application. It typically explains the purpose of the visit, the relationship between the parties, and details of the host's circumstances in Australia.
Who May Need a Visitor Visa Invitation Letter?
This letter is generally written by australian residents or citizens inviting a family member or friend to visit australia. The exact author and tone depend on the relationship to the applicant and the visa type involved.
- Australian citizens or permanent residents inviting a family member or close friend
- Hosts who will provide accommodation or financial support during the visit
When May This Letter Be Used?
- Visitor Visa (Subclass 600) — Tourist or Sponsored Family streams
- eVisitor (Subclass 651) and ETA (Subclass 601) supporting documents in some cases
- Where the Department of Home Affairs requests evidence of the purpose and genuineness of a visit
What a Visitor Visa Invitation Letter Generally Includes
- Sender's full name, address and contact details
- Relationship to the applicant
- Purpose and intended dates of the visit
- Accommodation arrangements during the stay
- Financial support details (if applicable)
- A genuine intent statement and signature
Requirements may vary. Check homeaffairs.gov.au or speak with a migration agent.
What to Avoid in This Letter
- Promising that the visitor 'will definitely return' — the host cannot control that and the claim reads as unverifiable
- Leaving the dates open-ended when the visitor's application states a specific period
- Describing accommodation that does not match the address evidenced elsewhere in the file
- Writing on behalf of several visitors in one letter without naming each of them and their passport details
- Using an invitation letter as a substitute for the visitor's own financial evidence when the visitor is self-funding
How a visitor visa invitation letter is usually read
An invitation letter is read as evidence about the visit itself, not about the host. The questions behind it are practical: is there a real reason for this trip, is it for a defined period, and is somebody in Australia accountable for where the visitor will stay. A letter that spends four paragraphs describing the host's career and one line on the visit answers none of those. Specific dates, a specific occasion and a specific address do more work than any amount of warm language, because each of them is a fact that the rest of the application can corroborate.
Documents that usually sit alongside this letter
- Proof of the host's status in Australia — citizenship certificate, passport bio page, or visa grant notice
- Evidence of the address offered, such as a lease, rates notice or mortgage statement
- Documents tying the visit to its stated occasion: a wedding invitation, medical letter, funeral notice or graduation programme
- Evidence of the relationship, including older family photographs, family register extracts or call records
- Return flight bookings or leave approval from the visitor's employer where the trip has a fixed end
Signing, witnessing and format
This is an ordinary signed letter — no witness or letterhead is required. It should be dated close to the lodgement date, signed by hand where possible, and include the host's phone number and email so that the statements in it can be checked. If the host and the visitor share a surname, spelling both names exactly as they appear on their passports avoids an unnecessary identity query.
Example Letter Structure
Example only — not a legal template. Replace bracketed placeholders with accurate, personal information.
Does Your Supporting Letter Need to Be Translated?
If your letter is written in a language other than English, it generally needs to be accompanied by a NAATI-certified English translation for Australian visa applications. Trans Lingo provides NAATI-certified translations from $59 per page, delivered within 24 hours.
Related Guides
Visitor Visa Subclass 600
Related visa overview.
Visitor Visas overview
Category guide and document list.
Visitor Visas checklist
Documents commonly translated for this category.
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