apec business travel card scheme immigration new zealand

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NZ to Join APEC Business Travel Card Scheme

• John Delamare

Immigration Minister, Hon Tuariki Delamere, announced today that New Zealand will join the APEC Business Travel Card scheme.

"The card offers fast-track border service for business people from participating APEC economies," Mr. Delamere said.

Card-holders may apply for multiple visits of up to 3 months for a period of 3 years to any APEC economy which has joined the scheme. This means a saving of time and expense for someone who would normally have to apply for a visa for each trip.

"Although New Zealanders may already travel to many APEC economies without having to apply for a visa," Mr Delamere said, "the APEC Business Travel Card holder will have the additional benefit of the streamlined service through special APEC Card lanes at busy airports.

"This will be particularly useful as destinations such as Hong Kong and Manila. Business people visiting New Zealand will also get the same service."

Five of the 18 APEC economies have already joined the scheme: Australia, Chile, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Korea.

Mr. Delamere said the actual timing of New Zealand's participation in the scheme will depend on a number of technical issues, such as establishing the necessary computer links with other countries.

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• Trusted Traveler Programs

U.S. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Travel Card Program FAQs

General questions about the program, what is the u.s. apec business travel card program.

The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program is a voluntary program to  facilitate  travel for U.S. citizens engaged in verified business in the APEC region and U.S. government officials engaged in APEC business. Participants must also be members of a CBP trusted traveler program.  The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card will enable access to fast-track immigration lanes at airports in foreign APEC member economies. 

What is APEC and who are APEC members?

APEC, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, is an economic forum whose primary goal is to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.  The United States is one of 21 APEC member economies, which include:  Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Vietnam.

Program Benefits

What benefits does the u.s. apec business travel card afford me.

The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card will enable access to a dedicated fast-track lane for expedited immigration processing at participating foreign APEC member airports.  For a complete list of APEC Business Travel Card participating airports, visit  www.apec.org/Groups/Committee-on-Trade-and-Investment/Business-Mobility-Group/ABTC .

U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holders may also use the available Global Entry processing technology at participating airports upon their U.S. return.  View the list of  airports with Global Entry .   

Eligibility for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card

Am i eligible for the u.s. apec business travel card.

To be eligible for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program, you must meet three criteria:

• you must be a U.S. citizen;
• you must be an existing member in good standing or be approved for membership in a CBP trusted traveler program (SENTRI, NEXUS, or Global Entry) during the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application process, , meaning they will go through a thorough vetting process including a review of all relevant national security and criminal databases prior to enrollment;
• you must be either a verified business person, or a U.S. government official, who is actively engaged in APEC business.

Who is a “verified business person” engaged in APEC business?

A “verified business person” engaged in APEC business  means a person engaged in the trade of goods, the provision of services or the conduct of investment activities in the APEC region.  Professional athletes, news correspondents, entertainers, musicians, artists or persons engaged in similar occupations are not considered to be verified business travelers engaged in business in the APEC region when they are traveling in such a capacity. 

A “U.S. government official” means a U.S. government official performing U.S. government activities that support the work of APEC.

What is the fee for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card?

The application fee for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card is $70.  The fee is non-refundable.  This fee is in addition to the fee for the selected CBP Trusted Traveler Program.

For example, a new applicant applying for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card with their Global Entry application would pay an application fee of $170.  This breaks down to $70 for the APEC Business Travel Card application and $100 for the Global Entry application.

Trusted Traveler Membership

How do i apply for membership in sentri, nexus, or global entry.

Apply for a CBP trusted traveler program on the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) website,  https://ttp.dhs.gov .  You also must schedule an enrollment center interview via your TTP dashboard during the application process.  For more information about Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI go to the  Trusted Traveler Programs  page.

Applying for and Renewing the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card

How do i apply for the u.s. apec business travel card program.

You must apply on the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) website,  https://ttp.dhs.gov .  This is the same website that is used to apply for CBP’s trusted traveler programs.  Check the box in TTP for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card. Then schedule a visit to any CBP trusted traveler enrollment center for an interview (if you are not already a CBP trusted traveler) and for electronic signature collection. 

However, if you are already a CBP trusted traveler, you can visit any CBP trusted traveler enrollment center for your interview/signature collection without an appointment.

Do I have to be a member of a CBP trusted traveler program to apply for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program?

All applicants for a U.S. APEC Business Travel Card must be existing members in good standing of a CBP trusted traveler program or apply and be approved for membership in a CBP trusted traveler program during the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application process.  An applicant for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card may be a member of any of three CBP  Trusted Traveler Programs : Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI, meaning they will go through a thorough vetting process including a review of all relevant national security and criminal databases prior to enrollment.  An individual may apply either for a CBP trusted traveler program in advance or when applying for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card. 

Is it more advantageous for me to apply for a CBP trusted traveler program in advance or when I submit the application for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card?

Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. 

If you apply for the  U.S. APEC Business Travel Card program  and the  CBP Trusted Traveler Program  concurrently, then you have to visit the enrollment center only once for the CBP trusted traveler interview and for signature collection.  If you first apply for a CBP trusted traveler program, you will need two trips to an enrollment center, once for the interview and again for signature collection.

If you apply for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card and the CBP Trusted Traveler Program concurrently, you will be required to pay the applicable fees for both programs when you submit the applications.  All application fees are non-refundable.  Since membership to a CBP trusted traveler program is a prerequisite for membership in the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card program, if you are denied CBP trusted traveler program membership, you would be also be denied a U.S. APEC Business Travel Card and no refunds are available.  This could be avoided if you applied first for a CBP trusted traveler program.

How long will my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card be valid?

Prior to December 13, 2016 ABTC cards were issued with a validity of 3 years or until the expiration date of the card holder’s passport whichever occurred first.  However, U.S. issued APEC Business Travel Cards approved on or after December 13, 2016 are now valid for five years from the date of issuance, or until the expiration date of the card holder’s passport, whichever comes first. This change in validity does not apply to current U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holders, whose cards remain valid only until the date printed on their card.

How do I renew my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card?

To renew the  U.S. APEC Business Travel Card , submit a new U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application, pay the program fee, and meet all the eligibility criteria, including maintaining active membership in one of the CBP Trusted Traveler Programs (Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI).

Do I have to renew my CBP trusted traveler program membership if it is set to lapse prior to the expiration of my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card?

Yes. CBP may revoke your U.S. APEC Business Travel Card if you fail to renew or maintain your CBP trusted traveler program membership. 

If I am already a member of a CBP trusted traveler program, do I still have to visit an enrollment center to complete my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application?

Yes, once CBP determines you are eligible to participate in the APEC program you must provide an electronic signature that will be printed on the APEC Business Travel Card. You can complete the interview/signature collection process via Enrollment on Arrival  when returning to the U.S. from an international flight or at any CBP Trusted Traveler enrollment center, no appointment necessary.   

If I am a U.S. citizen living abroad, can I complete my interview in the country in which I reside?

No. Interviews and signature collection for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card must be done at a CBP trusted traveler enrollment center and none are located outside of the United States and Canada. See a list of all CBP enrollment centers for Global Entry , NEXUS , and SENTRI . Alternatively, you can complete the signature collection process via Enrollment on Arrival when returning to the U.S. from an international flight.

How will I know when I am accepted into the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program and how will I receive my travel card?

If you are accepted into the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program, CBP will update your  TTP  account to reflect the acceptance and will mail the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card to the mailing address that you provided on your application.  CBP will mail the card to U.S. or international addresses, but not to post office boxes. 

Traveling with the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card

Can the u.s. apec business travel card be used in lieu of a visa in a foreign apec member economy.

No.  Foreign APEC member economies will not recognize the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card in lieu of a visa. The U.S. is a transitional member of APEC and does not reciprocate with other economies regarding full pre-clearance benefits to applicants.  As such, no countries are listed on the back of U.S. APEC Business Travel Cards and card holders are required to present any travel or identity documentation, such as a passport and visa (where applicable), required by the foreign APEC member economy.  If a  U.S. APEC Business Travel Card  holder does not conform to the foreign economy’s visa,  passport  or entry requirements, the card holder may be directed to a non-expedited lane or refused entry.   Check the entry requirements of the destination APEC member economy before travel. 

Can I use my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card for personal travel, such as vacation?

No. The APEC Business Travel Card is for members who travel frequently on short-term visits within the APEC region to fulfill business commitments. To use the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card, you must be traveling solely for business purposes to the foreign APEC economy.  

Is my spouse or child able to access the APEC lanes if they are traveling with me?

No. The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card is not transferable and applicable only to the card holder. Access to APEC lanes will not be extended to anyone traveling with the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holder.

Revoking or Suspending Membership

In what situations will cbp revoke or suspend a u.s. apec business travel card program membership.

A U.S. APEC Business Travel Card membership may be suspended or revoked if CBP determines that:

the individual provided false information in the application and/or during the application process;

the individual failed to follow the program’s terms, conditions and requirements;

the individual has been arrested or convicted of a crime or otherwise no longer meets the program eligibility criteria.

CBP can also revoke membership if the card holder is no longer a member of a CBP trusted traveler program.  A U.S. APEC Business Travel Card applicant or card holder who is denied, suspended, or removed will not receive an application fee refund.

If my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card expires or I am no longer eligible for a U.S. APEC Business Travel Card, does this affect my membership in a CBP trusted traveler program?

No.  You would still be considered a full participant in the CBP trusted traveler program for the remaining period of your membership.

Application or Membership Problems

Who can i contact if my u.s. apec business travel card application or membership is suspended, denied, revoked or canceled.

In the event you are denied or revoked from the Trusted Traveler Programs, you will be provided information in writing detailing the reason for this action. If you believe the decision was based upon inaccurate or incomplete information, you may request reconsideration through the Trusted Traveler Programs website.

Reconsideration Requests and attachments to the Ombudsman should be in English and must include the following details:

• Date of denial and denial reason(s) from the letter;
• Summary of information to further clarify a record or explain an incident or arrest;
• Court disposition documentation in PDF format for all arrests or convictions, even if expunged; and/or
• Other supporting documentation you feel may influence the Ombudsman's decision. Supported formats: PDF, DOCX, DOC, PNG, JPEG, and GIF.

The APEC Business Travel Card

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) scheme was developed to provide the region’s business community with easier access to other economies in the Asia-Pacific region. The ABTC supports APEC goals of business development, trade and investment through the facilitation of travel between economies.

Currently of the 21 participating economies, 19 are full members which issue cards to their own citizens and provide pre-clearance approval and fast-track lane access to business travellers from other economies [1] . The United States and Canada are transitional members who participate in all aspects of the scheme except they do not issue pre-clearances in advance and instead still require ABTC holders to present at the border any visas, travel or other entry documents that are required for entry. Fully participating economies benefit from a reduced burden on at-the-border security resources because ABTC holders are screened by all economies to ensure they are low-risk travellers [2] .

The ABTC is valid for five years and permits eligible businesspeople with legitimate business travel needs to travel without the need for separate visa applications in fully participating economies and provides access to priority fast track lanes at border immigration inspection facilities in all economies. Thus, the card aims to save cardholders considerable money in terms of visa fees and considerable time in terms of border entry processing. The scheme reduces travel costs between APEC economies by 38% for cardholders [3] . Businesses pay 27% less in application fees and 52% less in immigration processing. This increases the ability of businesspeople to travel internationally [4]

Video Credit: APEC Secretariat

Photo Credit: APEC Secretariat

Context-development of the APEC Business Travel Card 

Australia, Korea, and the Philippines were the three original members of the scheme when it was first trialled in 1997. The ABTC aimed to support APEC’s objectives of regional economic integration and the facilitation of regional trade and investment by reducing the costs of cross-border trade and the movement of people across borders. It is this strong alignment with APEC’s objectives that encouraged economies to support the scheme initially.

The design of the ABTC scheme also allowed economies to signal interest and agree in principle to the scheme without needing to sign up initially. Economies with hesitations around the scheme or domestic regulation which hindered immediate participation were able to monitor the progress of the scheme and sign up when the economy was comfortable to do so. Early adopters of the scheme tended to be economies that already had high levels of visa free arrangements which meant the risk to sign up for the scheme was reduced. However, this also meant that initial participation in the scheme from those economies was lower as there was less need for a citizen to apply for a card if the economy they were travelling to already allowed visa free access. In comparison, economies which viewed the scheme as a greater threat to border security waited to observe the success of the scheme before signing up but found greater value in participation.

Some economies were able to join the scheme quicker than others. For economies like Peru, who approved its incorporation into the scheme in 2000, a coordinated effort was required between relevant domestic authorities to create regulation so that the economy would be able to participate in the scheme. It was officially implemented in 2003. Included in this regulatory change was the necessary work on how Peru would decide the criteria for a businessperson, determining who would be eligible for the scheme. The ABTC Operating Framework maintains a broad definition of a businessperson which ensures economies can offer eligibility and flexibility to a wide range of people under its own domestic laws and policies. Individual economies are responsible for further clarifying the definition which can mean some travellers are ineligible.

There were some reservations with the scheme when it first launched. The criteria that must be met to apply for the ABTC, coupled with the requirement that each economy individually approve the cardholder meant that the approved participants were low risk.

Characteristics of the ABTC Cooperation

To receive an ABTC, applicants who meet the criteria must make a single application to the economy for which they hold a passport or have permanent residence (in the case of Hong Kong, China). If this economy assesses the application as meeting the relevant criteria, the applicant’s details are provided to the other participating economies who conduct their own assessment of whether to grant pre-clearance. When all economies have made a pre-clearance decision, the applicant receives an ABTC that lists the economies to which they have permission to travel. The work is shared between economies as each is responsible for managing the processing of their own pre-clearance applications and no economy has any influence over the processing timeframes of another. The ABTC Operating Framework provides that pre-clearance processing times are expected to be kept as short as possible and that pre-clearance should be completed within 2-3 weeks of economies receiving the request. However, processing of the application can generally take much longer, 3-6 months on average. Applicants are able to receive an interim card which is sent out once the five priority economies that the applicant has self-selected have provided clearance which helped to partially reduce the long waiting times cardholders were experiencing.

Canada and the United States are transitional members. This means they participate in some, but not all aspects of the ABTC scheme. While transitional members do not participate in the preclearance portion of the scheme, they do issue ABTCs to their own citizens so that they can utilize fast-track passenger processing lanes in other economies. The United States offers foreign cardholders expedited visa appointments, when feasible, and access to specialized passenger processing lanes upon arrival.

The ABTC gives frequent business travellers fast-track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at participating airports and, for cardholders of fully participating members, multiple short-term entries to precleared APEC economies without having to make a separate visa application to fully participating members.

Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card vary between economies

The advertised benefits of the ABTC are attractive for business travellers seeking to regularly travel within the Asia-Pacific region. ABTC holders are able to travel to economies that are full members of the scheme for business purposes without needing to pay for and take the time to submit separate visa applications each time they travel. This reduces the expense for businesses collaborating and trading within the Asia-Pacific region, particularly for those who travel frequently for business.

Separate APEC cardholder lanes at airports aim to reduce waiting times when travelling and provide a smoother experience. Peru and Chile specifically noted businesspeople appreciate the special entry lanes for the quicker transit times through the airport, which makes it easier to schedule business meetings. While quicker movement through airports is attractive for busy business travellers, this benefit is not necessarily guaranteed. At busy airports, cardholders waiting in the specific lane can spend just as long, or even longer waiting to be processed than travellers using the regular lanes. Additionally, infrequent travel by ABTC members through certain airports can result in cardholder lanes being neglected as it is less cost effective to keep the lane constantly staffed. Greater levels of communication and training for border officers has been pinpointed as an effective way to reduce these issues, particularly in smaller airports where ABTC holders are less common.

The popularity of a scheme can depend on the advantages offered to participants. Variations in the extent to which it benefits certain groups can lead to inequal participation rates between economies. In the case of the ABTC, economies which already have visa free travel schemes with a greater number of economies see less benefit from the scheme and tend to have lower rates of participants. For example, Singaporean citizens tend to already have visa free access to many economies so participants in the scheme may use the card mainly for the fast-track lanes at airports rather than for the visa component. In comparison, Peruvian citizens would ordinarily need to obtain visas to access many APEC economies, so the multi-economy visa access provides a clear and valuable benefit to Peru cardholders and the Peru economy as this reduces the need to process individual visas for each entry and exit.

Economies may have different views on the advantages of a scheme, depending on the level of effort required. ABTC preclearance application processing requires significant resourcing, even though economies may not see a reward from this work if the applicants never visit their economy. This is especially an issue for smaller economies such as Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.  In 2014, Papua New Guinea received only 500 cardholder visits and roughly 900 cardholders visited New Zealand [2] .

 Peru noted that large volumes of applications can place a burden on the workforce, especially as it can be difficult to source workers with skills in this area.

Challenges of the ABTC Scheme

A common challenge expressed by both economies and clients is the length of time it takes for cardholders to receive pre-clearance approval from all 19 economies participating in the ABTC scheme. The average length of time for this process is three months, however, longer wait times are not uncommon and in some instances, approval can take up to a year. The ABTC Operating Framework sets an expectation of pre-clearance being completed within two – three weeks of receiving a request.

Although e-Government services continue to expand rapidly across the region as the virtual ABTC is rolled out, ABTC applications remain largely paper-based, which requires economy staff to manually enter all data into the ABTC system. Manual entry increases the likelihood of application errors which will need to be followed up. The increase in the duration of the card from 3 to 5 years has eased some of the resourcing burdens on economies due to the reduced frequency of reapplications.

Other challenges for governments include providing greater application process transparency and support for applicants, safeguarding client data, improving ABTC system functionality, achieving parity in technical capabilities of economies, and clarifying acceptable uses of the card.

There is also a perception that the process of reapplication for a card after expiry is redundant. Current cardholder applicants are less likely to pose any security risks yet further time and money must be spent by cardholders and APEC economies to go through the process again after the expiry of a card. This demonstrates the disconnect between economy processing staff, who view the ABTC as a travel document similar to a passport or visa, and cardholders, who view the card as a convenience that applicants must go through a strenuous process to receive.

Lessons Learned

The Virtual ABTC will be a quicker, more efficient tool for economies and cardholders. The Virtual ABTC was launched by the APEC Business Mobility Group during the APEC Leader’s Week in November 2020. The Virtual ABTC displays a digital version of the card on a mobile application which cardholders can present to enter an APEC economy. Security measures are included in the app to prevent fraudulent duplication and misuse.

On 1 March 2021, Australia transitioned to the Virtual ABTC and now offers it to approved Australian cardholders. While the intention is for the Virtual ABTC to eventually replace the physical version, each economy will determine its own timeline for transitioning. As transitional members, Canada and the United States will not have the ability to access the virtual ABTC at this time.

The developers of the virtual card have used the lessons learned from the physical card to create a card that is more secure, efficient, convenient and user-friendly, particularly as APEC members are looking for safe and effective measures to open up borders and resume international travel.

A major inconvenience with the physical card was the lengthy wait times for using the card. The new virtual card has removed this issue and provides a quicker service. When each economy approves the application, that economy will appear on the app and cardholders will then be able to use the card to access that economy. This reduces the length of time cardholders need to wait between submitting their application and being able to use their card. Peru noted that updated real-time information on the status of the virtual card has been a major benefit.

A benefit for economies is that they will no longer need to expend resources printing and sending physical cards. For Australia, this was a major benefit for transitioning to the virtual card, particularly as Australia used to print physical cards for other economies that did not have the necessary resources. Australia’s transition to the virtual card, and subsequent decision to stop printing cards, has encouraged those economies to transition to the virtual card as well. Chile has also noted that processing times for cards are quicker since its transition to the virtual card.

The new virtual card has the same design as the physical card, to help economies and cardholders understand and feel comfortable using the virtual card. This has meant that economies would not need to spend extra time retraining staff as the process at the border works much the same. While some economies would prefer extra security measures such as QR code, the design team recognised that it would be difficult to install specialist security software across all economies. Peru noted that not all cardholders are proficient users of technology and applications, and this can cause issues in the short term.

To date, the roll out of the virtual card has been hampered due to worldwide border restrictions restricting travel between economies. However, developers are confident that the benefits of the virtual card will encourage economies to transition, and that cardholders themselves will champion this change.

  [1] APEC (n.d.), APEC Business Travel Card Goes Digital , https://www.apec.org/Press/News-Releases/2021/0304_ABTC .

[2] Tetlow, J. and C. Wood (2014), “Supporting Continued Growth in Trade and Facilitation: End to End Review of the APEC Business Travel Card”, Washington: APEC Business Mobility Group .

[3] APEC (n.d.), APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) , https://www.apec.org/Groups/Committee-on-Trade-and-Investment/Business-Mobility-Group/ABTC .

  [4] Part of the information in the case study above has come from discussions with a variety of economies including Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru, the United States and others.  

Date :  Finalised in 2022.

Understanding the APEC business travel card

There’s a lot to planning and managing business travel - especially when it comes to frequent international travel. Not all countries have the same entry requirements and visas, and because of this, it’s not unusual for travellers to find themselves stuck in long immigration lines on arrival and departure.

If you’re in charge of organising the business travel for your workplace, your corporate travel partner can help you navigate the maze, and if in doubt, put you in touch with a visa advisory service, like Travcorp.

For frequent travellers, the APEC business travel card (ABTC) is worth considering. Its main purpose is to streamline the entry process into APEC countries - making business travel managers’ lives easier and accelerating immigration processing for travellers.

This detailed article explains everything you need to know about the APEC business travel card.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• What is the ABTC?
• What are its key benefits?
• The 21 members of APEC and which are in the ABTC scheme
• Fully participating and transitional members
• Who is eligible?
• Application criteria for New Zealand business travellers

Do I still need a visa and passport?

• Business versus personal travel

When a traveller’s passport is lost, stolen or expired

Why your business needs an apec business travel card, what is the apec business travel card.

APEC, or the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation , was formed in 1989 to help member nations discuss free trade and economic cooperation. In total 21 economies in the Asia Pacific region are members, with a focus on improving and facilitating business relationships, as well as supporting economic growth in the region - making it easier for goods, investments and people to move between member countries.

The APEC business travel card (ABTC) programme facilitates short-term business travel for eligible business travellers in the APEC region. It streamlines the entry process - visas and immigration - into APEC economies. Rather than applying for entry documentation for each country separately, New Zealand business travellers can apply once through Immigration New Zealand , and their information will be used for multiple destinations.

If successful, applicants are issued with ABTCs, giving them entry authority into other fully participating countries - effectively pre-clearance for short-term business travel of up to 90 days. Cardholders also benefit from express immigration processing at each country’s major international airport through special APEC lanes.

Key benefits of an APEC business travel card

There are two main benefits for business travellers holding APEC business travel cards:

• Express immigration - entry and exit through APEC lanes in the major international airports of fully participating and transitional APEC countries
• Apply for one, entry to many - multiple entries to fully participating countries for up to 90 days each visit without having to make separate visa applications

The 21 members of APEC, and those in the ABTC scheme

There are 19 countries that are fully participating members of APEC:

• Brunei Darussalam
• Hong Kong (China)
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• The Philippines
• The Russian Federation
• Chinese Taipei

There are also two transitional members: Canada and the United States.

When you apply for an APEC business travel card, you will need to specify which countries you require clearance for as these will be listed on the back of your ABTC when it’s granted. If you need to travel to a country not listed on the back of your ABTC, you’ll need to present the normal entry documentation. However as a cardholder, you can still use the APEC lanes in international airports no matter which countries you have printed on your ABTC.

Fully participating and transitional members of APEC

As mentioned previously, 19 member nations are deemed fully participating members. This means they participate in the pre-clearance aspect of the ABTC programme.

Canada and the United States are not fully participating members, but rather transitional members. This means they do not participate in the pre-clearance aspect of the ABTC programme, but they do still allow ABTC cardholders to use the fast-track immigration lanes at participating airports.

So how does this affect your business travel? ABTC holders granted pre-clearance by fully participating APEC countries do not need to make separate visa applications before being permitted to travel to those countries. On the back of your travellers’ ABTC will be a list of the APEC countries they have been granted pre-clearance for - and they will not be required to present any other entry documentation when they arrive at their destination.

ABTC holders travelling to transitional countries - Canada and the USA - will need to present any visas, travel or other entry documentation when they arrive, as pre-clearance has not been granted. The same goes for any country your business travellers do not have listed on their ABTCs - whether the country is fully participating or transitional.

Best practice is to make sure you apply for pre-clearance to all APEC countries you might travel to in the next five years. Check the back of your ABTC when it arrives, and before departure; if travelling to a transitional APEC member country, check the entry requirements before travel to make sure your business traveller is prepared with the right documents.

Who is eligible for an ABTC?

The general eligibility criteria for an ABTC are relatively simple. They are available to all bona fide business travellers, i.e. business people engaged in trade and investment activities who are:

• passport holders from participating countries,
• travel frequently to participating countries for business, and
• have a clean criminal record.

On top of those three mandatory requirements, each APEC member can impose additional eligibility criteria and will vet its applicants.

Let’s start with passports. The ABTC does not replace your passport, so your business travellers still need to present valid passports on arrival and departure.

When it comes to visas, if your business travellers are headed to a fully participating APEC member country, they do not need to submit separate visa applications - so long as the country is listed on the backs of their ABTC. This means they have been granted pre-clearance.

If your business travellers are travelling to a transitional APEC country, or a fully participating country from which they have not received pre-clearance, they will need to make separate visa applications and present any travel and identity documents as required on arrival. 

Always check the conditions of your business’s ABTCs before any staff members travel, and check entry requirements for their destination country.

Business versus personal travel on an APEC business travel card

ABTCs are designed specifically for frequent business travellers within the APEC region. Therefore, they can only be used for business travel purposes. If you decide to visit any APEC member country for personal reasons, say a holiday with your family, you will need to apply for the appropriate visa before travelling - and each family member will need one too.

Other circumstances where an ABTC cannot be used:

• Students travelling
• For a business traveller’s spouse and children
• For a person who wishes to engage in paid employment or a working holiday

Professional athletes, news correspondents, entertainers, musicians, artists or persons engaged in similar occupations

For business travellers’ ABTCs to remain valid, they need valid passports. The passport number listed on your business traveller’s ABTC must match the current passport. This means if a passport expires or is lost, and is renewed or replaced, the ABTC will also need to be updated or renewed. Some APEC countries will simply issue you a new card if your application is still valid - New Zealand is one - but some may require you to purchase a new one. It’s best to contact your home country . Make sure to always report a stolen passport to the police.

Similarly, if an ABTC is lost or stolen, this should be reported to the police and your home country. In New Zealand, if the ABTC is still valid, you’ll be asked to send a scanned copy of your passport to [email protected] before you can be issued with a new card.

The APEC business travel card is designed to meet the needs of business travellers who engage frequently in international short-term travel - not replace visa applications for infrequent travel.

Corporate Traveller's National Sales Leader, Aisling Nevin, says she often recommends an ABTC to clients who travel overseas within the APEC region at least six times a year.

If you organise business travel as part of your role in a small to medium-size business, and your business traveller travels internationally at least six times a year, you should consider applying for an ABTC.

Still unsure whether an ABTC is right for your business? Talk to your dedicated Travel Expert or contact us to learn more.

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Our Work with APEC

Apec – creating prosperity.

APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) works to break down barriers to trade and investment, and support the almost 3 billion people of the Asia-Pacific participate in the economy.

It allows its 21-member economies including New Zealand, to deal with new challenges to the region’s economic wellbeing, including disaster resilience and responding to pandemics.

APEC’s Putrajaya Vision 2040 aspires to achieve an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia -Pacific community for the future prosperity of all people and future generations. Adopted in 2020, the Vision demonstrated a shifting of focus for APEC to engage on not only traditional trade and investment issues, but also innovation, digital, inclusion and sustainability.

As host of APEC in 2021, New Zealand led the completion of the Aotearoa Plan of Action which will see member economies take action to achieve the Vision’s goals by 2040.

Formed in 1989, APEC has 21 member economies around the Pacific Rim:

Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, United States of America, Viet Nam.

The term economies is used to describe APEC members because the APEC cooperative process is predominantly concerned with trade and economic issues, with members engaging with one another as economic entities.

APEC meetings are held with officials, Ministers and Leaders throughout the year. The major event is the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in November. Alongside these meetings are events involving the business community and young people.

Each year of meetings is hosted and chaired by an APEC member. New Zealand, an APEC founding member, has hosted APEC twice – in 1999 and 2021, the first ever fully-virtual APEC.

The 2022 APEC host was Thailand, with the USA hosting in 2023. Read more about the APEC host and priorities on the APEC Secretariat website (external link) .

New Zealand’s APEC priorities in 2023

The United States' 2023 host year will focus on creating a resilient and sustainable future for all.

Aiming to provide tailwinds for member economies to strengthen recovery and resilience, as well as advance broad-based economic growth, the United States rolled out its theme and priorities for when it hosts APEC in 2023.

There is a good level of continuity of work from New Zealand’s priorities and initiatives progressed during our 2021 host year. These included progressing a voluntary standstill on fossil fuel subsidies; updating APEC’s List of Environmental Goods and development of a list of Environmental Services; work to ensure the indigenous economy is of relevance to APEC; and support for APEC as an institution.

Key groups associated with APEC include:

Apec business advisory group (abac).

The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) is an independent group of business leaders that advises APEC leaders on priority issues for business in the region.

Official observers

APEC has three official observers: the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Secretariat (ASEAN), the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIF). Representatives from these groups participate in APEC meetings and help track progress and provide guidance in support of APEC objectives.

Why APEC matters

38% of global population

47% of global trade

170 trade agreements in place

Reducing trade barriers

Formed in 1989, APEC has grown to become a dynamic engine of economic growth and one of the most important regional forums in the Asia-Pacific. Its 21 member economies are home to about 2.7 billion people, and generate almost half of the world’s trade.

Bringing the region closer together, reducing trade barriers, and smoothing out differences in regulations has boosted trade and prosperity across Asia-Pacific.

Strong connections and relationships have been made through APEC, which provides a forum for Leaders, Ministers and officials to meet, share experiences and work together.

The forward-thinking ideas discussed at APEC meetings have brought many benefits to businesses, people and economies.

For example, in 2021 during New Zealand’s host year, APEC Leaders worked together to reject protectionism and make it easier to trade. Tariffs on COVID-19 vaccines and related products were lowered, which meant that life-saving medical supplies could be moved faster and at lower costs across borders. This progress shows how regional cooperation can overcome shared challenges.

Connected and engaged

Being connected to the world, in particular the Asia-Pacific, is vital for New Zealand’s economic and social well-being.

The Asia-Pacific’s strong economic growth and increased demand for New Zealand products and services makes those links vital. A common vision, language and understanding with other Asia-Pacific economies will help New Zealand achieve its ambitions.

APEC represents 71% of New Zealand’s two-way trade. In 2019, 73% of our total exports went to APEC members, while 70% of our imports came from those economies.

Fourteen of our top 20 export markets are APEC members, including the three largest economies in the world - the United States, China and Japan. 

18 of our 19  free trade agreements  are with APEC partners.

Two-thirds of the world’s trade now happens between APEC economies. Average incomes have more than doubled in APEC economies since 1989 and 1 billion people have been lifted out of poverty.

APEC gives us an equal voice

APEC is an important space for New Zealand to meet regularly with regional partners and networks, strengthening the ties that are critically important to our economy.

APEC gives us an equal voice with some of the biggest economies in the world, to promote and shape economic development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Throughout each year, APEC gives New Zealand the opportunity to meet with key regional leaders, Ministers and senior officials and register a New Zealand view. These opportunities are valuable for smaller economies, such as New Zealand.

APEC Business Travel Card

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) facilitates short-term business travel within the APEC region by streamlining the entry process into participating APEC economies (including New Zealand).

Features include:

• no requirement to apply for visa or entry permits
• express immigration clearance through special APEC lanes on arrival and departure at major international airports
• Participating economies can enter multiple times for a stay of up to 90 days on each visit.

Apply for the APEC Business Travel Card

Get an application form or find more information about the APEC Business Travel Card at  Immigration New Zealand. (external link)

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25 March 2014 at 9:00 am

APEC card: streamline your travel

If you frequently travel to Asia Pacific countries for student recruitment purposes, you can say goodbye to organising invitation letters and visas by applying for an APEC Business Travel Card.

The APEC Business Travel Card provides holders with streamlined access to 20 participating Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies. This includes many important student recruitment markets, such as China, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Korea, Thailand, Japan, Philippines and Vietnam. 

As a cardholder, you will enjoy: 

express immigration clearance through special APEC lanes on arrival and departure

no requirement to apply for visas or entry permits

multiple entry to participating countries for a stay of at least 59 days on each visit. 

The card is valid for three years and is based on a unique electronic pre-clearance system. The card is used in conjunction with your passport, so you need to apply for a new card when you receive a new passport. 

For more information, including on how to apply, go to Immigration New Zealand .

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Assessing travel and visa obligations in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is an economic forum comprised of several countries across several continents. The agreement affords nationals of APEC member states who hold a valid APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) the ability to travel visa-free for ordinary business purposes to participating APEC countries and benefit from a faster immigration clearance at designated ABTC lanes.

The APEC member states

APEC currently has 21 members, most with coastlines along the Pacific Ocean. The members include: Australia , Brunei Darussalam, Canada , Chile, China , Hong Kong , Indonesia , Japan , South Korea , Malaysia , Mexico , New Zealand , Papua New Guinea, Peru , Philippines , Russia, Singapore , Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), Thailand , the United States and Vietnam .

Assessing travel and visa obligations

APEC Business Travel Cards (ABTC) allow pre-cleared business travelers visa-free travel for the purpose of conducting ordinary business activities in member countries. The ABTC removes the need to apply for visas or entry permits for participating member countries (exclusive of Canada and the U.S.) and authorizes multiple entries into participating countries for the duration of the card’s validity.

ABTC holders also benefit from faster immigration processing on arrival via special fast-track entry and exit lanes at participating airports.

APEC member economies fully participating in the scheme include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), Thailand and Vietnam.

Canada and the United States are transitional members of the scheme.

Business travelers with a valid ABTC are only eligible to participate in visa-free travel to APEC countries that are listed on the ABTC. If the business traveler is authorized to enter a country on an ABTC card, the card will explicitly state that country’s code. If the country code is not listed on the card, the traveler is not authorized to enter that particular destination with the ABTC.

How long can I stay in the APEC region?

Immigration regulations of each APEC country will determine the duration of time foreign nationals are allowed to remain in country.

Working under APEC

The member states of the APEC region remain sovereign and the specific rules regarding working in a specific country vary considerably. The ABTC only authorizes visa-free travel for ordinary business purposes, and regulations regarding work activities should be reviewed on an individual basis.

Copyright ©2024 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. Government immigration agencies often change their policies and practices without notice; please consult an immigration professional for up-to-date informaton. This document does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. BAL maintains comprehensive immigration information and processing specifics for our clients.

Our Services

Apec business travel card (abtc) scheme, before applying.

This webpage sets out the arrangement for bona fide business travelers who wish to apply for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) under the ABTC Scheme for travelling within the APEC economies.

The aim of the Scheme is to enhance the mobility of business travellers among the APEC economies, thus promoting business within the region.

The ABTC is plastic and the size of a credit card. It is normally valid for five years Note 1 . The card is good for multiple visits of two to three months to participating economies Note 2  without the need for a visa if pre-clearance has been granted.

For card holders travelling to a participating economy where pre-clearance has been granted, they can use the special service lanes at selected control points for entry and exit clearance and enjoy streamlined immigration clearance upon presentation of the card and their valid national passport. In Hong Kong, card holders are allowed to use "resident" counters where available.

Card holders can use the special service lanes at selected control points of participating economies regardless of whether pre-clearance has been granted by that economy. For card holders travelling to a participating economy where pre-clearance has not been granted, they are still subject to usual immigration clearance process, such as presenting valid passports and where applicable, valid visas.

Card holders travelling to the United States can use the "fast-track" lanes (currently designated for aircrew) for passenger clearance at all international airports in the United States upon entry. However, ABTC holders are still subject to the usual immigration clearance process as applicable to other travellers, such as presenting valid passports and where applicable, valid visas for the United States. Should an ABTC holder require a visa for urgent business travel and find that there are no appointments available for the next working day, he/she may fax the US Consulate General's office at 2147 3586 to request a special appointment slot.

Card holders can also use the special service lanes for passenger clearance at the major international airports in Canada upon entry. ABTC holders may follow signage with the APEC logo to access the lane. However, they are still subject to the usual immigration clearance process as applicable to other travellers, such as presenting valid passports and where applicable, valid visas for Canada.

Note 1: Applications lodged on or after 1 September 2015 will be granted an ABTC normally valid for five years. Applications lodged on or before 31 August 2015 will be granted an ABTC normally valid for three years.

Note 2: The arrangement does not apply to Chinese citizen of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for entry into the Mainland. They should continue to use the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents (commonly known as the “Home Visit Permit”) for such entry. It also does not apply to ABTC holders of Hong Kong (China) for entry into Chinese Taipei.

The APEC economies participating in the Scheme are :

• Brunei Darussalam
• People's Republic of China
• Hong Kong (China)
• Republic of Korea
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• The Philippines
• Chinese Taipei
• Vietnam 

A business person residing in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may apply for an ABTC if he/she:

• holds a Hong Kong permanent identity card and a valid national passport;
• has not previously been denied entry to any of the participating economies;
• has never been convicted of a criminal offence;
• must be a bona fide business person who needs to travel frequently on short term visits within the APEC region to fulfil business commitments.

A bona fide business person is taken to mean a person who is engaged in the trade of goods, the provision of services or the conduct of investment activities. It does not include entertainers, musicians, artists or persons engaged in similar occupations.

To facilitate our referral of your application to other participating APEC economies, please complete the application form ( ID 900 ) in English with your recent colour photograph, and enclosed with:

• a photocopy of the applicant’s Hong Kong permanent identity card (only the side with his/her personal particulars and photograph is required);
• a photocopy of the applicant’s valid passport showing his/her personal particulars, nationality, dates of issue and expiry;
• another identical photograph of the applicant; and
• a letter from the applicant’s employing company supporting his/her application.

The applicant may nominate a maximum of five economies which the applicant needs to visit as a priority when he/she submits the application. The nominated economies will expedite the processing of the applicant’s application as far as possible. Nomination of economies is optional. If the applicant wishes to make the nomination, please complete the "Options for receiving an interim card" ( SF/IM/1609 ) and submit it together with his/her application.

The applicant may be required to submit further supporting documents and information in connection with his/her application when necessary.

Online Application

Click here for online submission of application and uploading of supporting documents.

Other Means of Submission

The completed application form and "Options for receiving an interim card" (if applicable) should be sent by post or in person to the Other Visas and Permits Section, Immigration Department, 7/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

Underpaid mail items will not be accepted by the Immigration Department. For proper delivery of your mail items, please ensure your mail items bear sufficient postage with return address before posting. ( Details )

The current prescribed fee for new issue of the card is HK$540; a fee of HK$210 will be charged for card replacement for the remainder of its validity period. The fee is payable upon collection of the ABTC. The relevant fee could be settled by cash, EPS, Octopus, Faster Payment System (FPS) or cheque. The cheque should be crossed, made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”, properly dated and signed. Application fee should not be sent.

After Applying

Once the receipt of application has been acknowledged, applicant can enquire the application status here  or through 24-hour telephone enquiry system (852) 3160 8663.

After the completion of local processing of the application for ABTC in Hong Kong, the application will be referred to other participating economies of the ABTC Scheme for processing of the applicant’s pre-clearance request. A notification letter with ABTC Application Number will be sent to the applicant’s business postal address. The applicant can then check the pre-clearance status via the ABTC System website by inputting ”Hong Kong, China” and his/her ABTC Application Number. Should the applicant find the pre-clearance results meet his/her business needs, he/she may request for the issue of an ABTC by sending a written request with his/her signature to the Department by post or by fax 2824 1161. The applicant will be informed by letter when the card is ready for collection.

If the applicant submitted "Options for receiving an interim card" upon submission of the application, an ABTC will be automatically issued when all nominated economies have processed the pre-clearance request and a letter will be sent to the applicant for collection of the ABTC.

The applicant may collect his/her ABTC either in person or authorise a representative to collect it on his/her behalf. Upon collection, the applicant or his/her authorised representative must produce the applicant’s original valid passport for inspection if this has not been done when the applicant submitted the application or if the application is submitted online , and submit the applicant’s previously granted ABTC for cancellation (if any).

ABTC is valid for a maximum of 5 years from the date of issue. There is no renewal process. If the 5-year validity has expired or is soon going to expire, the applicant is required to reapply a new ABTC in exactly the same way as an entirely new application. The old ABTC will be cancelled upon collection of the new ABTC. On the other hand, an ABTC may have a shorter validity if the applicant’s passport bears a shorter validity.

When one or more economies approved the applicant’s pre-clearance request after the issuance of his/her first ABTC, the applicant may request for the issuance of an ABTC with the most updated pre-clearance results. Please make the request* in writing with the applicant’s signature to the Department. Such replacement with only updating of pre-clearance results is free of charge.

When all concerned economies have processed his/her pre-clearance request, the applicant still needs to provide a written request for the issue of an ABTC regardless an interim ABTC had been issued to him/her or not.

Since the ABTC is linked to the applicant’s current passport, the applicant is required to apply for a replacement ABTC if his/her new passport bears a different number. Please make the request* in writing with the applicant’s signature and attach a copy of his/her new passport to the Department for issuance of replacement ABTC. A replacement fee will be charged for card replacement for the remainder of its validity period and is payable upon collection of the replacement ABTC. Upon collection, the applicant or his/her authorised representative must produce the applicant’s original valid new passport for inspection if this has not been done when the applicant submitted the replacement application, and submit the previously granted ABTC for cancellation (if any).

If the applicant lost the ABTC or if there is any card damage, please make the request* in writing with the applicant’s signature to the Department for issuance of replacement ABTC. A replacement fee will be charged for card replacement for the remainder of its validity period and is payable upon collection of the replacement ABTC.

* The request for the issue of replacement ABTC with the applicant’s signature can be sent to the Department by post or by fax 2824 1161. The applicant will be informed by letter when the replacement ABTC is ready for collection.

The current prescribed fee for new issue of the card is HK$540; a fee of HK$210 will be charged for card replacement for the remainder of its validity period. The fee is payable upon collection of the applicant’s ABTC. The relevant fee could be settled by cash, EPS, Octopus, Faster Payment System (FPS) or cheque. The cheque should be crossed, made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”, properly dated and signed. Application fee should not be sent.

• APEC Business Travel Card website
• Application forms relating to APEC Business Travel Card

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