A letter of sponsorship is submitted to the embassy of the country of intended departure to obtain a visa if the person leaving is not currently working (students, housewives, pensioners, temporarily unemployed, etc.). If a working parent travels with a child, then you do not need to provide a sponsorship letter! (according to information received from our user, the French Embassy required a letter of sponsorship for the child from a working parent).
Sample sponsorship letter for obtaining visas to most countries of the world.
A sponsorship letter for a visa is written in free form, for example:
SPONSORSHIP LETTER
I, Ivanov Ivan Ivanovich (indicate the full name of the sponsoring person) I sponsor the trip of Maria Ivanovna Sidorova (indicate the full name of the departing person) to the Czech Republic (country of departure is indicated) from 01/01/2009 (trip start date) until January 15, 2009 (end date of trip) .
Date, sponsor's signature.
"__"______________ 20__
Moscow
SPONSORSHIP STATEMENT
With this statement, I, Ivan Ivanovich Ivanov, confirm that I am a sponsor tourist trip my son Pyotr Ivanovich Ivanov, born on October 10, 1987, passport 51 No. 1234567, to Italy from “__” ________ 200_ to “__” ________20__, and I also finance all the additional expenses of my son associated with this trip.
____________________ / Ivanov I.I./
The sponsorship letter is accompanied by a certificate from the sponsoring person’s place of work on the organization’s letterhead indicating the following information:
- The position held by the sponsoring person;
- The salary of the sponsoring person (for most Schengen countries the amount must be at least 500 Euros;
- Contact numbers of the sponsoring person's manager;
- Signature of the head or chief accountant of the organization;
- Seal of the organization.
The sponsorship letter is written in Russian or English language. Sponsorship letters are not notarized.
Some consulates require a sponsorship letter written in the language of the country of entry. In this case, you can attach a translation of the letter if it was originally written in Russian. Today, such requirements are imposed by the consulates of Austria, Australia, Great Britain, the USA, Switzerland and Thailand. Moreover, the consulates of Australia and Switzerland require a certified translation.
Attention! The salary amount of the sponsoring person is indicated as an approximate amount - each individual embassy may have its own requirements, both for the documents required to obtain a visa and for the amount of salary (size of the bank account) of the sponsor. For example, the Czech Embassy has introduced a new requirement for a bank certificate to obtain a visa. It is now mandatory to indicate cash flows for 3 months. There is also a requirement for prepayment of hotel reservations. As an alternative, it is allowed:
- The hotel booking confirmation must record (display) the applicant's (or the applicant's travel sponsor's) credit/debit card number. Partial concealment of the card number is allowed.
- The hotel booking confirmation states that all invoices will be paid at check-out.
If you book a hotel through our system
If you are going to Spain, then obtaining a Schengen visa is a prerequisite. In order to be issued, you need to collect a package of documents, which includes a sponsorship letter.
In our article you will learn in detail about:
- What is it - a sponsorship letter.
- How to correctly compose this document.
- What are the nuances and difficulties when applying for sponsorship?
- What does the sample shape look like?
- What guarantee obligations fall on the sponsor?
Before going to the visa center, study all the information on the topic of the sponsorship letter so that neither the center staff nor you miss any important points that may become an obstacle to obtaining permission to cross the Spanish border.
What is a sponsorship letter and why is it necessary?
A letter of sponsorship helps the applicant obtain a Schengen visa, thanks to relatives
Sponsorship letter is a document that confirms the solvency of a person who intends to cross the border of a foreign state.
It is issued if the tourist himself:
- There are not enough funds in bank accounts.
- Inappropriate salary amount, which can be documented.
In this case, a sponsorship letter helps the applicant obtain a Schengen visa, thanks to relatives.
It is these persons who can guarantee that in certain cases they will bear the traveler’s expenses. Thus, the foreign state creates financial guarantees for itself.
Travel expenses to Spain that may arise:
- Accommodation in a hotel, hotel, hostel, boarding house or with a private person.
- City, suburban, rented and other transport of any kind.
- Services of guides and translators.
- On an excursion to the sights of Spain.
- Service in medical institutions abroad.
Without a sponsorship letter, a citizen may be denied a Schengen visa to Spain if his funds are not enough to cover such expenses.
If the document from your place of work contains insufficient amounts to cover future expenses, and there are such funds in your bank accounts, then send a bank statement to the visa center. In this case, do not provide a sponsorship letter.
Basic information
Compose your letter in free form, but remember some rules for its formatting.
Important! There is no specific sponsorship letter form for obtaining a Schengen visa to Spain. It is important to provide all of the above information.
Categories of persons who are required to provide a sponsorship letter for a visa
- Persons who, due to their state of health and capabilities, can work and earn money, but for one reason or another are not employed at the time of receiving a visa.
- Housewives.
- Not officially employed and unable to provide proof of their income.
- Citizens with low incomes who will not be able to cover the costs of traveling around Spain.
Students of schools, gymnasiums, lyceums and other educational institutions where they receive secondary education can travel abroad without their parents and legal representatives.
However, if you are a parent or guardian of a child, make sure to obtain a sponsorship letter in advance. If your child is traveling with you legally (there is consent from the other parent, the children are included in the passport of mom and dad, etc.), then do not write a sponsorship letter for a minor.
The main thing is that you, as parents, have a sufficient level of income or a letter from a guarantor in your name.
Students of higher educational institutions (universities, institutes, etc.), as well as colleges, technical schools and other secondary educational institutions, must also have a sponsorship letter in hand before receiving a Schengen visa.
The need for a sponsorship letter disappears for the student:
- For official employment.
- Upon presentation of an official document confirming your income level.
- If such income is sufficient to travel to Spain.
The financial support of a pensioner in our country does not always correspond to the level necessary to cover expenses when traveling to the Schengen countries. This is especially true for unemployed citizens of retirement age.
In order to take a long-awaited trip abroad on a well-deserved vacation, you will need a sponsorship letter, for example, from children or grandchildren, if they have the opportunity.
If you are a disabled or incapacitated citizen, also prepare a letter from your sponsor to have a better chance of being approved for a Schengen visa to Spain.
In practice, the rule is that the amount of income to obtain a Schengen visa must be at least 25-30 thousand rubles. In some cases, approval may be possible even with a lower income if experts consider you a worthy candidate for a visa to Spain.
Categories of persons entitled to act as a sponsor
Majority European countries, in particular Spain, gives preference to letters of sponsorship that are drawn up by the closest relatives. It is they, according to employees of embassies and consulates, who are the guarantors of bearing the expenses for the sponsored person.
It is important to meet the requirements for sponsors
These include:
- Spouses of the visa applicant.
- Parents, legal representatives, guardians, trustees.
- Children and grandchildren of pensioners.
- Brothers and sisters.
However, simply being a relative of the sponsored person is not enough. It is important to meet the requirements for sponsors.
Namely:
- Having a close relationship.
- Sufficient funds in the sponsor's accounts and (or) his income are sufficient to cover the relative's expenses.
- The guarantor reaches the age of majority.
A letter is written on his behalf and supporting documents are attached.
General package of documents for issuing a sponsorship letter to Spain
A “naked” sponsorship letter will not be valid for a positive decision on issuing a Schengen visa. A package of documents must be attached to it. In this case, both the sponsor and the visa applicant must collect the paperwork.
So, if you are a guarantor or a traveler, provide a letter with an obligation to bear expenses to the Embassy or visa center:
Important! Have a copy of your passport, as well as other documents, certified by a notary. This way you can verify their true authenticity.
Sample sponsorship letter to Spain
As already noted, a sponsorship letter is drawn up in any form, taking into account the mandatory details and components.
Visually it might look like this:
There is nothing complicated in writing it. The most important thing is that all data is current and valid.
In some cases it may be called a “Sponsorship Statement.” This does not change its essence.
It is not always possible for a citizen to have relatives for sponsorship
It is not always possible for a citizen to have relatives for sponsorship.
But there may be close friends, neighbors, acquaintances, work colleagues who have enough money to travel to Spain.
And also, they are ready to provide this money to you.
In such a situation, the option of a sponsorship letter may not be successful, because there is no family connection between people, and it will be necessary to confirm it.
To do this, you can try another option to ensure your solvency in the eyes of employees of Embassies and visa centers:
- The person can transfer funds to your bank account in the required amount.
- To guarantee the return of these funds, draw up a loan agreement or write a receipt.
- After returning to Russian Federation, if this money is not used, return it to its rightful owner and “close” the concluded contractual relationship.
The presence of a sufficient amount in the bank account of a traveler, tourist, or person going on a business trip, even with his minimum income at his main place of employment, is the basis for visa approval.
Of course, if there are no other reasons to deny the applicant a Schengen visa to Spain.
Many tourists want to visit Spain different countries world, including from Russia. According to the statistics summarized, this is due to the pleasant climate of the state, the friendliness of the people living in it, and amazing art monuments, museums and architectural structures.
To visit Spain, citizens of Russia and CIS countries must obtain a Spanish visa. It can be Schengen and national. Their differences lie in the long-term stay, and also in the fact that using a Schengen visa to Spain in 2019 you can visit other Schengen countries.
What documents are required to obtain a visa?
To obtain a Schengen Spanish visa, you need to collect the following list of documents:
- Active international passport. An important requirement is that after completion of the trip, its validity period must be three months. At least two pages of the passport must remain blank. If the applicant has old foreign passports that have expired or are still valid, they must also be surrendered (originals and copies);
- Certificate received from the place of work. It must be drawn up on the company’s letterhead and certified by the seal of management or the chief accountant. It must include information such as salary, position held and length of service. If the applicant is a schoolchild or student, he must present a certificate from the educational institution along with a photocopy of his student ID;
- Two photographs, 35x45 mm format. Requirements for photographs - the face must occupy more than 70% of the image, color, no corners, the head is located in the central part, a light background, eyes open and looking directly into the camera, no glasses or other accessories;
- Health insurance. To obtain a Spanish visa, you need to take out insurance. This can be done in Russian or Spanish companies, and it is recommended to make a choice in favor of the latter. The amount insured must not be less than 30,000 euros;
- Photocopy of civil passport;
- A completed application form and a sample can be found on the official website;
- Additional documents to increase your chances of obtaining a Spanish visa in 2019: round-trip air tickets, hotel or hostel reservations, rental agreement for a house or apartment, certificates of ownership of real estate in Russia, documents confirming that close relatives remain in Russia ( certificate of marriage, birth of children).
A mandatory document is a bank account statement. It is necessary so that the consul is convinced that you have enough funds to complete the trip. The calculation must be carried out taking into account the fact that 57 euros are required per day per person, if you receive a national visa, then 60 euros.
Letter from sponsor
A sample sponsorship letter for a visa in .doc format can be downloaded.
If you do not have enough funds, you can turn to a sponsor for help. He will sponsor the entire trip, including visa costs. To confirm that the trip is being paid for by a third party, a corresponding sponsorship letter is required. It should contain the following information (following the example):
- Full name of the person who will pay for the trip;
- Sponsor's place of work;
- Agreement to reimbursement of expenses during travel.
If a visa is issued on the basis of a sponsorship letter, then the following documents must be attached to the package of documents:
- A photocopy of the sponsoring person's civil passport;
- Certificate from his place of work;
- If he is an individual entrepreneur, he must present a certificate of registration with the tax authorities;
- Bank account statement.
Attention! The sponsorship letter must be certified by a notary, otherwise it will be invalid.
The sponsor himself does not need to visit the visa center. The applicant for a Spanish visa can submit the documents along with the letter. The person paying for the trip also does not need to attend the interview.
A sponsorship letter must be provided. This unspoken rule applies to travelers who are planning a trip to most developed countries, including Spain.
When is a sponsorship letter needed?
It is worth noting that such a document will definitely be required from those people who could not pay for their trip on their own:
- If you are going to work in Spain and have already found an employer who is interested in your arrival.
- If you are unemployed at the time of submitting your visa application or have insufficient funds in your bank account. A sponsorship letter can also be written by a non-Spanish citizen. This applies to cases where people travel with large families, and one of them has sufficient income or funds in the bank. Usually this person writes a sponsorship letter to his wife and, for example, adult children.
- If you are going to study at any educational institution in Spain.
- If you are undergoing treatment in this country.
- If you are sending a child abroad and he is under 14 years of age at the time of submitting the application.
Who can write you a sponsorship letter?
- A close relative (spouse, child if you are a pensioner, sibling).
- Officially appointed guardian.
- Any person, even a non-blood relative.
Important! At the consulate, you can provide a document from your common-law husband or wife, but in this case there is a very high percentage of refusal by visa officers.
Documents for obtaining a visa to Spain and the procedure for laying out documents
Basic rules for writing a sponsorship letter
- The person who is processing it must assure the consulate staff that you have enough funds for living. Otherwise, he is obliged to guarantee financial guardianship over you.
- Also, the sponsorship letter should indicate that your mandatory plans are to return to your homeland and, accordingly, leave the territory of Spain.
- The sponsor must provide passport and contact information on his own behalf.
- The letter must fully prove the relationship between him and the person who plans to enter Spain. Naturally, this does not apply to guest and business Schengen visas.
- The sponsor must also provide the date of the proposed trip. Additionally, it is worth clarifying the country of residence.
Design nuances
There are no strict requirements regarding formatting: the sponsorship letter is written in any order.
Important! Such a plan does not require notarization, but this can be done for greater certainty.
- If the author of the sponsorship letter is not your relative, certification by a notary is required.
- It is better to draw up the document on Spanish, however, consulate employees allow the acceptance of Russian-language texts.
- If a letter is translated, it must be certified with an apostille by a professional translator.
- Before applying to the consulate for a visa, please read the latest amendments to the procedure for drawing up a sponsorship letter, if any. They are usually published on the official website of the department.
- You should not be guided solely by the rules for drawing up a document from the point of view of a Schengen visa. Please remember that each country has the right to make its own amendments to this procedure.
Important! Requirements regarding the minimum salary of a sponsor vary in each country in proportion to its level of development. Thus, for Spain the calculated amount is no less than 700 euros.
Video - How to apply for a Schengen visa according to the new rules
Should I attach any documents?
It is considered invalid without the following list, which includes:
- A copy of the sponsor's passport. A note indicating your current place of residence must be copied.
- A copy of your birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc. This document must confirm the relationship between you and the writer of the letter.
- Certificate from the latter’s place of work or about the status of his current account. The relevance of this certificate is important, that is, it must be issued no earlier than a month before submitting the entire package of documents.
Important! If you enclose a certificate about the amount of funds in the account, take care to also provide information about the movement of funds. Data must be provided for the last 90 days.
The main mistakes when writing a sponsorship letter
It is necessary to approach this issue extremely responsibly, since after each refusal the chances of obtaining a visa to Spain are significantly reduced.
This may concern seemingly harmless inaccuracies:
- Write to the point. On average, the length of a sponsorship letter does not exceed ten lines. The visa officer wants to see only the information that is officially required.
- Keep the sheet neat. This is the seriousness of your intentions regarding the upcoming trip.
- Consult your sponsor in a timely manner. According to the norms, he must be involved not only in directly signing the document, but also in drafting it. Make sure that in addition to proof of family ties, the letter mentions the date and place of travel.
- Do not bring expired documents. Only a letter written one month before submitting documents to the visa center is considered valid.
Answers to frequently asked questions
In general, drafting a sponsorship letter is not particularly difficult if you really have a wealthy sponsor in Spain.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What document must be attached if the sponsor is a private entrepreneur? | This may be a certificate from the Spanish tax authorities or a certificate of registration of an entrepreneur. In both cases, only copies are required |
| What should a sponsor's employment certificate look like? | The main requirement is the signature of the general director and chief accountant, as well as a unique seal of the enterprise. Important requirements also include issuing the certificate in the company’s corporate style. Employees of well-known corporations should pay special attention to this. |
| Can I scan documents? | There are no official prohibitions regarding this, however, documents sent by mail are more reliable |
A Spanish visa for Russians is issued according to the same principle as a visa to travel to other Schengen countries. The list of documents contains a mention of financial certificates confirming the applicant’s solvency. As a rule, this is a certificate from your place of work or a bank account statement. But what to do if a person doesn’t work, has no money in his account, but really wants to go on a trip? How to apply for a visa for minors who cannot have a job or a bank account? Then a sponsorship letter for a visa to Spain is issued.
What is a sponsorship letter and when is it required?
A sponsorship letter is an official document issued by a close relative of a person who does not have funds for travel. The application guarantees that the sponsor will pay for food, accommodation at the destination and personal expenses of the tourist. The following categories of citizens are required to submit such a letter to the Consulate:
- Minor students and children studying at school and without an official source of income.
- Working people with low income. When issuing a certificate of employment, the salary must be at least 25,000 rubles, otherwise the package of documents is supplemented with a sponsorship letter.
- Pensioners. If there are cash savings in the bank, it is enough for the pensioner to provide an account statement. If there are no invoices, sponsorship will be issued.
- Persons who do not have a job or work unofficially.
Important! If a person does not work, but has savings in a bank account, it is enough to attach a statement - in this case, a sponsorship letter is not required for a Schengen visa.
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Sponsorship application maker
For a tourist trip, proof of expenses can be written by a person whose family ties with the applicant can be documented. It could be:
- Mother or father.
- An adult child sponsored by a parent.
- Spouse or spouse.
- Officially recognized trustee or guardian.
The sponsor must be financially able to provide for the applicant during his stay in Spain. If a guest visa is issued, all expenses for food and accommodation of the tourist are borne by the inviting person. The sponsorship letter form filled out by a foreigner is similar to the Russian one. Together with the invitation, the application is sent to the tourist, and based on this data, a visa is issued.
Business trips must be sponsored by the employer. He sends the applicant an official confirmation of payment of all expenses on letterhead with the organization’s contacts, seal and signature.
Rules for writing a letter
A sponsorship letter for a visa to Spain can be issued electronically and then printed. If this is not possible, you should write it by hand in legible handwriting on an A4 sheet.
The document must indicate the country of destination (Spain), dates of travel, passport details of the sponsor and applicant. Both an internal and a foreign passport can be indicated. At the bottom is the date of registration and the signature of the person sponsoring the trip.
If sponsorship of two people is necessary (for example, a husband pays for a trip for his wife and child or two children), one application is written, but the details of all private participants of the trip must be indicated. A standard sponsorship sample and a blank form for entering data are provided on the Consulate website.
Additional documents for a sponsorship letter
In addition to the letter, the sponsor is required to provide supporting documents. These include:
- Proof of close relationship with the applicant - birth certificate, marriage certificate or adoption certificate.
- If the surname of one of the persons differs from the one indicated on the certificate, a document is required about the reason for the change of surname.
- Copies of the pages of the sponsor's civil passport - the first page and the page with registration.
- Certificate from the sponsor's place of employment on letterhead indicating the position, salary, place of work and information about the organization.
- Sponsor's bank account statement.
To calculate the required amount in your bank account, you need to multiply the required 64.53 euros per day by the number of days on the trip. For 1 person the minimum amount is 580 euros. If a mother is going on a trip with a minor child, she must be able to provide for two at once, so the minimum amount is doubled.
Important! In most Schengen countries, the required amount in the bank is determined at the rate of 50-65 euros per day. This is not the most high rate– for example, when applying for a visa to the USA or the UK, an amount of 100 dollars is required. It's better to play it safe and put a little more money into your account.
Having an application gives the right to travel to Europe even for travelers who do not have a stable income and large bank accounts. The number of visa refusals does not depend on the specifics of the funding - sponsored applicants receive visas on the same basis as those who pay their own expenses.
