If you are not covering your travel costs yourself, you need to show a sponsor in your application. This is quite common for students, non-working spouses and applicants without a regular income.
Who can be a sponsor?
A sponsor is usually a close family member: a mother, father, spouse or sibling. In some cases a relative living abroad or the person inviting you can also cover the costs. It is important that the sponsor’s relationship with the applicant can be clearly documented.
How is sponsorship documented?
Sponsorship is usually documented under three headings:
- Sponsorship statement. The sponsor’s written statement that they will cover the costs.
- Documents showing the relationship. Official documents showing the family relationship between the applicant and the sponsor.
- The sponsor’s financial documents. Documents showing the sponsor’s income and financial situation; if they work, documents showing their employment status are added too.
Points to watch
The sponsor’s income should be proportionate to the trip
It is expected to be clear that, after covering their own living costs, the sponsor can also finance the trip. This becomes even more important if the same sponsor supports more than one person at the same time.
Account activity should look natural
Lump sums deposited just before the application whose source cannot be explained can raise questions instead of strengthening the financial picture. A regular and explainable history is healthier.
Statements should support each other
The field in the application form where you state who will cover the travel costs must match the sponsorship documents in the file.
Does sponsorship weaken an application?
No. Sponsorship is a common and normal situation. The problem is not sponsorship itself but insufficient or inconsistent documentation. When supported with the right documents, sponsorship strengthens the file.
To find out which sponsorship documents suit your situation, you can fill in the application form.