The Bureau of Immigration has informed the Philippine Embassy that Philippine immigration officials will require Filipino tourists subjected to a secondary inspection to produce an authenticated Affidavit of Support, among others, as one of the supporting documents, in accordance with the Guidelines on Departure Formalities for International-bound Passengers in all Airports and Seaports in the Country.

The Bureau of Immigration has also clarified that a Statutory Declaration executed before the Magistrate Court and authenticated in the Philippine Embassy cannot be a substitute for an authenticated Affidavit of Support executed and authenticated in the Philippine Embassy.

However, as emphasized by the Bureau of Immigration and repeatedly stated by Philippine Embassy officials, the presence of an authenticated Affidavit of Support is no guarantee that a Filipino traveler will be allowed to leave the Philippines for Brunei Darussalam.

Immigration officials will not only assess the contents of the authenticated Affidavit of Support but also the totality of the circumstances of the tourist’s purpose in traveling to the Sultanate.