An Affidavit of Support is a sworn statement where a person (the affiant/sponsor) commits to financially support another person (the beneficiary) for a stated purpose—commonly for visa applications, travel, temporary stay, schooling, medical needs, or hosting. In the Philippines, it is usually prepared as a notarized affidavit to show third parties (like embassies, schools, landlords, or government offices) that the sponsor has the willingness and financial capacity to provide support.

Because requirements vary by the requesting office, a good Affidavit of Support is written to be clear, specific, credible, and document-backed.

1) Legal nature of an Affidavit of Support

A. It is a sworn statement, not a court order

An affidavit is evidence of what the affiant swears is true. It can be used to support an application or request, but it does not automatically guarantee approval by an embassy, airline, school, or government agency.

B. It can create real obligations and risks

By signing, the sponsor may be:

Held to the commitment by the beneficiary or by the institution relying on it (depending on circumstances and applicable rules/agreements), and/or
Exposed to criminal liability if statements are false.

C. False statements can lead to perjury

Making a deliberate falsehood in a sworn affidavit may constitute perjury under Philippine criminal law (and may also trigger other offenses if documents are forged or fraud is involved).

2) Common uses in the Philippine context

An Affidavit of Support is often requested for:

Visa/travel sponsorship
- Supporting a Filipino’s or foreign national’s travel by showing who will shoulder expenses (airfare, accommodation, food, daily costs, insurance).
- Philippine consular processing and foreign embassies may ask for it (format and supporting documents vary).
Hosting a visitor
- Showing that a visitor will stay with the sponsor, with expenses covered wholly/partly by the sponsor.
Schooling/tuition support
- Sponsoring a student’s tuition and living allowance.
Medical support
- Sponsoring hospital bills, medicines, caregiving, and related expenses.
Support for a minor
- Often used together with, or alongside, parental consent documents when a minor is traveling or being supported by someone other than the parents (note: many situations specifically require a DSWD travel clearance rather than just an affidavit, depending on the facts).
Immigration-related filings
- Some applications may require proof of “means of support” or sponsorship; requirements can depend on the specific visa type and the office involved (e.g., a foreign embassy, a consular office, or the Bureau of Immigration).

3) Who can be a sponsor (affiant)?

Typically, anyone with legal capacity and financial ability can sponsor, including:

Parents, siblings, spouse, relatives
Employers
Friends/partners (though this can be scrutinized more, so documentation matters)

For credibility, the affidavit should explain:

Relationship between sponsor and beneficiary
Reason for support
Duration and scope of support
Proof of capacity (income, assets, employment, business)

4) What a strong Affidavit of Support should contain

A well-prepared affidavit usually includes these elements:

A. Title and identification

“AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT”
Affiant’s complete name, nationality, civil status, and address
Affiant’s government ID details (type/number/date issued) — often referenced in the notarial portion and/or body

B. Beneficiary details

Full name, nationality, date of birth, passport/ID number (if applicable)
Address

C. Relationship and background

Clear statement of how you know the beneficiary (e.g., “my niece,” “my employee,” “my friend for X years”)
Purpose: travel, study, medical treatment, etc.
Dates and locations relevant to the purpose

D. The commitment to support (be specific)

State what you will cover, such as:

Airfare/transport
Accommodation
Food and daily expenses
School tuition and allowance
Medical costs and insurance
Return travel costs
Emergency expenses

Add:

Time period (e.g., “from March 1 to May 30, 2026”)
Location (e.g., “during stay in Tokyo, Japan” or “while residing in Makati City”)
Limitations (optional but often helpful): full support vs partial support; capped amounts; conditions

E. Proof of financial capacity (refer to attachments)

You can reference documents such as:

Certificate of employment and compensation
Payslips
Bank certificate/bank statements
Income Tax Return / proof of filing with the Bureau of Internal Revenue
Business registration documents and financials (if self-employed)
Property titles or lease agreements (if relevant)

F. Undertakings and accountability language (optional but useful)

Depending on the use case, you may include:

Undertaking that the beneficiary will not become a public charge
Undertaking to ensure beneficiary’s compliance with the purpose of stay/travel
Undertaking to shoulder repatriation/return travel in emergencies

G. Jurat/attestation line

Affidavits in the Philippines typically end with:

“IN WITNESS WHEREOF…” (signature line)
Notarial jurat or acknowledgment block (the notary completes this)

5) Notarization requirements in the Philippines (practical essentials)

In the Philippines, notarization is not “just a stamp.” A notary public must comply with notarial rules, including:

A. Personal appearance

The affiant generally must personally appear before the notary public to sign (or acknowledge having signed) the affidavit.

B. Competent evidence of identity

Bring valid government-issued IDs. A notary will require proof of identity (commonly at least one, often two IDs depending on office practice). Ensure names and details match the affidavit.

C. Oath and signing

For an affidavit (a sworn statement), the notary administers an oath/affirmation and completes a jurat.

D. Notarial register and seal

The notary records the act in the notarial register and affixes the notarial seal/stamp.

Tip: Use the exact name format shown on your ID to avoid issues (middle name, suffixes, maiden/married name conventions).

6) Special considerations when the affidavit will be used abroad

If a foreign embassy, school, or agency requires the affidavit for use outside the Philippines, you may need additional steps:

A. Check if they require an “apostille” or other authentication

For many foreign uses, a Philippine notarized document may need an apostille from the Department of Foreign Affairs (requirements depend on destination and the receiving institution’s rules).

B. Use the receiving institution’s preferred format

Some embassies have preferred wording, required data fields, or required attachments. If they provide a template, follow it.

C. Attachments may need to be consistent and readable

If you attach bank statements, employment certificates, or tax documents, ensure:

Names match the affidavit
Dates are recent enough for the receiving institution
Figures are legible

7) Supporting documents checklist (typical)

While not always required, these commonly strengthen the affidavit:

For the sponsor (affiant)

Government IDs (copies)
Proof of income:
- Employment certificate, payslips
- ITR / proof of tax filing (when applicable)
Proof of funds:
- Bank certificate and/or statements
Proof of residence (utility bill/lease) if hosting
Proof of relationship when relevant (birth/marriage certificates from the Philippine Statistics Authority)

For the beneficiary

Passport bio page (if travel-related)
Proof of ties/purpose (school enrollment, itinerary, invitation, appointment)
Birth certificate (especially if minor)

8) Common mistakes that cause rejection or suspicion

Vague promises (“I will support as needed”) without dates/amounts/scope
No proof of capacity (no income/funds documents attached)
Inconsistent details (names, addresses, passport numbers, dates don’t match attachments)
Overpromising beyond demonstrated income (e.g., low salary but very high pledged support)
Wrong notarial form (using acknowledgment language when a sworn jurat is needed)
Sponsor-beneficiary relationship not explained (especially for non-relatives)
Using a generic template that doesn’t match the purpose (travel vs tuition vs medical)

9) Sample Affidavit of Support template (Philippines)

Below is a general template you can adapt. Replace bracketed text with your details and adjust to match the purpose and requested format.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) [CITY/MUNICIPALITY] ) S.S.

AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT

I, [FULL NAME OF AFFIANT], of legal age, [civil status], [nationality], and a resident of [complete address], after having been duly sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and state:

That I am the [relationship] of [FULL NAME OF BENEFICIARY], born on [date of birth], [nationality], and presently residing at [beneficiary address];
That I am executing this Affidavit to undertake financial support for the said [beneficiary] in connection with [state purpose: e.g., tourist travel to (country), attendance in school, medical treatment, etc.];
That I hereby commit to shoulder [specify items], including but not limited to: a) [airfare/transportation]; b) [accommodation/lodging]; c) [food and daily living expenses]; d) [medical insurance/medical expenses, if any]; and e) [return travel / emergency expenses];
That this commitment covers the period from [start date] until [end date], or for the duration of [specific purpose] in [location];
That I have sufficient financial capacity to provide the above support as shown by the documents attached hereto, including [list attachments: employment certificate, payslips, bank certificate/statements, tax documents, proof of relationship, etc.];
That I am executing this Affidavit to attest to the truth of the foregoing and for whatever legal purpose it may serve.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this [day] of [month] [year] in [City/Municipality], Philippines.

[AFFIANT’S FULL NAME] Affiant

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this [day] of [month] [year] at [City/Municipality], Philippines, affiant exhibiting to me [ID type] with No. [ID number] issued on [date] at [place of issue].

(Notary Public’s jurat and details follow.)

10) Practical drafting tips (to make it “acceptable” across most uses)

Match the purpose: travel affidavits should look like travel affidavits; tuition affidavits should mention school, semester, fees, allowance.
Use exact identifiers: passport number, date of issue, validity (when relevant).
Keep it internally consistent: the affidavit, attachments, and any invitation letter should align.
Avoid unnecessary claims: do not include statements you cannot prove (employment rank, income, assets).
Keep formatting clean: numbered paragraphs, one purpose, clear period of support.

11) Affidavit of Support vs related documents

Depending on the situation, what you really need might be one of these (or in combination):

Invitation Letter: explains why the beneficiary is invited/hosted; may accompany an affidavit.
Affidavit of Guarantee: emphasizes responsibility for compliance/return; sometimes requested alongside support language.
Parental Travel Consent / DSWD Travel Clearance (for minors): may be required instead of, or in addition to, support affidavits.
Proof of Undertaking / Sponsorship Form: some institutions have their own forms that replace a generic affidavit.

12) Data privacy and document handling

Affidavits often include sensitive identifiers (passport numbers, addresses, income figures). Good practice includes:

Sharing only what the receiving office actually requires
Redacting non-essential details on financial documents when allowed
Keeping copies secure, since notarized documents can be misused if widely circulated

A properly made Affidavit of Support in the Philippines is specific in its promise, credible in its proof, and validly notarized. It should read like a clear financial undertaking tied to a defined purpose, period, and set of supporting documents.