A cover letter for visa or personal cover letter is the first document that the visa consulate will read when deciding on the approval of your visa. 

This is also the only place where you can personally talk to the visa officer and explain the purpose of your travel and make a case for the approval of your visa.

• But how to write a cover letter for visa ? 
• What information should you add in your cover letter ? 
• Is there a cover letter format that I can use ? 
• Can I use any service to get my cover letter ?
• What is the difference between a cover letter and a visa application letter?

However if you want to stop reading and get your cover letter in the next 5 minutes, then you can have the AI make one for you using FlightGen App.

Is a cover letter needed for visa Application ?

Yes. Although it is not part of the requirements. We need to bring along a cover letter for almost all visa application . Here is the VFS official website asking for a personal cover letter with the visa application.

Sample Covering Letter

As the name suggests, a cover letter is personal, which means that the format, content and purpose of each cover letter is different as format of a cover letter for business visa would be different from that of a tourist visa. But after 50,000 cover letters made, we have a good idea of what a simple but effective letter would look like. 

But before you begin creating your cover letter what if I told you you can make a cover letter in the perfect format using FlightGen app in under 5 minutes !!. 

The below format has worked flawlessly for over 50, 000 customers in the last 5 years. 

As you can see in the above, the most important details to include in yours would be

• Addressing the consulate
• Dates of travel
• Countries of travel (If Schengen or visiting multiple countries, then see our cover letter for Schengen visa article)
• Purpose of travel.
• Day wise travel itinerary breakdown.
• Who is bearing the expense for the trip
• proof of sustenance
• Your employment or business information
• Documents submitted for your visa.
• Your Contact information if the consulate wants to get in touch for some reason

You can use the above sample and make your own document or you could just get one at just $4.99.

How To Create A Cover Letter In 5 Minutes​ for any visa

FlightGen is designed work as a Wizard, which means you just need to follow the instructions like answering 20 or so questions in a sequence, add your day-wise travel plan and select the documents that you are submitting for your visa process.

At the end of it your letter is generated, now review it and after successful payment of $4.99, you can download your letter.

Also FlightGen saves the progress of your form and you can make edits to your document any time you want. Besides, you are allowed to make unlimited corrections and download yours without any additional payment.

The app works fine on all android, IOS devices including IPads.

What Is A Cover Letter For Visa Application ?​

A cover letter or covering letter or personal letter is a document written addressing the consulate stating the purpose of travel, dates of entry and exit and day-wise travel itinerary that the visa applicant intends to pursue and make a case for the issuance of a an appropriate visa. Also stating the documents submitted with regards to the above purpose.

We say appropriate since whether we need a business or tourist visa depends on the purpose of travel. Sometime, we may combine business and tourism which may include 2 days of meeting and 5 days of tourist activity. 

Even in such cases you need to get a business visa since the purpose of travel is mainly business. 

Your Cover Letter changes Based On Travel Purpose​

As you know by now, the format of a letter would differ based on the purpose of travel. For instance, a business cover letter would need an invitation letter but day wise itinerary may not be possible to show etc. 

A cover letter for student would contain details like admission form, proof of enrolment etc.

That is why we have created samples for each travel purpose

Cover Letter For Tourist Visa​

Tourist visa is one of the most common types of visa and the letter format would contain:

• Travel Dates 
• Purpose of travel such as backpacking, honeymoon or may be attend a concert. 
• Day wise itinerary (Mandatory for tourist visas) explaining what is the exact plan you have once you enter the country . Ex : 20/12/2022 : Land in Paris, 21/12/2022 : Visit Eiffel tower and Louvre museum , 22/12/2022 : Visit the Chateau in Lyon 
• Who is bearing the expense?
• If you are self employed  or working or retired or a minor ? Again the visa documents will change based on your work status.

So FlightGen App is designed to keep these things in mind and create based on your travel purpose. To know more about creating cover letter for tourist visa

Cover Letter For Business Visa​

Business visa is the second most common type of visa application and the format would contain:

• Travel Dates 
• Purpose of travel such as attend a meeting , training or business contract negotiation.
• Day wise itinerary (Only for important days of meeting) explaining what is the exact plan you have once you enter the country . Ex : 20/12/2022 : Land in Paris, 21/12/2022 : Attend meeting with Delloit Group , 22/12/2022 : Sign contract with ABibas Sporting Goods Company
• Who is bearing the expense? Is it the inviting Company or the invitee company or are you handling the expenses and get reimbursed later
• If you are self employed or working  ? Again the visa documents will change based on your work status.

To know more about creating cover letter for business visa

Cover Letter For Visitor Visa​

When you apply for a visa for the purpose of visiting a friend or a relative then this type of visa is called as visitor visa. 

For this type of visa, you need to also provide invitation letter stating who handles the expenses of the trip and the address where you would be hosted. 

The format for visitor visa will be :

• In visa requirement section an invitation letter becomes mandatory
• Official affidavit from a gazetted office, for ex : this is called “Verpflichtungserklärungen” for germany visa

To know more about creating a cover letter for visitor visa

For Student Visa​

Student visa is one of the simpler ones with less requirement. You do not have to provide day-wise itinerary nor do you need to provide complex visa documents. 

In the visa requirements section you need to mention:

• Proof of enrolment in the institution
• No objection certificate from your current college

To know more about create a cover letter for Student visa

For Transit Visa​

For a transit visa is has two main requirements. You do not have to provide day-wise itinerary 

In the visa requirements section of the letter you need to mention:

• Flight ticket to the final destination country.
• A valid visa to the destination country (if required)

To know more about creating a cover letter for transit visa

For Medical Visa​

For a medical visa is has several changes compared to that of a tourist visa. You do not have to provide day-wise itinerary 

In the visa requirements section of the letter you need to mention:

• Proof of payment towards treatment (if any)
• A letter from the hospital of your home country stating the need for a treatment in the visiting country.
• Letter of sponsorship towards the treatment (if any)
• Appointment with the hospital in visiting country (if any)
• A letter from Ministry of health stating that they will bear your expense (if any)

To know more about creating a cover letter for medical visa

For Work Visa​

For a work visa is has two main requirements. You do not have to provide day-wise itinerary 

In the visa requirements section of the letter you need to mention:

• An employment contract issued to you from the company in the visiting country
• Two Application forms

To know more about creating a cover letter for work visa

Cover Letter For Spouse Visa​

For a spouse visa is quite extensive with it’s requirements. You do not have to provide day-wise itinerary 

In the visa requirements section of the letter you need to mention:

• Two Application forms
• Copy of marriage certificate
• Copy of Spouse Passport
• Copy of Spouse Residence Permit

To know more about cover letter for Spouse visa.

For Culture Visa​

For a Sport, culture tourism is one of the least applied type of visas in the world. 

You have to provide day wise itinerary with this type of visa. 

In the visa requirements section of the letter you need to mention:

• Proof of previous participation in such events (if any)
• Proof of booking made towards the event such as tickets, concert admissions etc

To know more about Cover letter for Sports culture visa

Cover Letter Based On Employment Status​

The above section is based on travel purpose but, the format of the letter changes based on your employment type too … So your document can be a combination of :

Tourist Visa + employed

Tourist Visa + self-employed

Business visa + employed

Tourist visa+minor

You see.. Your employment status also determines what details goes into the letter. We will see those changes in detail in this section.

Cover Letter Sample For Employed/Professionals​

If you are employed, then two important information must be in your cover letter.

• Designation in the company
• Company name

In the visa requirements section of the letter you need to add :

• Latest ITR statement
• Latest bank statement for 6 months
• Proof of leave approval letter from the company
• Employment contract/offer letter

Cover Letter Sample For Self-Employed​

If you are self employed, then you need provide one important information in your letter.

• Description of the nature of your business (Ex : I own a bakery called JustBakes in New York City OR I run a consulting company for SEO in Tel-Aviv OR I run a grocery shop in Delhi OR I am a plumber working in Bangalore )

There is no formal way to say this but please mention the business nature and the city in which you operate from. You can also add from how many years are you running your business.

In the visa requirements section of the letter you need to add :

• An incorporation or business license (if any)
• Latest ITR or tax returns statement
• Bank statement from the last 6 months

Sample For Unemployed​

if unemployed, the main thing that needs to be proven is proof of sustenance. What is the means with which you intend to pay for the trip.

If you are going on a tourist visa, then day wise itinerary must be provided.

Therefore, in the visa requirements section of the letter you will need to add:

• Other proofs to pay for the trip
• Spouse residence permit (if applying for Spouse visa)
• Employment letter with designation or job start date in the EU country (if applying for work visa)
• Bank statements if the trip is self sponsored.

Sample If Minor​

What should you add in your covering letter if you are a minor ? (yes, even minors need covering letter when applying for a visa)

If the minor is applying for tourist visa, then they need to provide day-wise itinerary in the letter itself.

Also, in the visa requirements sections you need to add :

• Family court order (in case parents are divorced)
• Birth certificate
• Application form signed by both the parents
• ID proofs of both the parents
• Notarised authorisation from both the parents to allow the child to travel (if travelling alone)

Sample If Retired​

What should you add if you are retired ? 

If you are retired and applying for a tourist visa, then they need to provide day-wise itinerary.

Also, in the visa requirements section  you need to add :

• Proof of last 6 months pension credit statement

Sample If Student​

If you are a student who is applying for a visa, then read the below requirements

If you are student and applying for a tourist visa, then they need to provide day-wise itinerary in the cover letter itself.

Also, in the visa requirements section you need to add :

• No objection letter with leave approval from your institution
• Proof of sustenance (bank statements of parents, credit cards etc)