APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is a fast and efficient travel option for business people who are citizens of APEC participating economies within the APEC region which supports APEC’s goal of free and open trade and investment under the conference of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC project.
The ABTC holders do not need to apply for any kind of visas or entry permits when visiting other APEC participating member economies. It serves the card holders with multiple entries within the card’s validity of 5 years that can save you time and money. The ABTC needs to be used in connection with a passport. The duration of valid stay permit is up to 90 days for each entry (depending on the regulation of each country). Furthermore, the ABTC holders are given the benefit from faster immigration processing upon arrival via access to fast-track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at major international airports in participating economic countries.
Presently, there are total 19 countries fully participating as members of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC scheme which include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Canada and the United States of America are currently transitional members of the scheme. Transitional members do not offer reciprocal arrangements for entry to their countries. They only provide fast track immigration processing lanes for the ABTC holders. That means the ABTC holders still need to submit the visa or entry permit when entering Canada or the USA.
Citizen of the above countries except Canada and the United States of America can apply for the ABTC. It is also possible for a citizen of a third party country (including Canada and the United States of America) who is also permanent resident in one of the APEC member countries to obtain an APEC Business Travel Card by applying through their country of permanent residence.
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