APEC Business Travel Card

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) boasts member economies (countries) in the Asia Pacific area, some of the most powerful in the world. The APEC Business Travel Card offers businesspeople from these member economies access to business opportunities within the cooperation.

Table of contents

• What is the APEC Business Travel Card?
• ABTC benefits
• Who is eligible to apply for an ABTC?
• How to apply for an ABTC
• Documents needed to apply for an ABTC
• Get a passport photo for APEC Business Travel Card online

What is the APEC Business Travel Card?

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is a mobility program that allows its holders to go on short-term business travels within the APEC region more easily. Its holders are granted a number of benefits in their immigration processes during a trip to the APEC region. The ABTC is granted to people in the private sector and officials in the government sector who engage in APEC business.

ABTC benefits

ABTC holders are granted fast-track entry and exit during immigration at participating airports. They also do not have to apply for a visa or entry permit to enter a specific country; they’re precleared by the card to enter.

Preclearance

If an economy grants you preclearance, you will see the name of that economy on the back of your ABTC. For example, if Australia and New Zealand granted you preclearance, you will see them on the back of your card, and you do not need to apply for visas to enter Australia and New Zealand on a business trip.

Full vs transitional member economies

Here is the list of the 19 economies that fully participate in the ABTC scheme: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Canada and the United States are transitional members.

Transitional economies do not grant preclearance. ABTC holders from these economies also cannot benefit from preclearance from fully participating countries.

For example, an ABTC holder from Vietnam will have to apply for a visa for a business trip in the US and vice versa.

Who is eligible to apply for an ABTC?

The basic ABTC requirements to apply are that you must:

• Hold a valid passport from an APEC economy;
• Engage in regular business travel throughout the APEC region;
• Have no criminal conviction.

Different member economies may impose additional restrictions and eligibility rules.

How to apply for an ABTC

The process for each member country differs, so contact your country’s Immigration Department to find out. Some countries, such as Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, have online applications available.

Documents needed to apply for an ABTC

The documental requirements for each economy differ, but some general rules apply:

• Your valid passport;
• An identifying photograph (usually in the passport format of your country);
• Proof that you travel on behalf of an organization that engages in APEC business and/or hold a significant position in the organization;
• Proof of your business licenses and activities;
• Proof that your business can be justifiably considered to be engaging in APEC business.

The specifics of these documents, especially the third through fifth points, differ in each country because business and licensing practices vary and because different economies have different considerations for businesses.

Get a passport photo for APEC Business Travel Card online

No matter the country you’re from, you can get your ABTC photo done instantly by using Visafoto. Visafoto has been helping people worldwide get their photos for documents and passports done so that they fulfil all the requirements. Visafoto knows all the photo requirements you need, and that’s why your resulting photo is guaranteed to be accepted.

Just take a picture of yourself with the right dress code and pose for a passport portrait, then upload it to our tool below. It will take care of the rest.

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