If you need an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee for travel, immigration screening, or a visa-related file, the notary fee is usually not the biggest cost—but getting the notarization wrong can cause real problems. In the Philippines, a simple notarized Affidavit of Support and Guarantee is commonly charged anywhere from a few hundred pesos to around ₱1,000 or more, depending on the notary, location, number of signatories, drafting work, and whether the sponsor signs in the Philippines or abroad. For sponsors overseas, the cost may be a consular notarization fee, a foreign notary fee plus apostille, courier fees, or all of these.

What an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee means

An Affidavit of Support and Guarantee, often called an AOSG, is a sworn written statement where a sponsor promises to financially support a traveler and, usually, to help ensure that the traveler returns to the Philippines after the stated trip.

It is commonly used when a Filipino traveler’s trip is sponsored, meaning someone else is paying for part or all of the expenses such as airfare, hotel, accommodation, meals, allowance, or daily expenses. The 2023 Revised IACAT Guidelines define sponsored travel broadly: travel is sponsored if any part of it is funded by a person other than the passenger.

An AOSG does not automatically guarantee that a passenger will be allowed to depart. The Bureau of Immigration still conducts primary and, when necessary, secondary inspection. Under the IACAT departure guidelines, immigration officers look at the totality of circumstances, including purpose of travel, destination, duration of stay, travel history, age, financial capacity, and supporting documents.

When is an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee required?

The current Philippine travel-screening rules are more nuanced than many people think. Not every sponsored trip automatically needs the same kind of AOSG.

Under the 2023 Revised IACAT Guidelines, tourist passengers may be asked for additional supporting documents when applicable. For self-funded travel, these may include hotel booking, financial capacity, proof of income, and proof of employment. For sponsored travel, the required documents depend on who the sponsor is.

Situation	Is an AOSG usually required?	Practical note
Sponsor abroad is a first-degree relative such as spouse, parent, or child	Usually not under the specific IACAT list for that category	The traveler should have PSA documents proving the relationship, return ticket, and sponsor’s passport/visa or residence documents.
Sponsor abroad is a relative up to the fourth civil degree such as sibling, grandparent, uncle/aunt, cousin, in-law, or similar covered relation	Yes, original AOSG	The AOSG must follow Annex “B” information and be properly notarized, authenticated, or apostilled.
Sponsor abroad is a non-relative, friend, fiancé, boyfriend/girlfriend, company, association, or legal entity	Yes, original AOSG	More proof is usually needed because the relationship is not proven by PSA civil registry documents alone.
Sponsor is a local sponsor residing in the Philippines or a Philippine-registered entity	A duly notarized affidavit from the local sponsor is required	This is the usual situation where a Philippine notary public notarizes the affidavit.

For sponsors abroad who are relatives up to the fourth civil degree, non-relatives, or juridical entities, the IACAT Guidelines require an original AOSG showing the required information in Annex “B” and either notarized by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate/Honorary Consulate or, if notarized by a local notary abroad, authenticated by the Philippine post for non-Apostille countries or apostilled by the competent authority for Apostille countries.

How much are notary fees for an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee in the Philippines?

For an AOSG signed and notarized inside the Philippines, these are realistic working estimates:

Item	Common practical range	What affects the price
Simple notarization only, document already prepared	₱300–₱1,000	Location, notary’s posted fee schedule, number of pages, number of signatories
Drafting or preparing the AOSG plus notarization	₱1,000–₱3,500+	Complexity, whether the facts must be reviewed, whether the sponsor is individual or corporate
Extra certified or duplicate copies	₱50–₱300+ per copy or set	Office practice, photocopying, scanning, certification needs
Mobile or off-site notarization	Higher, by agreement	Travel time, distance, urgency, and whether the situation is allowed under notarial rules
Consular notarization abroad	Depends on post	Examples: Washington, D.C. lists USD 25 per document plus USD 10 for next-day release; Berlin lists €25 per document; Sydney lists AUD 45 for an affidavit plus AUD 18 expedite fee. (Philippine Embassy)

A low fee is not automatically suspicious, and a high fee is not automatically illegal. The better question is whether the notary is properly commissioned, whether the fee is disclosed, whether an official receipt is issued, and whether the notarization is done correctly.

Under the Supreme Court’s 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, a notary public who charges a fee must issue a BIR-registered receipt, keep a journal of notarial fees, and post a complete schedule of chargeable notarial fees in a conspicuous place in the office.

The 2025 amendment circulated through OCA Circular No. 197-2025 also states that no fee or charge may be collected for digitization of any instrument or document, transmittal, storage, disposal, or other processing costs associated with such digitization and processing.

Why fees differ from one notary to another

Notarization is not just “putting a stamp.” In Philippine law, notarization has legal consequences. The Supreme Court has repeatedly said that notarization converts a private document into a public document and makes it admissible in evidence without further proof of authenticity and due execution. (Supreme Court E-Library)

For an AOSG, the notary should verify:

the identity of the sponsor or affiant;
that the document is complete;
that the signatory personally appears;
that the signatory signs voluntarily;
that the notarial certificate is proper;
that the entry is recorded in the notarial register; and
that the fee is properly recorded and receipted.

The 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice define a jurat as a notarial act where the person appears before the notary, is identified, signs the document in the notary’s presence, and takes an oath or affirmation as to the document. This is why an affidavit should not be signed at home and merely brought to the notary afterward as if the personal appearance requirement were a formality.

Legal basis for notarizing an AOSG in the Philippines

The key legal rules come from the Supreme Court’s 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice, A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC.

A Philippine notary public must generally be a member of the Philippine Bar in good standing, commissioned by the Executive Judge, and authorized to perform notarial acts within the territorial jurisdiction of the commissioning court.

A notary public generally cannot perform a notarial act if the signatory is not personally present at the time of notarization or is not personally known to the notary or identified through competent evidence of identity. The same Rules also prohibit notarizing blank or incomplete documents.

For identification, “competent evidence of identity” generally means at least one current official ID bearing the individual’s photograph and signature, or credible witnesses under the conditions stated in the Rules.

Because an affidavit is sworn, false statements can have criminal consequences. Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Republic Act No. 11594 in 2021, penalizes knowingly making untruthful statements in an affidavit upon a material matter before a competent person authorized to administer an oath. (Lawphil)

Step-by-step: how to notarize an AOSG in the Philippines

1. Confirm who should sign the affidavit

The sponsor should normally be the person who is actually paying for the trip or guaranteeing support.

For example:

If the traveler’s aunt in Quezon City is paying for the airfare and hotel, the aunt should sign as sponsor.
If the traveler’s boyfriend in Germany is paying for the trip, the boyfriend should usually execute the AOSG abroad through the proper consular, authentication, or apostille process.
If a Philippine company is sponsoring the trip, the authorized representative should sign, and the company’s registration or authority documents may be needed.

Do not ask a relative in the Philippines to sign as “sponsor” merely because it is cheaper to notarize locally if the real sponsor is abroad. That can create inconsistencies during immigration inspection.

2. Prepare the affidavit with complete details

A good AOSG should usually include:

full name, address, nationality, and contact details of the sponsor;
full name, passport details, and address of the traveler;
relationship between sponsor and traveler;
reason for sponsorship;
travel dates and destination;
expenses covered by the sponsor;
sponsor’s legal or immigration status, if abroad;
sponsor’s financial capacity;
undertaking that the trip is for the declared purpose, usually tourism; and
undertaking that the passenger will return to the Philippines after the trip.

Annex “B” of the 2023 IACAT Guidelines identifies the information expected for sponsors abroad and local sponsors, including relationship, legal or immigration status, financial capacity, address and contact information, reason for sponsorship, and the undertaking that the passenger will return to the Philippines after the tour.

3. Attach supporting documents

The affidavit is stronger when the facts are supported by documents. Common attachments include:

Document	Why it matters
Sponsor’s valid government ID or passport	Proves identity
Traveler’s passport copy	Matches the traveler named in the affidavit
PSA birth certificate or marriage certificate	Proves relationship for relatives
Sponsor’s certificate of employment, payslips, ITR, bank certificate, or business documents	Shows financial capacity
Sponsor’s visa, residence permit, work permit, or equivalent document	Shows legal status abroad
Invitation letter	Helps explain the purpose and context of the trip
Return ticket and hotel booking	Supports the declared itinerary
SEC/DTI documents and board or secretary’s certificate	Useful if the sponsor is a corporation or organization

Attachments are usually not individually notarized unless a specific office requires it. The notary notarizes the affidavit, not every supporting document.

4. Go personally to the notary public

The sponsor or affiant must personally appear before the notary. Bring the unsigned or properly prepared document, valid ID, and supporting attachments.

The notary may ask basic questions, such as:

Do you understand the contents?
Are you signing voluntarily?
Are the statements true?
What ID are you presenting?
Are you the person named in the affidavit?

5. Sign before the notary and pay the fee

The affidavit should be signed in the presence of the notary when a jurat is used. After notarization, check the notarial details:

notary’s name;
commission number;
roll of attorney’s number;
PTR and IBP details;
office address;
notarial register page and document number;
date and place of notarization;
notarial seal; and
signature.

Ask for the official receipt, especially if the document will be used for travel or immigration screening.

If the sponsor is abroad: consular notarization vs apostille

When the real sponsor is outside the Philippines, there are usually two routes.

Option 1: Sign before a Philippine Embassy or Consulate

This is often the cleanest route for AOSGs used in the Philippines. The sponsor signs before a consular officer, and the document receives a consular notarial certificate.

For example, the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. states that private documents such as affidavits may be notarized by the Embassy when they will be used in the Philippines and the signatories personally appear. It lists a USD 25 processing fee per document and an additional USD 10 for next-day release. (Philippine Embassy)

Fees vary by post. The Philippine Embassy in Berlin lists €25 per document for AOSG-related authentication submission by post, while the Philippine Consulate General in Sydney lists AUD 45 for an affidavit and AUD 18 for same-day expedite processing. (Philippine Embassy Berlin)

Option 2: Use a local foreign notary, then apostille or authenticate

This route is common when the sponsor lives far from a Philippine Embassy or Consulate.

For AOSGs notarized by a local notary public in the country of destination, the IACAT Guidelines require authentication by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate/Honorary Consulate for non-Apostille countries, or apostille by the apostille authority for Apostille countries.

The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. also explains that, because the Philippines is a member of the Apostille Convention, private documents for use in the Philippines may generally be notarized locally and then apostilled by the competent authority instead of being notarized at the Embassy. (Philippine Embassy)

Do you need DFA Apostille after notarization in the Philippines?

For an AOSG used only before the Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines, a locally notarized affidavit by a local sponsor normally does not need DFA Apostille. It is already a Philippine notarized document for Philippine use.

DFA Apostille usually becomes relevant when a Philippine notarized document will be used abroad. For DFA apostille services, the official apostille fee schedule lists regular processing after 5 working days at ₱100, expedited processing after 2 working days at ₱200, and e-Apostille processing after 1 working day at ₱200. (Apostille Services)

Do not confuse these with notary fees. The notary fee is paid to the notary public. The apostille fee is paid to the DFA or the competent apostille authority, depending on where the document is issued.

Common mistakes that cause wasted notary fees

Paying for notarization even if the wrong person signed

The sponsor should be the person actually supporting the trip. If the true sponsor is abroad but a local relative signs only for convenience, the traveler may face questions about inconsistent sponsorship.

Signing before going to the notary

For affidavits, signing should be done before the notary because the signatory is swearing to the contents. A notary who simply stamps a pre-signed affidavit without proper appearance may violate the notarial rules.

Using a notary outside the notary’s jurisdiction

A notary public’s authority is territorial. Under the Rules, a commissioned notary may perform notarial acts within the territorial jurisdiction of the commissioning court.

Choosing the cheapest “notary” without checking details

A defective notarization can be worse than no notarization because it creates a false sense of readiness. Always check the notarial seal, register details, commission validity, and official receipt.

Forgetting proof of relationship

For relatives, the AOSG is usually not enough by itself. PSA birth certificates, marriage certificates, reports of birth, or reports of marriage may be needed to prove the exact civil relationship.

Assuming notarization guarantees departure

The AOSG is only one supporting document. Immigration may still ask questions about itinerary, financial capacity, work, travel history, or inconsistent answers.

Practical fee examples

Example	Likely cost pattern
Local sponsor in Manila signs a one-page AOSG already drafted	Around ₱300–₱1,000 for notarization
Lawyer drafts a customized AOSG with attachments and notarization	Around ₱1,000–₱3,500+ depending on complexity
Sponsor in the United States signs before Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C.	USD 25 per document, plus USD 10 for next-day release if requested
Sponsor in Australia signs an affidavit before Philippine Consulate in Sydney	AUD 45, plus AUD 18 same-day expedite fee if available
Sponsor abroad signs before local foreign notary	Foreign notary fee + apostille/authentication fee + courier, depending on country

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the notary fee for an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee in the Philippines?

For simple local notarization, expect roughly ₱300 to ₱1,000 in many areas. If the law office also drafts or substantially reviews the AOSG, the total may be ₱1,000 to ₱3,500 or higher. Fees vary, but the notary should issue an official receipt and post the fee schedule.

Is there a fixed government notary fee for an AOSG?

There is no single everyday price that all notaries actually charge for every AOSG. The Supreme Court rules regulate notarial practice, require proper fee recording and receipts, and prohibit unauthorized charges, but actual office quotes vary depending on the work involved.

Can my sponsor abroad send a scanned notarized AOSG?

For immigration screening, the safer practice is to carry the original AOSG when the guidelines require an original. The 2023 IACAT Guidelines specifically refer to an original AOSG for certain sponsored travel categories.

Does an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee need to be apostilled?

It depends where it is signed and where it will be used. If the AOSG is signed abroad before a local foreign notary in an Apostille country and will be used in the Philippines, it generally needs an apostille from that country’s competent authority. If signed before a Philippine Embassy or Consulate, consular notarization may be enough for Philippine use.

Can a Philippine notary notarize an AOSG if the sponsor is abroad?

No, not in the usual way. The sponsor must personally appear before the notary. A Philippine notary cannot properly notarize an affidavit of a person who is physically abroad and did not appear.

Does a first-degree relative abroad need an AOSG?

Under the 2023 IACAT tourist sponsored-travel list, a sponsor abroad who is a first-degree relative—such as a spouse, parent, or child—has a separate list requiring PSA proof of relationship, return ticket, and sponsor documents, rather than the same AOSG requirement used for relatives up to the fourth civil degree.

Is a notarized AOSG enough to avoid offloading?

No. It helps explain sponsorship, but immigration officers still assess the traveler’s purpose, documents, answers, financial capacity, itinerary, and risk indicators. Inconsistencies can still lead to secondary inspection or deferred departure.

Who pays the notary fee, the sponsor or the traveler?

Usually the sponsor pays if the sponsor is signing the affidavit, but there is no strict legal rule that only the sponsor must pay. What matters is that the correct person signs and the notarization is valid.

Can the AOSG be notarized at the barangay?

A barangay certificate is different from a notarized affidavit. Barangay officials may issue barangay certifications or administer certain oaths in limited situations, but an AOSG for travel is usually expected to be notarized by a duly commissioned notary public or executed through the proper consular/apostille process.

Key Takeaways

A locally notarized AOSG in the Philippines commonly costs a few hundred pesos to around ₱1,000 for simple notarization, and more if drafting or legal review is included.
For sponsors abroad, expect consular fees or foreign notary plus apostille/authentication costs.
The real issue is not the cheapest notary fee, but whether the AOSG is signed by the correct sponsor and notarized through the correct process.
A Philippine notary generally requires personal appearance, valid ID, a complete document, and proper notarial register entries.
Under the 2023 IACAT Guidelines, AOSG requirements differ depending on whether the sponsor is a first-degree relative, relative up to the fourth civil degree, non-relative, juridical entity, or local sponsor.
A notarized AOSG supports the traveler’s explanation, but it does not guarantee departure clearance.