APEC Business
Travel Card

19 APEC economies are fully participating members of the ABTC scheme: Australia, Brunei, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

Two APEC economies are transitional members: Canada and the United States. Transitional members offer access to fast-track immigration lanes at participating airports but require ABTC holders to still present any required visas or entry documents for entry.

ABTC holders granted pre-clearance by a fully participating APEC economy do not need to make a separate application for a visa or entry permit when travelling to that economy.

ABTC holders travelling to a transitional economy must still present any visas, travel or other entry documents required by that economy. Both member types offer access to fast-track immigration lanes at participating airports.

• Fast-track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at participating airports
• Multiple, short-term entries to pre-cleared APEC economies without having to make a separate visa application to fully participating members

When travelling to a fully participating APEC economy, ABTC holders do not need to submit a separate visa application if they have been granted pre-clearance for that economy.

When travelling to a transitional member economy (Canada or USA), ABTC holders must still present any travel or identity documentation required, such as a passport, visa or travel authorization. A valid passport is always required regardless of destination.

Travellers are exempt from applying for a visa only for economies listed on the back of their ABTC. If you wish to travel to an economy not listed on the back of your card, you must present any required visa or identity document for entry. However, any cardholder can use the fast-track lane in APEC economies' airports regardless of which economies are listed on the back of the card.

Each economy has its own eligibility criteria. Generally, applicants must be businesspersons who:

• Are citizens of participating APEC economies
• Have never been convicted of a criminal offence
• Hold a valid passport issued by their home economy
• Are bona fide businesspersons who may need to travel frequently on short-term visits within the APEC region

It usually takes around 1–2 weeks for the home economy approval from Malaysia. Additional processing time may be required as the application is also pre-cleared by each of the other participating APEC economies.

The ABTC is designed for business travel only and cannot be used for:

• Tourism or leisure travel
• Students
• A business person's spouse and children
• Persons wishing to engage in paid employment or a working holiday
• Professional athletes, news correspondents, entertainers, musicians, artists or persons in similar occupations

Some economies may facilitate entry for cardholders depending on individual circumstances — refer to the relevant economy for details.