APEC business travel card: Benefits and requirements

APEC business travel card: benefits and requirements

SINGAPORE 新加坡

10/10/20234 min read

people sitting on chair inside building
people sitting on chair inside building

About The APEC Business Travel Card

The APEC business travel card is a scheme that makes it easier for business travelers to cross borders in the Asia Pacific region. It is part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), a group of 21 economies that work together to improve and facilitate business relationships. APEC supports economic growth in the region by reducing barriers for goods, investments, and people. If you are interested in learning more about the APEC business travel card countries, the benefits and requirements of the APEC travel card scheme, continue reading.

What is an APEC business travel card?

The ABTC, or APEC business travel card, is a scheme that allows eligible business travellers and government officials in the APEC region to enter and exit other APEC card countries more easily. The scheme aims to facilitate business travel within the Asia Pacific region.

What are the requirements for getting an APEC business travel card?

The general APEC business travel card requirements include the following:

  • Card holders must be citizens of APEC economies

  • To apply for a card you must hold a valid passport, travel document or permanent identity card

  • Anyone who has been convicted of a criminal offence will not be eligible to apply for an APEC business card

  • The ABTC is issued to people who can demonstrate they are bona fide business people, needing to travel for their work commitments, or in some cases, government officials.

Each APEC member economy can set their own exact rules for eligibility. If you’re in Singapore and would like to apply for an ABTC, you’ll need to prove you have a clean criminal record, and fall into one of the following categories:

  • You’re a business person representing an economically active company

  • You’re a member of a professional body - for example, if you’re an accountant you should be part of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants

  • You’re a government official representing an economic agency, government department or ministry

How much do you need to pay to get the APEC card?

The cost of processing your APEC business card will depend on where you apply for it. In Singapore, you’ll pay a $100 fee, which is non-refundable. Hong Kong is HK$ 540 and in China, it costs CNY 720.

What are the benefits of having an APEC business travel card?

Business people can travel more easily within the APEC economies with the ABTC, or APEC business travel card. The ABTC lets you enter and exit some countries in the region without a visa, and use fast track lanes in some airports. You can see which countries allow visa free travel on the back of your APEC card. According to the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, an ABTC application can take at least 3 months to process, and up to a year to get full clearance from all the APEC countries. You can choose up to 5 APEC economies to prioritise, and get an interim card that covers these countries while you wait for the rest of your application to be approved.Can you use your APEC card to travel with family?

The short answer is no. Your APEC card is issued to cover business travel. APEC economies may require you to get a separate visa if you’re travelling there for tourism or other purposes. If you’re travelling with family, your APEC business card will not cover other family members or dependents.

What are the countries you can travel to with your APEC business travel card?

APEC includes 19 full member economies, and 2 transitional members.

Full members are:

  • Australia

  • Brunei Darussalam

  • Chile

  • China

  • Hong Kong

  • Indonesia

  • Japan

  • Korea

  • Malaysia

  • Mexico

  • New Zealand

  • Papua New Guinea

  • Peru

  • Philippines

  • Russia

  • Singapore

  • Chinese Taipei

  • Thailand

  • Vietnam.

Visa preclearance is not available for Canada and the US, as they are transitional APEC members. However, they may have APEC fast lanes for visitors at some entry points.

This publication is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to cover every aspect of the topics with which it deals. It does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. Readers should not rely solely on this content for making decisions without consulting a qualified professional. Reading our articles does not create an attorney-client relationship between the reader and our firm.

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Before taking any action based on our articles, consult a qualified attorney, tax advisor, or accountant pertaining to your unique situation. Always seek legal advice to ensure compliance with local regulations and ethical standards.

Simplify Your APEC Business Travel

At Adept CS, we provide comprehensive guidance on the APEC Business Travel Card, helping you understand its benefits and requirements. Simplify your APEC business travel with expert assistance from our team.

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) offers significant benefits for frequent business travelers within the APEC region. At Adept CS, we specialize in helping professionals navigate the application process for the APEC business card, ensuring you meet all requirements and can take full advantage of its perks. The ABTC simplifies travel by providing expedited border crossing and visa-free entry to participating APEC economies, making your APEC business travel more efficient and hassle-free.

Trust Adept CS for expert guidance on obtaining and maximizing the benefits of your APEC Business Travel Card.