APEC Business Travel Card
The card waives the need for a visa when visiting other APEC participating economies, provided the bearer has obtained the corresponding pre-clearance during the application process.
In 2021, the Virtual APEC Business Travel Card (VABTC) was introduced, offering the same benefits via a mobile application.
The general requirement is that applicants be business people who need to travel frequently for short-term visits within the APEC region.
For example, Hong Kong accepts applications from all permanent resident bona fide business people.
In contrast, Australia limits participation to representatives of businesses involved in international trade or investment between APEC economies, those who have received an Export Market Development Grant from Austrade in the past five years, are listed on the current Forbes Global 2000, or meet similar criteria.
Applicants may choose to have their card issued without waiting for delayed responses from some governments, but this means they won't have travel privileges in those economies.
[8][9] The U.S. began accepting applications for ABTCs in June 2014, while Canada announced in October 2013 that it would begin a limited-participation trial programme.
[15] Foreign holders of the card can visit Australia visa-free for 90 days, and special fast-track lanes are available for them at Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney airports.
Eligibility requirements for Australian citizens to get an ABTC include:[6] Although Canada is not a full participant of the scheme, card holders are eligible to use special service lanes at major international airports upon arrival in Canada, but are still subject to the regular entry/visa requirements.
[10] In June 2014, the Canada Border Services Agency published a final rule regarding the issuance of ABTCs to Canadian Citizens.
[19] All Hong Kong permanent residents who are bona fide frequent business travellers are eligible to apply for the card through the Immigration Department upon submission of form ID900, regardless of whether they are Chinese citizens, as long as they have never committed a criminal offence and have never been denied entry into another APEC participating economy.
Travellers holding a virtual ABTC must apply for a special permit granting multiple entry and stay visa to enter the Russian Federation.
[24] In May 2014, the United States Department of Homeland Security published an interim final rule regarding the issuance of ABTCs to U.S. citizens.
In June 2014, U.S. Customs and Border Protection began accepting ABTC applications through the GOES portal, the same website used for its other trusted traveler schemes.
