Planning a trip to Nigeria? Whether you're visiting family, attending a business meeting, or exploring the vibrant culture, you'll likely need a visa. One of the crucial documents for most Nigerian visa applications is an invitation letter. This article will walk you through what a Nigerian Visa Invitation Letter Sample looks like and why it's so important.
What is a Nigerian Visa Invitation Letter?
Think of an invitation letter as a formal "hello" and "welcome" from someone already in Nigeria to you, the person wanting to visit. It's a document written by a Nigerian citizen or a resident of Nigeria (like a business owner or a family member) who is inviting you to their country. This letter is a key piece of evidence for the Nigerian immigration authorities, showing that you have a legitimate reason and a point of contact while you're there. The importance of a well-written and accurate invitation letter cannot be overstated; it significantly strengthens your visa application.
This letter needs to contain specific information to be considered valid. Here's a breakdown of what you'll typically find:
- Inviter's Details: Full name, address, phone number, email address, and their Nigerian passport or resident permit number.
- Invitee's Details: Your full name, passport number, date of birth, and your nationality.
- Purpose of Visit: Clearly state why you are being invited (e.g., family visit, business conference, tourism).
- Duration of Stay: Specify the exact dates of your visit.
- Accommodation Details: Where you will be staying (e.g., with the inviter, hotel name and address).
- Relationship: Explain how you know the inviter.
- Sponsorship (if applicable): If the inviter is covering your expenses, this must be clearly stated.
Sometimes, the immigration office might want to see proof of the inviter's status in Nigeria. This could include:
| Type of Proof | What it Shows |
|---|---|
| Nigerian Passport Copy | Proof of citizenship |
| Resident Permit Copy | Proof of legal residency for non-Nigerians |
| Proof of Accommodation | Landlord agreement or utility bill |
Business Meeting Invitation for Nigerian Visa
[Your Company Letterhead]
[Date]
To the Consular Officer,
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
[Address of Nigerian Embassy/Consulate]
Subject: Invitation Letter for Mr./Ms. [Your Full Name] - Business Meeting
Dear Sir/Madam,
This letter is to formally invite Mr./Ms. [Your Full Name], a [Your Nationality] citizen with passport number [Your Passport Number], to Nigeria for a series of crucial business meetings. Mr./Ms. [Your Full Name] is scheduled to visit Nigeria from [Start Date] to [End Date] for discussions regarding [Briefly mention the purpose of the business meetings, e.g., potential partnership, contract negotiation].
During their stay, Mr./Ms. [Your Full Name] will be staying at [Hotel Name and Address, or if hosted by a company representative, state that and provide their details]. Our company, [Your Company Name], located at [Your Company Address in Nigeria], will be responsible for hosting and facilitating these meetings.
We kindly request your favorable consideration in granting a visa to Mr./Ms. [Your Full Name] to enable them to attend these important engagements that will benefit both our companies and contribute to economic relations between our nations.
Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at [Your Company Phone Number] or [Your Company Email Address].
Sincerely,
[Name of Authorized Person from Nigerian Company]
[Title of Authorized Person]
[Your Company Name]
[Contact Phone Number]
[Email Address]
Family Visit Invitation for Nigerian Visa
[Your Full Name (Inviter)]
[Your Address in Nigeria]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Date]
To the Consular Officer,
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
[Address of Nigerian Embassy/Consulate]
Subject: Invitation Letter for [Guest's Full Name] - Family Visit
Dear Sir/Madam,
I, [Your Full Name (Inviter)], a Nigerian citizen (National ID/Passport Number: [Your Nigerian ID/Passport Number]), residing at [Your Address in Nigeria], am writing to invite my [Relationship to Guest, e.g., son, sister, cousin], [Guest's Full Name], who is a citizen of [Guest's Nationality] with passport number [Guest's Passport Number], to visit me in Nigeria.
[Guest's Full Name] wishes to visit from [Start Date] to [End Date] for the purpose of a family reunion and to spend time with me and our family. During their stay, [Guest's Full Name] will be residing with me at my home located at the address mentioned above.
I will be personally responsible for their accommodation and welfare throughout their visit. I kindly request that you grant [Guest's Full Name] a visa to facilitate this much-anticipated family visit.
For any further clarification, please feel free to contact me at [Your Phone Number] or [Your Email Address].
Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name (Inviter)]
Event Invitation (e.g., Wedding) for Nigerian Visa
[Your Full Name (Host)]
[Your Address in Nigeria]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Date]
To the Consular Officer,
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
[Address of Nigerian Embassy/Consulate]
Subject: Invitation Letter for [Guest's Full Name] - Attendance at [Event Name]
Dear Sir/Madam,
I, [Your Full Name (Host)], a Nigerian citizen (National ID/Passport Number: [Your Nigerian ID/Passport Number]), residing at [Your Address in Nigeria], am pleased to invite my [Relationship to Guest, e.g., friend, niece], [Guest's Full Name], a citizen of [Guest's Nationality] with passport number [Guest's Passport Number], to Nigeria.
The purpose of this invitation is for [Guest's Full Name] to attend a very special occasion: my [Event Type, e.g., wedding, naming ceremony, birthday celebration] which will be held on [Date of Event] at [Venue of Event]. [Guest's Full Name] plans to stay in Nigeria from [Start Date] to [End Date] to celebrate with us.
During their stay, [Guest's Full Name] will be residing with me at my home. I assure you that [Guest's Full Name] will abide by all Nigerian immigration laws and will depart Nigeria on or before the expiry of their visa.
I would be most grateful if you would consider granting [Guest's Full Name] the necessary visa to allow them to be present for this joyous event.
Please contact me if you require any further information.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name (Host)]
Student Invitation (for Short Courses/Seminars) for Nigerian Visa
[Name of Nigerian Institution/Organization]
[Address of Nigerian Institution/Organization]
[Phone Number of Nigerian Institution/Organization]
[Email Address of Nigerian Institution/Organization]
[Date]
To the Consular Officer,
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
[Address of Nigerian Embassy/Consulate]
Subject: Invitation Letter for [Student's Full Name] - Participation in [Course/Seminar Name]
Dear Sir/Madam,
This letter is to formally invite [Student's Full Name], a [Student's Nationality] citizen with passport number [Student's Passport Number], to Nigeria to participate in our [Course/Seminar Name] program. This program is scheduled to take place from [Start Date] to [End Date] at our institution.
[Student's Full Name] has been accepted into this program and will be responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and living expenses during their stay in Nigeria. [Optional: If the institution is providing accommodation or a stipend, mention it here].
We believe that [Student's Full Name]'s participation in this program will be mutually beneficial and foster international academic exchange. We kindly request that you grant [Student's Full Name] the appropriate visa to facilitate their attendance.
For further information, please contact [Contact Person's Name] at [Contact Person's Phone Number] or [Contact Person's Email Address].
Sincerely,
[Name of Authorized Person from Institution/Organization]
[Title]
[Name of Nigerian Institution/Organization]
Medical Appointment Invitation for Nigerian Visa
[Name of Nigerian Hospital/Clinic]
[Address of Nigerian Hospital/Clinic]
[Phone Number of Nigerian Hospital/Clinic]
[Email Address of Nigerian Hospital/Clinic]
[Date]
To the Consular Officer,
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
[Address of Nigerian Embassy/Consulate]
Subject: Invitation Letter for [Patient's Full Name] - Medical Appointment
Dear Sir/Madam,
This letter is to confirm that [Patient's Full Name], a [Patient's Nationality] citizen with passport number [Patient's Passport Number], has an upcoming medical appointment at our facility.
The appointment is scheduled for [Date of Appointment] at [Time of Appointment] with Dr. [Doctor's Name] for [Briefly mention the medical reason, e.g., consultation, treatment, surgery]. [Patient's Full Name] is expected to be in Nigeria from [Arrival Date] to [Departure Date] to attend this appointment and any necessary follow-up consultations.
[Optional: If there is a sponsor, e.g., a relative covering costs, mention their name and relationship here and provide their contact details. Otherwise, state that the patient is responsible for their own medical expenses and stay.]
We kindly request that you grant [Patient's Full Name] the necessary visa to travel to Nigeria for their medical treatment.
Should you require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
[Name of Hospital Administrator/Doctor]
[Title]
[Name of Nigerian Hospital/Clinic]
Tourist Invitation for Nigerian Visa
[Your Full Name (Host)]
[Your Address in Nigeria]
[Your Phone Number]
[Your Email Address]
[Date]
To the Consular Officer,
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
[Address of Nigerian Embassy/Consulate]
Subject: Invitation Letter for [Guest's Full Name] - Tourism Visit
Dear Sir/Madam,
I, [Your Full Name (Host)], a Nigerian citizen (National ID/Passport Number: [Your Nigerian ID/Passport Number]), residing at [Your Address in Nigeria], am delighted to invite my [Relationship to Guest, e.g., friend, colleague], [Guest's Full Name], a citizen of [Guest's Nationality] with passport number [Guest's Passport Number], to visit Nigeria for tourism purposes.
[Guest's Full Name] intends to visit Nigeria from [Start Date] to [End Date] to experience the rich culture, beautiful landscapes, and vibrant cities of our country. During their stay, [Guest's Full Name] will be staying with me at my residence. I will be responsible for their accommodation and ensuring they have a safe and enjoyable trip.
I guarantee that [Guest's Full Name] will adhere to all Nigerian laws and will depart Nigeria as scheduled.
I kindly request that you grant [Guest's Full Name] the necessary visa to enable them to explore Nigeria.
If you need any further details, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name (Host)]
Crafting a Nigerian Visa Invitation Letter Sample can seem daunting, but by following these guidelines and including all the necessary information, you can create a strong document that supports your visa application. Always double-check the specific requirements of the Nigerian embassy or consulate you are applying through, as they might have slight variations. Good luck with your application!