> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.range-mate.co.uk/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.range-mate.co.uk/for-club-admins/invitations.md).

# Invitations

An invitation is a personal, single-use link that lets someone apply to your club. Invitations are how you bring people in when your club is **invite-only**, and how guests and visitors are added.

## Types of invitation

There are three types, matching the [account types](/for-members/account-types.md) someone can apply for:

* **Standard** — to apply for full membership.
* **Guest** — to attend as a guest.
* **Visitor** — for a visiting certificate holder.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Standard** invitations use one of your billable member seats, so you can't send one if you're already at your plan's limit — upgrade your tier or remove a member first. **Guest** and **visitor** invitations are free and don't count towards your limit.
{% endhint %}

## Sending an invitation

1. Open **Invitations** from the admin menu.
2. Choose **New Invitation**.
3. Enter the recipient's **email address** and pick the **type**.
4. Send it. Range Mate emails them a unique link to apply.

Each invitation has its own unique code built into the link, and it can only be used **once**. Unused invitations **expire after three months**. The Invitations page lists invitations that haven't been used yet, so you can see what's still outstanding.

## Invite-only sign-ups

Whether people need an invitation at all is controlled in **Club Settings → Memberships**:

* **Invite-only membership** — when on, nobody can apply for standard membership without a valid invitation. When off, anyone with your club's `/apply` link can apply.
* **Invite-only guests/visitors** — the same control, applied separately to guest and visitor sign-ups.

{% hint style="info" %}
This is why, when onboarding all your existing members at once, the usual advice is to temporarily turn **off** invite-only so everyone can sign up from the shared link — see [Onboarding Existing Members](/for-club-admins/setting-up-a-new-club/onboarding-existing-members.md).
{% endhint %}

## Guests and the member who invites them

Guests are typically tied to the member who invited them (their *referrer*). When a guest comes to book a [guest event](/for-club-admins/managing-events.md), they usually can only book once their referring member has booked, and a member can normally bring up to two guests to an event.