Visitor visa for a family wedding or celebration abroad

A wedding, an anniversary, a new baby, an Akhand Path or a milestone birthday: families settled in the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Europe often want parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters or in-laws from Punjab to be there. The family abroad writes the invitation. The relative in Punjab applies for a visitor visa and comes to our Jalandhar office for help with the documents.

Three things that are true in every country

• Apply as soon as the date is fixed. Every government publishes its own processing times, and they change. The UK accepts applications up to 3 months before travel; Schengen countries from 6 months before.
• The event is a reason to visit, not a guarantee. The visa officer still checks the visitor’s funds, their ties to India and the invitation.
• Faster services are not promises. Some governments sell a faster service or accept urgent requests in limited cases. The authority decides; nobody can promise a visa by a date, and we never do.

What the host’s invitation letter should say

Each country has its own rules — see the sections below and our invitation letter guide. A good letter covers the points in the official lists (IRCC Canada and the German missions in India publish theirs):

• The host: full name, address and phone in that country, and their status there (citizen, permanent resident or visa holder) with a copy of the proof
• The visitor: full name, relationship to the host, and (Canada) date of birth or (Germany) passport number
• The event: what it is, its date and place
• The visit: arrival and departure dates, and where the visitor will stay
• Who pays: what the host pays for and what the visitor pays for — with proof if the host pays
• A signature and date (Germany asks for the original signed letter)

Event proof: the wedding card or invitation, and a venue or gurdwara booking where you have one. Send only what the country’s official checklist asks for.

United Kingdom

Visiting family is a permitted activity on the Standard Visitor visa. The fee is £135 for up to 6 months, and you can apply up to 3 months before travel (GOV.UK). Check the current processing times; that GOV.UK page says: “You should not book your travel until you get a decision on your visa application.” If the host is supporting the visit, the supporting documents guide asks for proof of the support, that the host can afford it, and that they are legally in the UK. Documents not in English need a certified translation. Where they are offered, UKVI sells optional Priority (£500) and Super Priority (£1,000) services on top of the visa fee. GOV.UK says a decision can still take longer, and the fee is not usually refunded (GOV.UK). More: UK visitor visa.

Ireland

Ireland issues its own short stay ‘C’ visa for visits of up to 90 days; a Schengen visa does not cover it. Each traveller makes their own application — there are no family visas. The fee is €60 for a single entry or €100 for multiple entry, and it is not refunded if the visa is refused (Irish Immigration fees). Irish Immigration says a decision can generally be expected about 8 weeks after it receives the documents, so prepare the application 3 months before travel, and don’t book non-refundable tickets before the decision. If the visitor stays in the host’s home, the letter says so and gives the dates and the full address including the Eircode; relatives hosting at different addresses each write their own letter (Irish Immigration). Already holding a UK visitor visa? It can also cover Ireland with a ‘BIVS’ endorsement, or under Ireland’s Short-Stay Visa Waiver Programme after first entering the UK; Irish Immigration’s programme leaflet says that programme is to continue until 31 October 2026 and may be amended at any time. More: Ireland visitor visa.

Canada

IRCC lists what a letter of invitation should contain: the visitor’s full name, date of birth, address and phone, relationship, the purpose and length of the visit, where they will stay, how expenses are paid and the departure date; and the host’s full name, date of birth, Canadian address and phone, job title, citizen or PR status with proof, and the names and dates of birth of their spouse and dependants. IRCC says a letter of invitation doesn’t guarantee a visa. Check IRCC’s processing times on the day you apply.

What we do for Canada: help in Punjab only — collecting and organising documents, explaining in Punjabi, and help with the biometrics appointment and travel. The decision is IRCC’s. Visa Connection is not a licensed Canadian (RCIC) immigration adviser. More: Canada visitor visa.

Australia

The Visitor visa (subclass 600) has a Sponsored Family stream for people sponsored, usually by a family member, to visit their family. Home Affairs says the standard stay is 3 months, that it may grant up to 12 months in limited circumstances, and that the cost is AUD 250; it might ask the sponsor to pay a security bond. Home Affairs also asks applicants to include the letter from family inviting them to visit (Home Affairs). The Department of Home Affairs decides. More: Australia visitor visa.

United States

A wedding visit is usually made on a B-2 visitor visa, with an interview at the U.S. Embassy or a consulate in India. Wait times for interview appointments vary. Earlier (expedited) appointments are for urgent situations and the embassy decides them, so for a planned event like a wedding, book the first available interview as soon as the date is fixed. Carry the wedding invitation and the host’s details. See the U.S. Embassy in India visa pages and our USA visitor visa guide.

New Zealand

A host can support the visit with the Sponsorship Form for Temporary Entry (INZ 1025) and their own financial evidence (Immigration New Zealand). Check INZ’s current processing times on the day you apply.

What we do for New Zealand: help in Punjab only — collecting and organising documents, a Punjabi walk-through, and help with travel. The decision is Immigration New Zealand’s. Visa Connection is not a licensed New Zealand immigration adviser. More: New Zealand visitor visa.

Europe (Schengen)

Apply no earlier than 6 months and at least 15 days before the trip; the normal decision time is 15 days and can be extended to 45 days (European Commission).

• Germany: an original signed invitation letter from the family member, with their address and contact details, the dates of the stay and proof of their legal residence; a Verpflichtungserklärung (a formal pledge by the host, made at their local immigration office, to cover the visitor’s costs) is listed “if provided”; travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000 (German Missions in India). Plan well ahead: the German missions say an application for travel within 15 calendar days of reaching the visa section is normally returned unprocessed (German Missions FAQ).
• Italy: the Embassy of Italy in New Delhi covers Punjab and Chandigarh and says decisions on short-stay visas are generally reached within 15 calendar days; it warns applicants to distrust anyone promising fast-track evaluation (Embassy of Italy).

More: Schengen visitor visa guide — host documents by country.

What Visa Connection does in Jalandhar

For Canada and New Zealand, only the documents, Punjabi walk-through and travel help applies, plus the biometrics appointment for Canada.

• Explains in Punjabi what the host abroad needs to write and send, with the official links for that country
• Goes through the relative’s documents with them — passport, funds, ties to India, invitation and event proof (Canada and New Zealand: Punjab-side help only, as above)
• Helps book the visa-centre or biometrics appointment
• Travel help once the visa is decided — never before
• Tells you honestly if the file is weak. The embassy decides; no one can guarantee a visa

Our fee

• One visitor invited by family abroad (invitation letter with proof of the host’s status): ₹19,999 including GST
• Each extra family member on the same trip: +₹8,999 (both parents: ₹28,998)
• A visitor without an invitation: ₹29,999 including GST
• Canada and New Zealand: priced on request while this service is under legal review. Visa Connection is not a licensed Canadian (RCIC) or New Zealand immigration adviser.

Government and visa-centre fees are paid separately by the applicant. The embassy or immigration authority decides every application. Full terms: Fees & refunds.

If a family member abroad is seriously ill and travel is urgent, see urgent family visits: the official routes. Not sure where to start? The free profile assessment is a good first step.

Office: 222, First Floor, Vasal Tower, Police Line Road, Jalandhar · Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm · Punjab Travel Professional Licence 1850/MC-6/MA/JAL FN: 2217.