APEC Business Travel Card

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is a travel document that facilitates short-term business travel within the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies.

  1. Purpose: The ABTC is designed to simplify and expedite the entry process for business travelers engaged in legitimate trade and investment activities within the APEC region. It allows cardholders to enjoy streamlined entry procedures, including expedited immigration processing and access to special APEC lanes at airports.
  2. Eligibility: To be eligible for an APEC Business Travel Card, an individual must be a citizen of an APEC member economy and engaged in business activities that meet the criteria set by their home economy. Each APEC member economy establishes its own eligibility criteria for issuing ABTCs.
  3. Benefits:
    • Multiple Entries: The ABTC allows multiple entries into participating APEC member economies during the validity of the card.
    • Expedited Immigration Processing: Cardholders are eligible for expedited immigration processing upon arrival in participating APEC member economies, often with access to dedicated APEC lanes at immigration checkpoints.
    • Longer Visa Validity: In some cases, ABTC holders may be eligible for longer visa validity or visa-free entry in certain APEC member economies.
  4. Application Process: The application process for an APEC Business Travel Card varies depending on the requirements of the issuing economy. Generally, applicants must submit an application form, along with supporting documents and fees, to the designated authority in their home economy.
  5. Validity: The validity of an APEC Business Travel Card typically ranges from one to five years, depending on the policies of the issuing economy.
  6. Participating Economies: As of my last update, there are 21 APEC member economies participating in the ABTC scheme, including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea, the United States, and others. However, participation and specific arrangements may vary among member economies.
  7. Usage: The ABTC is primarily intended for business-related travel and does not replace a passport. Cardholders are still required to carry a valid passport when traveling internationally.

It's important for individuals interested in obtaining an APEC Business Travel Card to review the eligibility criteria and requirements set by their home economy and to follow the application process outlined by the designated issuing authority.