About the APEC Business Travel Card Scheme

About the scheme

The APEC Business Travel Card scheme is an important initiative that commenced permanent operations in March 1999. Developed in response to the need for business people to gain streamlined entry to other economies, it contributes to APEC's goal of free and open trade within the Asia-Pacific region.
See also:
Business Mobility Group
APEC Secretariat

Benefits

Through a single application form, the scheme allows accredited business people to obtain an APEC Business Travel Card for multiple short-term visits to other APEC economies over a three year period. This saves business people the time and effort involved in applying for individual visas or entry permits each time they wish to travel for business.

About the size of a credit card, the APEC Business Travel Card is valid for 3 years and provides the holder with a two or three month stay in an APEC economy that is a full member of the scheme.
See: Summary of Periods of Stay for ABTC Holders

Picture 1: Sample APEC Business Travel Card
 

The scheme also provides cardholders with access to fast track immigration processing lanes at major airports in participating economies.
See: Arrangements at International Airports

Picture 2: Sample APEC lane

Participants

18 of the 21 APEC economies fully participate in the APEC Business Travel Card scheme.

The 18 fully participating members are:

• Australia
• Brunei Darussalam
• China
• Chile
• Hong Kong, China
• Korea
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Peru
• the Philippines
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Singapore
• Chinese Taipei
• Thailand
• Vietnam.

The remaining 3 economies (Canada, the Russian Federation and the United States of America) are transitional members of the scheme. Transitional members do not offer reciprocal arrangements for entry to their economy. They only provide fast track immigration processing lanes.

Australia's participation in the APEC Business Travel Card scheme is managed by the department.