Affidavit of Support Requirements for Visiting a Spouse Abroad (Philippine Context)

This guide explains what an Affidavit of Support (AOS) or Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (ASG) is, when it’s needed, who can issue it, what it must contain, how to have it notarized/apostilled/consularized, and the supporting documents commonly reviewed by Philippine immigration when a Filipino travels to visit their spouse abroad. It also includes a fill-in-the-blanks template you can use.

Important: Laws, agency guidelines, and country-specific visa rules change. This is general information, not legal advice.

1) What is an Affidavit of Support—and when is it needed?

An Affidavit of Support is a sworn statement from a sponsor (here, your spouse who is abroad) promising to shoulder your travel and living costs during a temporary visit and, in many formats, to guarantee your return/repatriation if needed. In practice it appears in two contexts:

Visa application to the destination country. Some embassies/consulates require a sponsor’s letter or statutory “undertaking” to prove you will not become a public charge (e.g., “invitation + guarantee,” “declaration of commitment”). The exact form, wording, and evidence vary by country.
Philippine departure formalities (airport). The Bureau of Immigration (BI) may ask for proof that a traveler is genuinely visiting, has funds/host support, and will return. An AOS/ASG from your spouse is a supporting document that can help demonstrate this. It is not a universal, automatic requirement for every traveler; it’s requested case-by-case, especially for first-time travelers, travelers without strong personal funds, or trips funded by someone else.

2) Authorities and legal backdrop (plain-English overview)

Philippine Immigration Act (CA 613) authorizes immigration officers to examine outbound passengers and require documentation.
Anti-Trafficking in Persons laws (as amended) empower checks against trafficking/illegal recruitment.
Inter-agency guidelines direct officers to look for purpose of travel, funding, and ties.
Apostille Convention (1961): For documents executed abroad, an apostille (or, in non-apostille countries, consular notarization) makes your affidavit recognizable in the Philippines.

You won’t be reciting statutes at the counter, but this is why officers may ask for an AOS/ASG and why authenticity (apostille/consularization) matters.

3) Who can sponsor?

Your spouse—Filipino or foreign—can sponsor you. A spouse is your immediate family, which is acceptable in practice.
If the spouse is abroad, they are the logical sponsor for an AOS/ASG. If someone else is paying (e.g., in-laws), immigration often prefers sponsors within close family degrees; if used, include the spouse’s proof and explain clearly.

4) What the Affidavit of Support must contain

A strong AOS/ASG typically includes:

Sponsor’s full identity: full name, date/place of birth, passport number, contact info.
Legal status abroad: citizen/PR/visa holder, residence address.
Relationship: state you are the sponsor’s lawful spouse; reference marriage details (date/place; attach proof).
Purpose & duration of your visit: dates, reason (“to visit my spouse”), where you’ll stay.
Undertaking: sponsor will cover airfare (if applicable), lodging, daily expenses, and repatriation if needed.
No unauthorized work: (optional but helpful) confirm the trip is temporary and visitor will not work.
Attachments list: sponsor’s passport/ID, proof of status, income, address, and marriage proof.
Signature & notarization: signed before a notary/consular officer; include apostille or consular notarization, as applicable.

5) Drafting, notarization, and authentication (apostille vs. consularization)

Where the sponsor is located determines the path:

If the sponsor signs before a local notary in an apostille-member country: Get the document apostilled by that country’s competent authority. No Philippine consular legalization needed.
If the sponsor is in a non-apostille country: Have it notarized locally and then consularized at the nearest Philippine Embassy/Consulate.
If signing directly at a Philippine Embassy/Consulate: The consulate can notarize/administer the affidavit; apostille isn’t necessary.

Practical tips

Use original wet-ink where possible and bring the original to the airport. Many visa centers accept scans for lodgment, but BI officers commonly prefer originals at departure.
If any page is in a language other than English, attach a certified English translation.
Keep the affidavit recent (ideally issued within the last 3 months). There’s no statute on staleness, but “fresh” looks credible.

6) Evidence usually attached to the Affidavit of Support

From the sponsor (spouse abroad):

Passport bio page (and resident card/visa if not a citizen).
Proof of income/means (any mix): recent payslips, employment letter, tax returns, bank statements (last 3–6 months), business registration if self-employed.
Proof of address/accommodation: lease, utility bill, or property document; if you’ll stay together, say so.
Marriage proof:
- If married in the Philippines: PSA marriage certificate (SECPA).
- If married abroad: the foreign marriage certificate with apostille/consular legalization; ideally plus a PSA Report of Marriage (ROM) if already filed.
Invitation letter (can be merged into the affidavit) restating the visit dates and purpose.

From the traveler (Filipino spouse):

Valid Philippine passport.
Visa (if required by destination), evidence of return/onward ticket.
Travel insurance (if the destination requires or as a best practice).
Own ties to the Philippines (to show you will return):
- Employment: certificate of employment, approved leave, company ID.
- Self-employed: DTI/SEC papers, BIR registration/ITR.
- Students: school ID, enrollment/LOA.
- Assets: land/condo titles, vehicle CR, business permits.
- Family ties: children’s birth certificates, dependent care obligations.
Basic itinerary: where you’ll stay, contact info.

7) CFO considerations (for spouses of foreign nationals)

Emigrating / joining spouse to live abroad: Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) registration and guidance are generally required for those leaving to settle or to join a foreign spouse long-term.
Short-term visit: historically, a CFO certificate has not been routinely required for a temporary tourist visit to a spouse. However, officers may still ask about your relationship and purpose.
Because practices evolve, if your trip has any long-term component (e.g., bringing household goods, one-way ticket, no job/return plan), expect CFO questions. When in doubt, verify current CFO rules for your exact travel category.

8) Airport interview: what officers commonly look for

Consistency: Your story, documents, and dates should align.
Purpose & duration: Clear reason for the visit, realistic timeframe.
Funding: If you have limited personal funds, a properly authenticated AOS/ASG is persuasive.
Ties to the Philippines: job, business, studies, dependents, or property.
Prior travel history: first-time international travel may draw more questions (be cooperative and truthful).

Red flags to avoid

Open-ended trips with vague plans.
No return ticket or no leave approval if employed.
Affidavit is not apostilled/consularized when executed abroad.
Affidavit from a stranger or distant acquaintance instead of your spouse.
Attempts to work on a visit visa.

9) Special situations

Minors (under 18): If a minor is traveling without both parents, a DSWD Travel Clearance and parental consent/IDs are required (separate from an AOS).
Name changes after marriage: Your passport may still be in your maiden name; that is usually fine if your tickets match your passport. Carry your marriage certificate to explain any name differences across documents.
Married abroad but PSA ROM not yet issued: Bring the foreign marriage certificate (apostilled/consularized) and proof that ROM filing is underway (if applicable).
OFW spouse abroad: If you are only visiting, the AOS/ASG framework above applies; if you intend to stay long-term as a dependent, check destination-country family reunion rules and CFO.

10) Step-by-step: getting the Affidavit done

Draft the affidavit (use the template below).
Have your spouse sign it in front of a notary public (or Philippine Embassy/Consulate).
Authenticate:
- Apostille if the country is an apostille party;
- Consular notarization if not.
Send the original to you in the Philippines (courier). Keep scans on your phone/email as backup.
Bundle it with attachments (see checklists) for visa filing and/or airport presentation.

11) Common Q&A

Q: Is an Affidavit of Support always required at the Philippine airport? A: No. It’s supporting evidence, requested when circumstances warrant (e.g., sponsor-funded travel, first-time travel, limited personal funds).

Q: Does the affidavit need to match exact dates? A: Give a window (e.g., “from 10 December 2025 for up to 60 days”). Ensure it aligns with your ticket/visa validity.

Q: Can a scanned copy work? A: Many visa centers accept scans, but BI officers can prefer originals. Carry the original if at all possible.

Q: How much money should appear in the sponsor’s bank statements? A: There’s no fixed rule; the total should reasonably cover airfare (if sponsored), lodging, meals, local transport, and contingencies for the whole stay.

Q: My spouse is a foreign national. Is that okay? A: Yes. Attach the foreign spouse’s passport and proof of lawful status in the host country.

Q: Our marriage certificate is foreign. Is that okay? A: Yes, but bring the apostilled/consularized certificate. If available, also bring the PSA ROM.

Q: Can a boyfriend/girlfriend issue the affidavit? A: Your topic is spouse, but for completeness: practice is stricter for non-spouses; strong evidence of relationship and purpose is needed, and some officers may not accept a non-relative sponsor.

12) Model “Affidavit of Support and Guarantee” (fill-in-the-blanks)

Use this as a starting point only. Local embassy/consulate or host-country law may prescribe a specific statutory form or wording.

AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT AND GUARANTEE

I, [SPONSOR FULL NAME], of legal age, [citizenship], with passport no. [__________], currently residing at
[Full Address], and presently [status in host country: citizen / permanent resident / visa holder type + no.],
after having been duly sworn, state:

1. That I am the lawful [husband/wife] of [TRAVELER FULL NAME], a Filipino citizen with passport no. [_____],
born [DOB], with whom I am legally married on [DATE] at [PLACE]; [attach PSA marriage certificate or apostilled
foreign marriage certificate / PSA Report of Marriage, as applicable].

2. That [TRAVELER FULL NAME] intends to visit me in [City, Country] from on/around [DATE] for approximately
[NUMBER] days/weeks for the purpose of spending time together as spouses and tourism.

3. That I hereby undertake to provide full support during the visit, including accommodation at my address above,
meals, local transportation, and other reasonable living expenses. If necessary, I also undertake to shoulder
round-trip airfare and any repatriation expense.

4. That I guarantee that [TRAVELER FULL NAME] will comply with the immigration laws of [Country] and will not
seek unauthorized employment, and shall depart [Country] on or before the end of the authorized stay.

5. Attached are true copies of my passport/ID, proof of legal status in [Country], proof of income (recent payslips/
tax returns/bank statements), and proof of address.

I am executing this affidavit to attest to the truth of the foregoing and to support [TRAVELER FULL NAME]'s
visa application and/or departure formalities from the Philippines.

[City], [Country], this [DATE].

______________________________
[SPONSOR FULL NAME]
Affiant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this [DATE] at [CITY, COUNTRY]. Affiant personally appeared with
[ID Type/No.]. I further certify that this document has been [notarized and apostilled / notarized by the
Philippine Embassy/Consulate in _______].

______________________________
[Notary Public / Consular Officer]
[Full Notary Block]

Formatting tips

Put sponsor’s initials on each page if required by the notary/consulate.
List attachments at the end.
If the consulate has a prescribed form, use that instead of a freeform affidavit.

13) Checklists (quick reference)

Sponsor (spouse abroad)

☐ Signed AOS/ASG (apostilled/consularized if executed abroad)
☐ Passport bio page
☐ Proof of status (residence permit/visa/citizenship)
☐ Proof of income (payslips, employer letter, tax return, bank statements 3–6 mos.)
☐ Proof of address (lease/utility bill)
☐ Marriage proof (PSA certificate or apostilled foreign certificate; PSA ROM if available)
☐ Invitation letter (optional if content is already in AOS)

Traveler (Filipino spouse)

☐ Valid passport (with sufficient blank pages and validity)
☐ Visa (if required) & return ticket
☐ Travel insurance (if required/best practice)
☐ Employment/business/student proof & approved leave (if applicable)
☐ Proof of Philippine ties (properties, dependents, ongoing work/study)
☐ Itinerary and contact details
☐ Original AOS/ASG + attachments in hard copy and scans on phone

14) Degrees of relationship (why this comes up)

While your spouse clearly qualifies as an immediate family sponsor, airport practice sometimes cites “close family” standards for sponsors (parents, children, siblings, grandparents, in-laws, etc.). If someone else funds the trip, keep your spouse as the primary sponsor and include the other family member as a co-sponsor with their own proof.

15) Compliance & penalties

Affidavits are sworn documents. False statements or forged notarization/apostille can lead to criminal liability (e.g., perjury/falsification) and immigration consequences (offloading, watch-listing, or visa refusal). Always provide truthful, consistent information.

16) Practical strategies that help

Mirror the facts everywhere: tickets, leave dates, affidavit dates, and itinerary must tell the same story.
Bring more than you think you need (originals + photocopies).
Be concise and honest in the interview. Over-explaining or presenting conflicting documents raises questions.
If funds are tight, the AOS should be robust: recent income proofs, bank statements, and a clear accommodation plan.
Keep a digital folder on your phone (PDFs) and a physical folder (originals) in your hand-carry.

Final word

For a temporary visit to your spouse abroad, a properly prepared Affidavit of Support and Guarantee, authenticated correctly (apostille/consularization), paired with clear proof of relationship, sponsor capacity, your return intent, and visa/flight compliance, will put you in a strong position both at the embassy and at Philippine immigration.

If you want, tell me your destination country and travel dates, and I’ll tailor the affidavit wording and a country-specific checklist for you.