APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is a visa that the cardholder can use together with their passport to travel to APEC member countries for short-term business without having to apply for another visa.
Only Thai nationals can apply for ABTC in Thailand. Foreigners who are citizens of APEC member countries can apply for ABTC in their home country.
To be eligible for ABTC, Thai nationals must comply with the following:
- He/she must be at least 25 years old and holds a Thai passport
- He/she must be working in a company or a limited partnership that is a member of one of the following organizations: the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade of Thailand, the Federation of Thai Industries or the Thai Bankers Association, and still maintain their membership. If they lose their membership, the application will be rejected
- He/she must be in a managerial position with a salary of THB 50,000 or more
After submitting the application and everything was prepared completely and accurately, the officer will check the information for about 7 business days. If the application is approved, the ABTC can be received within 2 to 3 months.
However, during the application process for APEC Business Travel Card, the applicant is prohibited to apply for a business visa to enter any APEC member countries. The employer (a company or a limited partnership) is also prohibited to change the company name.
Thai Lawyers can assist qualified Thai nationals in obtaining APEC Business Travel Card. Contact us for more information.