[APEC Card] How to Apply for an APEC Business Travel Card? 5 Key Benefits of the ABTC for Business Trips!

As the pandemic has subsided, business activities have become more frequent, and more people are travelling between countries for business. At the same time, outbound travel has also increased significantly. In Japan, South Korea, and other popular travel cities in Southeast Asia, there are often very long queues at immigration, and the waiting time to enter the country is generally at least two hours. To make overseas business trips more convenient for business professionals, General Accounting shares a guide to applying for the “APEC Card” (also known as ABTC or the APEC Business Travel Card), including how it is used and its benefits.

What is the “APEC Card”?

What is the “APEC Card”? APEC stands for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, commonly referred to as “APEC”. To facilitate economic cooperation among member economies and promote the free movement of business people, APEC proposed the “APEC Business Travel Card Scheme (APEC Business Travel Card Scheme)” at the APEC Informal Economic Leaders’ Meeting held in the Philippines in November 1996. Therefore, the “APEC Card” is also known as “ABTC”¹.

The launch of the ABTC Business Travel Card Scheme makes it easier for eligible business people in participating economies to obtain long-term visas and enjoy expedited immigration clearance. APEC member economies have also set up dedicated ABTC lanes for cardholders.

What do “APEC Card” and ABTC refer to?

In fact, “APEC Card” is simply taken from the first word of “APEC Business Travel Card”, while ABTC is the abbreviation of “APEC Business Travel Card”. Both refer to the APEC Business Travel Card / APEC Business Travel Permit².

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Why apply for an APEC Card? What are the benefits?

Applying for an “APEC Card” makes it easier to travel in and out of different economies for business activities. APEC Card holders can conduct business travel freely among APEC economies.

Benefits of the APEC Card (APEC Business Travel Card / ABTC)

1. No visa required

APEC Card holders entering ABTC member economies do not need to apply for a visa. Simply present the APEC Card and passport to enter and exit member economies directly. During the validity period of the APEC Card, there is no limit on the number of entries and exits, and multiple trips to various destinations do not require reapplying for a visa³.

2. Longer stay

Entering with an APEC Card allows a stay of up to 60 to 90 days³.

For example, when entering Thailand with an HKSAR passport, you may stay for 30 days⁴, but entering with an APEC Card allows a stay of 90 days¹.

3. Fast-track immigration clearance

APEC Card holders can use the fast-track lane³ for expedited entry and exit clearance, without queuing with general travellers.

4. Time-saving and convenient

In addition to fast-track immigration clearance, it also saves the time required to apply for visas.

Taking entry into Indonesia as an example, the time from arrival to applying for a visa on arrival and clearing immigration takes at least 2.5 hours. With an APEC Card, you do not need to queue for a visa, and you can use the priority lane, reducing the total entry time to under one hour.

5. Cost savings

The fee for applying for the APEC Business Travel Card is only HK$540². As visas are not required for travel to ABTC economies, visa expenses can be reduced.

Using a Vietnam entry visa as an example, a single-entry visa costs US$25 (about HK$200). Assuming you travel to Vietnam for business four times a year, that is 12 trips over three years. Visa fees for Vietnam alone would total as much as HK$2,400, not including potential visa fees for other economies that require visas.With an APEC Card, you only need to pay HK$540 and can save on visa application costs.

Eligibility for applying for an “APEC Card”

• Hold a valid passport and a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card
• Have not been refused entry by any APEC member economy
• No criminal record
• Business people who need to travel frequently within the APEC region*

Note* Genuine business people refer to those engaged in trade in goods, the provision of services, or investment activities. This does not include performers, musicians, artists, or those in similar professions ²

Documents required for applying for an APEC Card²

1. Copy of passport

A photocopy of the valid passport page that clearly shows the applicant’s Chinese and English name, nationality, personal particulars, and the passport’s date of issue and expiry.

2. Photocopy of Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card
The side that clearly shows the applicant’s particulars and photo

3. Company recommendation letter
A recommendation letter for the APEC Business Travel Card application issued by the employing company, which must be signed by the person in charge and stamped with the company chop.

4. Passport photo
A recent colour photo of the applicant

How to apply for an “APEC Card”? The 8-step process for applying for an APEC card (ABTC)

Step 1: Complete the application form (ID 900)

Complete the English section of Form ID 900. The Chinese section is for reference only. Attach a recent colour photo.

Download the APEC Business Travel Card application form (ID 900)

Step 2: Submit the application form (ID 900)

Submit the completed and signed ABTC application form (ID 900) together with the required documents (passport copy, HKID copy, company recommendation letter) and the fee, in person or by post to the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government.

Immigration Department address:
5/F, Administration Building, Immigration Headquarters, 61 Po Yap Road, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories, Hong Kong
Immigration Department – Other Visas and Permits Section

Step 3: Pay the fee of HK$540

For postal applications, enclose a crossed cheque payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”;

For in-person applications, payment can be made by cash, EPS, Octopus, FPS, or cheque.

Step 4: Check local (Hong Kong Immigration Department) application progress

You may enter the application reference number and date of birth online to check the application status. Select “Visa/Entry Permit Application under Other Policies and Schemes (except Foreign Domestic Helpers)”. Online status enquiry link:
https://www.gov.hk/tc/residents/immigration/
nonpermanent/appstatusenq.htm

Note: When checking the status of an APRC card application online, please select “Visa/Entry Permit Application under Other Policies and Schemes (except Foreign Domestic Helpers)”.

Step 5: Review APEC Card (ABTC) pre-clearance

After local approval is completed, the APEC Card (ABTC) application will be forwarded to other member economies under the APEC Business Travel Card Scheme for pre-clearance.

Step 6: Check APEC Card (ABTC) approval status

Applicants can select “Hong Kong, China” in the ABTC online system and enter the ABTC application number to see which economies have approved the application.

Online ABTC status enquiry link:
https://www.abtc-aps.org/abtc-
core/status/check.html

Step 7: Request issuance of the APEC Card

If the approved economies already meet your business needs, you may submit a written request to the Immigration Department for issuance of the official APEC Business Travel Card. The written request can be sent by post to the Immigration Department or faxed to 2824 1161.

Step 8: Completion

After receiving the collection notification letter from the Immigration Department, you may authorise another person to collect the APEC Card (ABTC) on your behalf, or collect it in person at the Immigration Department. This is the APEC Business Travel Card.

Which economies are members of APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation)?

Destinations where the APEC Card can be used include: China, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Russia².

Fees for applying for an APEC Card (ABTC)

The fee for applying for the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is HK$540².

If the business travel card is lost, the replacement fee is HK$210².

How to renew an APEC Card (ABTC)

The general validity period of the Business Travel Card is 3 to 5 years². If your APEC Card is about to expire, you will need to apply again. All information and procedures are the same as a new application. Once the new card is issued, the old card will be cancelled.

Summary:

The above is a guide to applying for the APEC Card (ABTC), including the process and key points to note. In addition to bringing APEC economies closer together, the ABTC also makes trade and business travel easier for cardholders, facilitating business exchanges within APEC and saving both time and money.

General Accounting has been established for over 20 years and provides professional company incorporation and company secretarial services. Trust or Company Service Provider Licence No.: TC002940. If you have any questions about applying for an APEC Card, our professional Customer Service Managers can provide free initial enquiry assistance.

Further reading:

[Company Formation Process] Steps and Fees for Setting Up an Unlimited/Limited Company in Hong Kong | Complete Guide

[Company Incorporation Costs] How much does it cost to set up a company? Sole Proprietorship vs Limited Company registration fees

Company Secretary Licence, Qualifications, Legal Liabilities and Duties | TCSP licence requirements and renewal guide

[Corporate Tax Filing] Unlimited/Limited Company Tax Filing Tutorial | Latest Guide on Rates, Fees, and Procedures