Securing an Affidavit of Support (AOS) for a Foreign Visa Application in the Philippines
A Philippine-specific legal guide (updated as of 29 June 2025)
Quick definition: An Affidavit of Support is a sworn, notarised statement in which a sponsor (the “affiant”) promises to assume primary or subsidiary financial responsibility for a visa-applicant during the latter’s stay abroad or in the Philippines. It is widely required by foreign embassies/consulates in Manila, by Philippine posts overseas, and by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for certain in-country visa or extension applications.
1. Legal Foundations
| Source | Key points for AOS |
|---|---|
| Civil Code (Arts. 1157–1160) | Defines obligations; an AOS creates a civil obligation between affiant and beneficiary. |
| Rules of Court, Rule 132, § 20–23 | Affidavits as admissible evidence; must be sworn. |
| 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice (A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC, as amended) | Form, venue, identification, competent evidence, notarial register. |
| Revised Penal Code (Arts. 171-172 & 183) | Falsification, perjury—criminal liability for false statements. |
| Bureau of Immigration Memoranda (e.g., Operations Order SBM-2015-022 & subsequent circulars) | Require an “Affidavit of Support & Guarantee (ASG)” for Filipino sponsors of foreign visitors or for dependents of resident aliens. |
| Hague Apostille Convention (in force for PH since 14 May 2019) | Replaces consular authentication with a DFA Apostille for use abroad. |
2. When Is an AOS Required?
Foreign Embassies/Consulates in Manila
- Typical for tourist/visit visas to Schengen, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, and occasionally the U.S. (I-134 is the American counterpart).
- Also for student, medical-treatment, and family-reunion visas.
Philippine Embassies/Consulates Overseas
- For Filipino sponsors inviting a non-Filipino fiancé(e), spouse, or relative to visit or settle in the Philippines.
- Often called “Affidavit of Support and Guarantee” (ASG).
Bureau of Immigration (Philippines)
- Visitor visa extension: foreign minors or spouses supported by a Filipino guarantor.
- 13(a) conversion (spousal permanent residence) if the Filipino petitioner lacks obvious income.
Special circumstances
- Minor Filipino travellers without parents.
- Medical visa where a host in PH pledges payment for treatment.
3. Who May Execute an AOS?
| Scenario | Eligible Sponsor | Minimum Proof of Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Private individual | Filipino citizen ≥ 18 yrs or foreign resident with ACR I-Card | Latest ITR / BIR 2316, Certificate of Employment (COE) or business permits, bank certificate (₱100k+ balance is common benchmark) |
| Corporate sponsor | Corporation, NGO, school | SEC or DTI papers + board resolution naming the authorised signatory + audited FS |
| Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) | Filipino passport holder abroad | POEA contract / payslips + notarisation at PH post; then apostille/consularise as needed |
Tip: Use only one primary sponsor unless the embassy expressly allows multiple co-affiants; conflicting data from many sponsors often raises red flags.
4. Core Elements of the Document
Title: “Affidavit of Support and Guarantee” / “Affidavit of Support”
Parties:
- Affiant – full legal name, nationality, civil status, passport/ID no., residence.
- Beneficiary – full name, nationality, relationship to affiant, purpose of travel.
Undertakings:
- Financial support for travel, lodging, medical, repatriation.
- Compliance with host country/Philippine immigration laws.
- Guarantee to “repatriate at sponsor’s expense” if beneficiary becomes indigent or overstays.
Duration: Usually the entire period of the intended stay plus 60-day buffer.
Affiant’s means: Concise statement of employment, monthly salary/income, assets.
Attachments (to be enumerated):
- ID page of sponsor’s passport/PRC/UMID;
- Proof of funds/income (see § 6);
- Birth/marriage certificate to show relationship (if applicable);
- Travel itinerary or invitation letter.
Jurat: Notarial section with signature, QR code (if e-notarised), notarisation date & place.
5. Drafting & Notarisation Procedure (Philippines)
| Step | How | Typical Time | Cost (₱) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Draft | Use lawyer or template (see § 10). | 1 hr | – |
| 2. Print on bond paper (legal or A4); prepare photocopies. | 15 min | 5–10 per page | |
| 3. Personal appearance before notary public. Bring 1 government-ID & original attachments. | 10 min | 200–500 (outside Metro may be cheaper) | |
| 4. Documentary Stamp Tax (DST) | Notary usually affixes ₱30 DST on first page. | – | 30 |
| 5. DFA Apostille (if for use abroad) | DFA-Aseana or regional consular office. Walk-in or Passport Online Appointment ➜ “Apostille” service. Processing: Regular ⟮₱100 – 4 business days⟯; Express ⟮₱200 – same/next day⟯. |
1–4 days | 100/200 |
| 6. Courier to embassy/beneficiary (if required). | LBC, DHL, JRS | 2–7 days intl | 350–2,500 |
Note on e-notarisation: Some NCR notaries are accredited for remote notarisation under OCA Circular 41-2020. Check if the foreign post accepts e-signatures + QR-coded jurat—many still insist on wet-ink.
6. Proof of Financial Capacity
Embassies differ, but common Philippine-generated documents include:
- Latest Income Tax Return (BIR Form 1701/2316) + BIR “Received” stamp.
- Certificate of Employment with salary (must be signed & on letterhead).
- Bank Certificate issued within 30 days (maintaining balance + average daily balance).
- Land Title (TCT), vehicle OR/CR, or lease contracts.
- Pay-slips—most recent three months.
- Audited Financial Statements for business owners.
Rule of thumb: Multiply the daily subsistence cost in the destination country by the total days of stay × 1.5. Show liquid funds covering at least that amount.
7. Filing the AOS with the Embassy / BI
Foreign embassy/consulate in Manila
- Submit in original (apostilled if the embassy is party to the Convention).
- Some embassies require coloured photocopy + translation into their language.
Philippine Foreign Service Post (if sponsor is abroad)
- Execute before the Philippine Consul; they will issue a “Consularised Affidavit of Support & Guarantee”.
- No apostille needed for use in Philippines, but you may still apostille it if the document will transit through another (third) country.
Bureau of Immigration (in-country applications)
Attach to:
- Visa extension (TVV) – File at BI Main or field office.
- Conversion to Non-Quota Immigrant 13(a) – Submit at BI Main, Legal Division.
BI accepts notarised AOS without DFA apostille provided the notary is PH-based.
8. Validity and Re-use
| Purpose | Recommended shelf-life |
|---|---|
| Foreign visa interview | 6 months from notarisation |
| BI visa extension | 3 months |
| Student / medical cases | As per embassy, but refresh every 6 months if interview delayed |
Once the affidavit is used for a successful visa issuance, dispose of expired copies responsibly to avoid identity theft.
9. Liabilities & Risks for the Sponsor
Civil liability
- Embassies rarely enforce, but theoretically may demand reimbursement for public funds spent on beneficiary (e.g., medical repatriation, overstay fines).
- In the Philippines, BI can require the sponsor to shoulder deportation costs.
Criminal exposure
- Perjury (Art. 183, RPC) – up to 6 years imprisonment.
- Falsification (Arts. 171-172) – up to 12 years; includes forged bank certs, fake COE.
Immigration penalties
- BI can blacklist a sponsor shown to have repeatedly supported overstaying foreigners.
- Embassies keep internal notes: a dubious AOS can prejudice the sponsor’s own future visa applications.
10. Sample Skeleton (for guidance only)
Republic of the Philippines )
City/Municipality of ______ ) S.S.
AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT AND GUARANTEE
I, [Name of Affiant], Filipino, of legal age, [civil status], with
residence at [full address] and holder of Passport No._____________,
after having been duly sworn, state:
1. That I am the [relationship] of [Name of Applicant], born on
[date], a citizen of ________;
2. That [he/she] intends to travel to [Country] from [dates] for
the purpose of [tourism/study/etc.];
3. That I undertake to shoulder *all* expenses relative to said
travel, including airfare, accommodation, daily subsistence,
travel insurance, and, if necessary, the costs of medical care
and return to the Philippines;
4. That I guarantee that [Name of Applicant] will abide by the
immigration laws of [Country] and depart before the expiry of
[his/her] authorised stay;
5. That attached hereto are:
a) my Certificate of Employment indicating an annual salary
of ₱_____;
b) my BPI Bank Certificate dated ___ showing deposits of ₱_____;
c) PSA-issued [Birth/Marriage] Certificate establishing our
relationship;
6. That I am executing this Affidavit to attest to the truth of the
foregoing and for presentation to the [Embassy/Bureau of
Immigration] and all other authorities concerned.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ___ day of
______, 2025 at ________, Philippines.
(sgd.) _________________________
[Name of Affiant]
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this ___ day of ______, 2025 at
__________, Philippines. Affiant exhibited to me his UMID ID No.
__________, valid until ________.
Doc. No. ___ ;
Page No. ___ ;
Book No. ___ ;
Series of 2025.Always tailor the wording to the embassy’s own checklist; some require explicit waiver of host-state liability, dates in DD MM YYYY format, or “solemnly swear” phrasing.
11. Practical Tips & Pitfalls
| Do | Avoid |
|---|---|
| Double-check passport numbers and spelling of names. | Using abbreviations for addresses (“Brgy.”, “St.”) that differ from IDs. |
| Attach original bank cert, not mere printout. | Submitting a bank statement when the embassy asks for a certificate (they are not the same). |
| Keep a scanned PDF copy with notary seal visible. | Over-stating income—embassies can ask for BIR verification. |
| Apostille after notarisation, never before. | Multiple apostilles (only one is needed). |
| If sponsor is married, secure spouse’s written consent; some EU posts ask for it. | Signing outside the notary’s presence (“pre-signed” documents may be refused). |
12. FAQs
Q 1: Can a retiree with pension be a sponsor? Yes. Provide GSIS/SSS pension print-out and bank statements.
Q 2: Will a photocopy be accepted? Most embassies want original AOS at interview; others (e.g., Schengen via VFS) accept coloured scanned copies if lodged online.
Q 3: What if the beneficiary stays longer than planned? The sponsor remains potentially liable. Inform BI or the embassy and prepare an updated AOS if a legitimate extension is sought.
Q 4: Is an NBI clearance required for the sponsor? Rarely, but some student-visa categories (e.g., Korean D-2) ask for a sponsor’s criminal-record check. Provide an NBI Multi-Purpose Clearance if listed in the checklist.
Q 5: Can I write an AOS in Filipino? Yes, but foreign missions usually demand English or their official language; supply a certified translation if needed.
13. Key Take-aways
- Notarise properly—an AOS is worthless if the jurat is defective.
- Substance over form—the embassy cares more about the sponsor’s real capacity than fancy stationery.
- Update periodically—documents older than six months are typically rejected.
- Accuracy is non-negotiable—errors can be construed as misrepresentation, jeopardising both applicant and sponsor.
- Seek professional advice for complex cases (e.g., multiple beneficiaries, large groups, corporate sponsors, or dual-citizen sponsors abroad).
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration regulations and embassy checklists evolve; always verify the latest requirements with the relevant mission, the Department of Foreign Affairs, or a Philippine-licensed lawyer before acting.