A practical legal article in Philippine context

I. Overview and Purpose

An Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (ASG) is a sworn statement executed in the Philippines by a person (the sponsor/guarantor) promising to financially support a traveler’s expenses abroad and guaranteeing that the traveler will return to the Philippines.

It is not a required document under Philippine departure laws for all travelers. Instead, it is usually requested by:

Foreign embassies/consulates as part of a visa application;
Immigration authorities abroad at the port of entry; or
Philippine immigration sometimes, when a traveler cannot show personal financial capacity and says someone else will shoulder expenses.

In practice, the ASG helps show that the traveler is not likely to become a public charge, has means of support, and has strong ties to the Philippines through the sponsor.

II. Legal Nature of an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee

A. What an ASG Is (Legally)

In Philippine law, an affidavit is a voluntary, sworn declaration of facts made under oath before a notary public. The ASG is thus a notarized sworn undertaking.

Key legal effects:

It is evidence of the sponsor’s commitment.
If the affidavit contains false statements, the affiant may be liable for perjury.
It may be enforceable as a civil undertaking if relied upon and damage results.

B. What an ASG Is Not

Not a “travel clearance.” It does not substitute for passports, visas, CFO requirements, or parental consent for minors.
Not a guarantee that a visa will be granted. Embassies decide based on the whole application.
Not a binding promise on a foreign government. It is only evidence, not a treaty-level guarantee.

III. When You Typically Need an ASG

You may be asked to provide an ASG in situations such as:

Visitor/Tourist Visa Applications
- Example: Visiting relatives in the US, Canada, Australia, Schengen states, Japan, Korea, etc.
- Usually requested when the traveler has limited income or is unemployed/student.
Student and Short Training Programs
- Some embassies accept ASG from parents/guardians to show funding.
Family Visits or Sponsored Trips
- If your airfare, lodging, allowance, or insurance is paid by someone else.
Travelers Questioned at Philippine Immigration
- If a traveler says “sponsored” but cannot show proof, immigration may ask for a sworn support document or equivalent proof.

Important: Many trips proceed without an ASG if the traveler shows strong personal finances.

IV. Who Can Be a Sponsor/Guarantor

There is no single Philippine statute limiting who may sponsor, but embassies and immigration officers generally expect a sponsor to be:

A Filipino citizen or resident with stable income; or
A foreign national who can show legal status and financial capability (often notarized abroad if executed outside the Philippines).

The sponsor should have a clear relationship to the traveler:

Parent/guardian
Spouse/partner
Sibling/relative
Employer
Close family friend (less persuasive unless well-documented)

V. Requirements in Practice

While not standardized by law, an effective ASG usually includes two layers:

A. The Affidavit Itself

A notarized document containing specific statements (see Section VI).

B. Supporting Documents

Embassies and immigration often require attachments proving both financial capacity and relationship.

Common supporting documents:

1. Proof of Sponsor’s Identity

Passport bio page or government ID (PhilSys ID, driver’s license, PRC ID, UMID, etc.)

2. Proof of Relationship

Birth certificate (PSA) if parent/child
Marriage certificate (PSA) if spouse
Other civil registry documents
Photos/messages/letters for non-family relationships

3. Proof of Financial Capacity

Employment certificate with compensation
Recent payslips
Latest ITR (BIR Form 2316/1701)
Bank certificates/statements (preferably last 3–6 months)
Business permits + financial statements for business owners
Proof of assets (land titles, vehicle registration, etc.)

4. Proof of Trip Details

Flight booking/reservation
Accommodation bookings or invitation letter
Travel itinerary
Travel insurance (if required by destination)

Tip: Embassies prefer original or certified true copies and documents that align with the sponsor’s declared income.

VI. Contents of a Proper ASG

A strong Affidavit of Support and Guarantee should include:

Complete Sponsor Details
- Full name, citizenship, civil status
- Address in the Philippines
- Occupation/employer or business
- Passport/ID numbers
Complete Traveler Details
- Full name, DOB, passport number
- Address and relationship with sponsor
Statement of Sponsorship
- Specific expenses to be covered:
  - airfare, lodging, daily allowance, insurance, tours, etc.
- Approximate amount or commitment “as may be necessary.”
Trip Information
- Destination country/cities
- Purpose (“tourism,” “family visit,” “medical consult,” etc.)
- Travel dates and length of stay
- Where traveler will stay and with whom
Guarantee of Return
- Sponsor affirms traveler will return to the Philippines after the visit.
- Optional: referencing traveler’s ties (school, work, family).
Undertaking of Truthfulness
- Sponsor declares statements are true and made voluntarily.
Jurat and Notarial Acknowledgment
- Proper notarial block, seal, signature, and notary details.

VII. Step-by-Step: How to Get an ASG in the Philippines

Step 1: Draft the Affidavit

You can:

Draft it yourself using a reliable format;
Ask a lawyer; or
Use a notary public’s template (then review carefully).

Step 2: Gather Supporting Documents

Prepare photocopies and originals for:

IDs of sponsor and traveler
Proof of relationship
Financial documents
Trip details

Step 3: Appear Before a Notary Public

The sponsor must personally appear with at least one valid ID. The notary will:

Verify identity
Administer oath
Witness signing
Affix notarial seal

Step 4: Pay Notarial Fees

Fees vary by location and length of document. Ask for:

Notarial copy for your records
Multiple originals if embassy requires

Step 5: Submit to Embassy / Bring for Travel

For visas: include it in your application packet.
For departure: keep a copy with attachments in your hand-carry.

VIII. Special Situations

A. Sponsor Is Abroad

Options:

Sponsor executes ASG abroad before a Philippine embassy/consulate; or
Sponsor executes before a foreign notary then apostilles or consularizes the document, depending on the destination’s rules and whether the country is part of the Apostille Convention.

B. Minor Travelers

For minors traveling without parents:

ASG is not enough. You may need:
DSWD Travel Clearance (if minor traveling with non-parents);
Parental consent/affidavit of support;
Proof of guardianship.

C. Domestic Helpers / First-Time Travelers

ASG alone is often insufficient. You may need:

Strong home ties evidence
Employment proof
Sponsor’s detailed documents
Clear itinerary

D. Group/Family Sponsorship

One ASG can cover multiple travelers if properly named and the financial capability supports all.

IX. Common Reasons ASGs Get Rejected or Treated as Weak Evidence

Vague or generic affidavits (no amounts, dates, destination).
Sponsor income doesn’t match claimed support.
Contradictory documents (bank statements vs. ITR).
No clear relationship proven.
Traveler has weak ties (no job/studies/property).
Affidavit appears “for hire” (sponsor unrelated and implausible).

X. Practical Tips for Stronger Sponsorship

Be specific. State the trip purpose, dates, and expenses.
Align the story. Sponsor’s affidavit must match traveler’s application forms and interview answers.
Show capacity and ties.
- Sponsor: real income trail.
- Traveler: reason to return (work contract, enrollment, family).
Avoid fake bank “show money.” Inconsistencies can lead to denial and future travel issues.
Use clean, readable attachments. Label and order them logically.

XI. Risks and Liabilities

For Sponsors

Perjury risk for false statements.
Possible civil liability if a foreign authority relies on the undertaking and incurs costs (rare but conceptually possible).
Blacklisting concerns if sponsorship supports fraudulent travel.

For Travelers

Visa denial if affidavit is weak or false.
Offloading risk if sponsorship story collapses at immigration interview.
Future applications may be affected by dishonesty.

XII. Sample Outline (Non-Template)

Here’s a safe structure you can follow when drafting:

Title: Affidavit of Support and Guarantee
Sponsor’s statement of identity and capacity
Relationship to traveler
Detailed sponsorship undertaking
Trip purpose, destination, duration
Guarantee of return
Oath and signatures
Notarial jurat

(You can ask a lawyer/notary for correct language and formatting.)

XIII. Relationship to Philippine Immigration Rules

Philippine immigration focuses on preventing illegal recruitment, trafficking, and undocumented labor. Even when you have an ASG, officers may still ask for:

Proof of funds
COE/leave approval
Return ticket
Hotel booking
Invitation letter
Prior travel history

If your personal profile suggests high risk of overstaying abroad, an ASG alone won’t cure that. It’s part of a broader credibility and capacity assessment.

XIV. Bottom Line

An Affidavit of Support and Guarantee is a helpful, sometimes crucial supporting document, especially for visa applications or sponsored trips. Getting one in the Philippines is straightforward: draft → attach proofs → notarize → submit/bring.

Its real power comes not from the notarized paper alone, but from how well it is supported by truthful, consistent financial and relationship evidence and how credibly it fits the traveler’s overall story.

If you want, I can draft a polished ASG tailored to your specific situation (sponsor/traveler details, destination, and purpose), and list the exact attachments you should pair with it.