Affidavit of Support (Philippines)

An Affidavit of Support in the Philippines records a sworn statement of fact made by the deponent, affirmed before an authorised officer for use as evidence.

The Affidavit of Support is a sworn statement executed under the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice (A.M. No. 02-8-13-SC) promulgated by the Supreme Court of the Philippines. The affiant (sponsor) must personally appear before a duly commissioned notary public with competent evidence of identity. The affiant's statement is made under oath and thus subject to penalties for perjury under Revised Penal Code Article 183, which carries a penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period (4 months and 1 day to 6 months) to prision correccional in its minimum period (6 months and 1 day to 2 years and 4 months) for false testimony in a civil case.

For visa applications, foreign embassies in the Philippines — including the Embassy of the United States (USEC), Embassy of Japan, Embassy of South Korea, Schengen area consulates, and the Australian Embassy — each have specific requirements for what must appear in an Affidavit of Support. Common requirements include the sponsor's full name and address, relationship to the applicant, proof of financial capacity (bank statements, employment certificate, Income Tax Return), and a specific undertaking to shoulder all expenses during the visit and to confirm the beneficiary's return to the Philippines.

The Bureau of Immigration of the Philippines requires an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (ASG) under BI Operations Order SBM-2014-008 for foreigners who are sponsored to stay in the Philippines for extended periods under a tourist visa extension or temporary visitor's visa. This ASG is a specific BI form — not a general affidavit — but it incorporates the same elements as a notarized Affidavit of Support and must be notarized and submitted with the sponsor's proof of financial capacity.

For Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), an Affidavit of Support from a spouse or family member in the Philippines is often required when the OFW's dependents apply for travel documents or when dependents travel abroad to visit the OFW, to demonstrate that the dependents have financial support and will return to the Philippines.

An Affidavit of Support in the Philippines is required in numerous travel, immigration, and family situations where a third party's financial responsibility must be formally documented.

An Affidavit of Support is required when a Filipino citizen or permanent resident sponsors a family member or friend for a tourist visa to a foreign country — including Japan, South Korea, the United States, Australia, Canada, and Schengen area countries — and the embassy requires the sponsor to formally undertake financial responsibility for the visitor's trip.

An Affidavit of Support is required when a minor child under 18 years of age travels abroad with only one parent, with neither parent, or with a non-parent guardian — the Bureau of Immigration requires a notarized Travel Clearance for Minors (TCM) under BI Memorandum Circular MCL-07-001, and the supporting Affidavit of Support from the non-traveling parent or guardian is a documentary requirement.

An Affidavit of Support is required when a foreign national sponsored by a Philippine resident or citizen applies for a long-term stay, visa extension, or Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV) under Bureau of Immigration Operations Orders, and the Philippine sponsor must execute an Affidavit of Support and Guarantee.

An Affidavit of Support is required when a student applicant for a foreign university scholarship or study abroad program must demonstrate that a sponsor — parent, guardian, or relative — will cover tuition, living expenses, and return travel for the duration of the studies.

An Affidavit of Support is required when an OFW or Filipino abroad sponsors a dependent's visa application for a temporary visit abroad, supporting the dependent's travel document applications and embassy interviews to demonstrate financial backing and intent to return to the Philippines.

Parties in Philippines should prepare a Affidavit of Support (Philippines) proactively rather than waiting for a dispute to arise. Courts interpret agreements based on the written terms rather than oral representations. Under Philippine law, the Civil Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 386) governs contractual obligations. The Revised Corporation Code (Republic Act No. 11232) regulates corporate entities through the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Labor Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 442) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) govern employment matters. The Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) protect personal data. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) administers tax obligations under the National Internal Revenue Code. Where the transaction involves regulated activities, prior approval from the relevant authority may be required before execution.

A valid Philippine Affidavit of Support must contain the following elements.

Sponsor Identification: Full legal name, age, civil status, nationality, complete address, TIN, cedula (CTC) number with issuing municipality and date, and government-issued ID details of the affiant/sponsor. Employment or business details demonstrating financial capacity are commonly included.

Beneficiary Identification: Full legal name, relationship to sponsor, passport number (if already issued), nationality, and complete address of the person being sponsored. For minor children, date of birth must be stated.

Specific Undertaking: A precise statement of what the sponsor undertakes to cover — all travel expenses, airfare, accommodation, food, medical expenses, and return travel; or a specific limited scope of financial support. The undertaking must be specific enough to satisfy the requirements of the requesting embassy or government agency.

Duration of Support: The period during which support is guaranteed — specific travel dates, the duration of a study program, or the term of a visa.

Proof of Financial Capacity References: Reference to the sponsor's financial documents (bank certificate, ITR, employment certificate) which are typically attached as annexes. Philippine banks issue bank certifications on official bank letterhead showing the depositor's account balance, which is required by most embassies.

Jurat Block: For sworn statements (as distinguished from acknowledged documents), the Affidavit of Support uses a jurat — the affiant swears under oath before the notary that the contents are true. The jurat block must comply with Section 2(a) of the 2004 Rules on Notarial Practice. The notary records the affiant's CTC number, ID, and the notarial register entries.

Cedula and TIN: The affiant's Community Tax Certificate (CTC) number and TIN must appear in or near the signature block, as required by standard Philippine notarial practice.

Additional compliance elements for a Affidavit of Support (Philippines) used in Philippines include: Under Philippine law, the Civil Code of the Philippines (Republic Act No. 386) governs contractual obligations. The Revised Corporation Code (Republic Act No. 11232) regulates corporate entities through the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Labor Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree No. 442) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) govern employment matters. The Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173) and the National Privacy Commission (NPC) protect personal data. The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) administers tax obligations under the National Internal Revenue Code. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Philippines-compliant documentation.