Cover letter for Visas: what to write and what to include
What’s the point?
Are there different types of visa cover letters?
Likewise, a cover letter for a visa concerning medical reasons will require documents related to diagnosis, treatment, etcetera. The visa cover letter is often not mentioned in the list of required documents although it’s necessary for all circumstances. Remember, the consulate reserves the right to request additional documents at any point during the application process.


Is there anything else I should know?
There are some other things too. It’s best to treat the process as if it’s a job interview, i.e. to be professional and courteous, to arrive prior to your scheduled appointment, and so on. The embassy staff are there to help you with the process, but it’s best to approach the situation almost as if you’re there to help them.
Travelling through the Schengen area you will certainly notice that some countries are much stricter than others. Some consulates may not accept reservations from websites that allow for last minute cancellation while others may. If you are planning to go anywhere outside the country of entry within the Schengen area, the embassy you are applying to must know about it.
You will have to choose between a single-entry or a multiple-entry visa on your application form. The single-entry visa allows you to enter the Schengen area only one time; the multiple entry, multiple times. If you are visiting only one country there is no need for a multiple entry visa, but if your journey takes you from Italy to, say, Croatia then you’ll need a multiple entry visa since Croatia, while part of the EU, is not yet part of the Schengen area.


What should a cover letter look like?
[Letterhead of Company]
Dear Sir/Madam,
Consulate of (home country)
Place (e.g. Delhi, Mumbai, etc.)
Subject: Requesting Business Visa for (number of days).
I, (applicant name), holding (nationality) passport (number), will be attending a series of business meetings and a conference on sustainable development in (country name) for a total period of (number of days abroad).
I am requesting that your office issue a business visa for (number of days) with (single/multiple) entry, to visit (country) for business purposes.
Please note that I have already made all of the necessary arrangements for my stay in (country), such as hotel bookings, return flight, etc.
I confirm that during my stay in (country), I will bear all the expenses related to this trip, including the cost of return air tickets, travel expenses within (country), hotel expenses, food and so on.
Please find the following documents to support my visa application:
- Visa application form, dated and signed with attached passport-size pictures;
- Passport;
- Travel Insurance for at least €30,000;
- Flight reservation information;
- Hotel reservation for my stay in Italy;
- Employment and leave certificates showing approval and the date I will to return to work;
- Income tax return, payslips, and savings account as proof of income;
- Bank statements and health insurance coverage to cover any medical expenses in (name of country)
I trust that you will find everything in order. For any questions or clarifications, please contact me anytime.
Sincerely,
(Personal Signature)
Name,
Address:
Email:
Phone: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Nothing to it.
To learn more about the topic, check out also our video about elective residency visa, or our video about tax residency in Europe.
Thank you for mentioning how visa cover letters are not usually mentioned in the list of required documents even though they are necessary. We’ll ask a lawyer if they can help us compose this cover letter since my brother plans on applying for a partner visa soon. I’m hoping a legal expert will know exactly what needs to be written there.