Notarizing an Affidavit of Support for a Schengen Visa in the Philippines

This article explains, in Philippine context, how to prepare, notarize, and (if needed) apostille an Affidavit of Support (AOS) for a Schengen visa application. It also clarifies when an AOS helps, what it does not replace, and the practical/legal details around notarization in the Philippines.

1) What an Affidavit of Support is (and isn’t)

Affidavit of Support (AOS) is a sworn statement by a sponsor (often a relative or friend) that they will shoulder or help shoulder a visa applicant’s travel costs (airfare, accommodation, daily expenses, insurance, etc.). In Philippine practice, it’s a private document elevated into a public document after notarization, which gives it a presumption of regularity.

Important limits:

An AOS does not guarantee visa issuance. Schengen posts assess overall “means of subsistence,” ties, purpose, and travel history.
Many Schengen countries have their own official sponsorship/guarantee forms (e.g., Germany’s Verpflichtungserklärung, France’s Attestation d’accueil, the Netherlands’ sponsorship form, Spain’s Carta de invitación). Those override a Philippine AOS. If the embassy requires its official form, a PH-notarized AOS is, at best, supplementary.
A Philippine AOS is not the same as a legally enforceable state guarantee in the destination country. It is a sworn promise; liability depends on the document the embassy accepts.

2) When an AOS is useful in Schengen applications

Tourism / visiting friends or relatives where the sponsor is in the Philippines and wants to show they will help fund the trip.
Supplementing the applicant’s own funds to strengthen “means of subsistence.”
Where the specific Schengen post accepts generic sponsorship letters (some accept; others insist on their national forms).

Rule of thumb: If a post’s checklist asks for “sponsorship letter/affidavit,” a PH-notarized AOS is generally fine. If it specifies a government/municipal form issued in the Schengen state, use that instead (and treat the AOS as optional background support, if you include it at all).

3) Philippine notarization essentials (what the notary will require)

Philippine notarization is governed by the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice (RNP) and related Supreme Court rules. Key points:

Personal appearance is the general rule. The affiant must sign in front of the notary.
Competent evidence of identity: bring a valid government ID with photo and signature (passport, driver’s license, UMID, PhilID, etc.), or credible witnesses if you lack IDs (rare).
Venue / territorial commission: a notary acts within the city/province of their commission; notarize the AOS where the notary is authorized.
Jurat vs. acknowledgment: An affidavit is normally notarized under a jurat (“subscribed and sworn to…”), not an acknowledgment. Don’t worry; your notary will know which block to use.
Notarial register & copies: the notary records the act and will usually give you a copy with notarial seal, roll number, commission details, and signature.

Documentary Stamp Tax (DST)

Affidavits are ordinarily subject to Documentary Stamp Tax as a “certificate” under the National Internal Revenue Code (amount commonly ₱30 after TRAIN Law). This is often included in the notary’s all-in fee and appears as an adhesive “Doc Stamp” on the document.
Non-payment of DST is a tax compliance issue, not usually a validity killer of the notarization, but it can cause hassles. Easiest path: let the notary handle it.

Typical walk-in notary pricing for a simple affidavit ranges from ~₱150–₱1,500+ depending on location (mall kiosk vs. law office), complexity, number of copies, and whether apostille facilitation is included.

4) Apostille: will you need it?

The Philippines is party to the Hague Apostille Convention (since 2019). For private documents notarized in the Philippines that will be used abroad, the general path is:

Notarize the AOS in the Philippines.
Obtain a Certificate of Authority for a Notarial Act (CANA) from the RTC/Clerk of Court that issued the notary’s commission (some DFA offices still require this step for notarized private documents; practices can vary).
DFA Apostille the document.

Do Schengen embassies in Manila always require apostille? Not always. Some accept a plain notarized AOS (especially if filed together with other financial proofs). Others want it apostilled. When in doubt, apostille it—the cost and time are usually modest and it prevents return trips.

5) Who may sponsor (typical acceptability)

Immediate relatives (spouse, parents, adult children, siblings) are the most persuasive.
Extended relatives/friends can sponsor but embassies will scrutinize the relationship and rationale more closely.
Companies may issue a corporate guarantee (on letterhead, with signatory authority) for business travel.

Evidence you should attach:

Sponsor’s government ID and proof of address.
Proof of financial capacity: recent bank statements (typically 3–6 months), payslips, COE with salary, ITR/2316/1700/1701, proof of business/DTI/SEC, property titles/leases (optional).
Proof of relationship (PSA documents, photos, correspondence, etc.)—especially if the sponsor is not an immediate family member.
Travel plan: itinerary, tentative bookings, travel insurance quote, and a short note explaining the trip.

6) Special cases & country-specific cautions

Germany, the Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy (and others): Often require official host/sponsor documents issued locally (e.g., by municipal offices or immigration authorities). If those are required, your PH AOS will not substitute. Use the official form and treat the AOS as optional.
Sponsor based in Europe: Have them execute the local sponsorship/guarantee required by their municipality/immigration office. If they insist on an affidavit, they can notarize in their country and apostille there, or sign before a Philippine Embassy/Consulate (consularized). Submit whatever the embassy checklist prioritizes.
Minors: If the applicant is a minor traveling without a parent/guardian, you’ll usually need parental consent affidavits (notarized) and may need a DSWD travel clearance depending on the constellation of guardianship and companions. The AOS is separate from those consent requirements.

7) Step-by-step: drafting to filing

Draft the AOS (see template below). Keep it clear, specific, and consistent with all other documents (amounts, dates, relationships).
Prepare attachments (IDs, bank statements, COE/ITR, proof of relationship).
Notarize (jurat): Bring the unsigned original and your ID; sign in front of the notary; pay notarial fee and DST.
(If required) CANA + Apostille: Secure CANA from RTC, then visit DFA for apostille.
File with your visa application together with the embassy’s required forms, proof of funds, travel insurance, itinerary, etc.

8) What to include in the affidavit (substance checklist)

Full names, citizenship, civil status, and addresses of sponsor and applicant.
Relationship (and brief history if not immediate family).
Purpose and dates of travel; destination countries; accommodation details.
Undertaking to support (what costs: airfare, lodging, daily allowance, insurance, internal travel).
Financial capacity (employment/business info; reference to attached proofs).
Consent to verify (allowing the embassy to check authenticity).
No expectation of unlawful stay (applicant will return; sponsor understands responsibilities).
Signature under oath (jurat block).

9) Clean, ready-to-use template (Philippine style)

You may paste this in a document editor. Replace brackets with specifics.

AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT

I, [FULL NAME OF SPONSOR], of legal age, [citizenship], [civil status], with residential address at [complete address], after being duly sworn in accordance with law, hereby depose and state:

1. That I am the [state relationship, e.g., mother/uncle/friend] of [FULL NAME OF APPLICANT], born on [DOB], holder of Philippine passport no. [number], residing at [applicant’s address].

2. That [he/she/they] intends to travel to the Schengen Area, particularly to [country/countries], from [intended date] to [intended date], for the purpose of [tourism / visiting family/friends / business], and will stay at [hotel/host’s address].

3. That I undertake to provide financial support for said travel, including:
   (a) roundtrip airfare,
   (b) accommodation,
   (c) daily living expenses of approximately [amount and currency] per day,
   (d) comprehensive travel medical insurance with minimum coverage compliant with Schengen requirements, and
   (e) other incidental and emergency expenses as may be reasonably necessary.

4. That I am financially capable of providing said support, as shown by the attached documents: [list: bank statements for the last [X] months, certificate of employment with salary, income tax return, etc.].

5. That I consent to the Embassy/Consulate or its agents verifying the authenticity of this Affidavit and the attached documents with my employer/bank and relevant government agencies, subject to applicable data privacy laws.

6. That this Affidavit is executed to attest to the truth of the foregoing and to support the Schengen visa application of [FULL NAME OF APPLICANT].

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this [date] in [City/Province], Philippines.

[SIGNATURE ABOVE PRINTED NAME OF SPONSOR]
[Contact number and email]

JURAT

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me in [City/Province], Philippines, this [date], affiant exhibiting to me his/her [type of government ID], No. [ID number], issued on [date] at [place].

Notary Public
Name: [Atty. Full Name], Roll No. [roll #]
Commission No.: [commission #]; Until: [expiry date]
Office Address: [address]
PTR No.: [number]; [date]/[place]
IBP No.: [number]; [date]/[place]
Doc. No. __; Page No. __; Book No. __; Series of 20__.

10) Common mistakes (and how to avoid them)

Using an acknowledgment instead of a jurat for an affidavit. (Ask for a jurat.)
Mismatch of facts (sponsor’s funds vs. applicant’s itinerary; dates/amounts that contradict bank statements).
Missing notary details (commission number/expiry, roll number, seal). DFA may refuse apostille if details are incomplete.
Skipping DST when required (let the notary include it).
Not apostilling when the embassy wants it. (If the checklist isn’t crystal clear, apostille it.)
Assuming AOS replaces official forms. If the post requires a municipal invitation or national guarantee form, submit that.

11) FAQs

Q: Do I need to apostille my AOS? A: Many posts accept a plain PH-notarized AOS; some require apostille. If you can’t confirm, apostille it to be safe.

Q: Must the AOS be in English? A: English is widely accepted. If the post demands a national language, add a sworn translation (or use the post’s bilingual form).

Q: Can the sponsor be self-employed or a small business owner? A: Yes—attach DTI/SEC papers, BIR registration, latest ITR, and bank statements.

Q: How recent should bank statements be? A: Typically the last 3–6 months, with a healthy running balance consistent with the promised support.

Q: Does notarizing make me legally liable for the traveler’s actions? A: A Philippine AOS is a sworn promise; it can support the visa case but isn’t a substitute for the binding state guarantee some Schengen countries require. Liability attaches to those official guarantees per that country’s rules.

Q: Can I notarize remotely? A: The default rule is personal appearance. Remote notarization in the Philippines has been tightly limited to specific rules/periods. Assume in-person unless your lawyer confirms a currently applicable rule allowing remote notarization for your case.

12) Quick checklist (for the day you notarize)

Final AOS text (clean, no blanks; correct names, dates, passport numbers).
Valid government ID (sponsor).
All attachments printed and signed where needed.
Appear before a commissioned notary (within their city/province).
Jurat page properly filled; notarial seal affixed; DST affixed/paid.
(If required) CANA from RTC + DFA apostille.
Photocopies for your file and for visa filing.

Practical tip

Even a flawless AOS cannot rescue a weak application. Pair it with: travel insurance meeting Schengen minimums, credible itinerary, consistent financials, proof of strong Philippine ties, and any official host forms your destination country requires.

This guide provides general information, not legal advice. For unusual facts (corporate sponsorships, minors, guardianship issues, or time-sensitive apostilles), consult a Philippine lawyer or your chosen visa center.