asia pacific economic cooperation business travel card

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

• Archived Content In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.
• National Media Release

CBP Announces APEC Business Travel Card Program

WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced that it will publish an Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register to establish the U.S. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card Program (ABTC).  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. In order to participate, applicants must also be members of a CBP trusted traveler program such as Global Entry, SENTRI or NEXUS, meaning they will go through or have already undergone a thorough vetting process including a review of all relevant national security and criminal databases prior to enrollment.  The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card will enable access to fast-track immigration lanes at participating foreign APEC member airports. The Interim Final Rule will be open for public comment for 30 days. 

“Expedited entry benefits that come with the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card will allow U.S. businesses to remain competitive with other APEC member companies conducting business in the region,” said Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske.

The ABTC was created through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 and the APEC Business Travel Card Operating Framework.  This rule sets forth the eligibility requirements, the application procedures and fee, and the parameters of the program.  The ABTC will enable access to fast-track immigration lanes at participating members’ airports, which is expected to save card holders an average of 43 minutes. Fully participating APEC members may provide “pre-clearance benefits” to card holders of other fully participating members; Pre-cleared card holders would not need to apply for visas or entry permits each time they travel to other participating APEC members. 

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.  APEC is comprised of 21 members, including the United States.  APEC’s business facilitation goal is to reduce the costs of business transactions and to help importers and exporters in the Asia-Pacific region meet to conduct business more efficiently.  Facilitating travel for qualified business people within the APEC region contributes to the business facilitation goal, and to free, open trade and investment, and to the U.S. economy.   

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

• Entering, Transiting and Departing

APEC Business Travel Card

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card is a scheme designed to facilitate the movement of business travellers between APEC member economies.

Singapore citizens may apply for the card if they do not have any past criminal convictions, and are:

• A bona fide business person representing an economically active business entity; or
• A member of a professional body (for example, a doctor, lawyer or accountant); or
• A public officer representing a ministry, government department, economic agency or statutory board, travelling in official capacity.

Singapore citizens with a valid passport and the issued APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) may use the ABTC as a multiple-journey visa that enables expedited immigration clearance through designated lanes in the following participating economies:

If you travel to the US or Canada with an ABTC, you will be subjected to the standard immigration clearance processes; however, you may use ‘fast track’ immigration lanes (currently designated for airline crew) at major international airports*.

*The designated airports in Canada are:

• Calgary International Airport
• Edmonton International Airport
• Halifax Stanfield International Airport
• Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
• Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport
• Toronto Pearson International Airport (Terminals 1 and 2)
• Vancouver International Airport
• Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.

You will need to provide original documents and official translations (for documents in languages other than English), as well as copies of the documents for ICA to retain.

ICA accepts:

• Translations provided by the embassy of the country that issued the document
• Translations produced by a notary public in Singapore or the country that issued the document
• Privately created translations attested by the embassy of the country that issued the document, or notarised by a notary public in Singapore or the country that issued the document.

ICA does not endorse any private translation companies or entities. Insufficient documentation may result in non-acceptance of your application. You may be required to provide additional documents to support your application.

You will need the following to apply for an ABTC using e-Service :

• Your recent passport-sized, digital, colour photograph taken within the last three months. Please see Photo Guidelines for information on photo requirements.
• Scanned signature image file:- in JPEG format ('jpg' extension)  - Preferred dimension of 250 x 220 pixels  - File size of less than 60 KBytes
• Scanned copy of a letter of authorisation or support from the organisation:- in JPEG format ('jpg' extension) or PDF format  - File size of less than 1 MB ( sample supporting document )- If the letter of support is self-signed, please provide a scanned copy of your ACRA Business Profile
• For members of professional bodies who are applying for the ABTC in their personal capacity, a letter  stating the reason for application, along with proof of membership from the professional body must be provided
• If you are applying as part of an overseas company, you must submit a scanned copy of the company's overseas business registration certificate written in any of the four official languages (English, Mandarin, Tamil or Malay).
• Valid Singapore passport.

Login to our e-Service  using your Singpass 2FA to complete the online application form.

If your ABTC has expired or there is a change in your passport details, you would need to submit a new application online. If your passport is expiring, or you have a pending passport application, please apply for a new ABTC after you have collected your replacement passport.

A non-refundable S$100 fee is payable.

Payment can be made using either:

• Visa or MasterCard credit/debit card
• American Express (AMEX) credit card
• Internet Direct Debit (DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB and Standard Chartered Bank internet banking accounts in Singapore)

You may wish to save your receipt after you have made payment, as it will not be emailed to you automatically.

The processing time for an ABTC is at least three months upon the receipt of the application. In some cases, it may take up to a year to secure pre-clearance from all ABTC-participating economies.

The clearance of your ABTC is dependent on other APEC economies' processing times. As several APEC economies have just resumed normalcy after disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the issuance of your interim and/or your final card may be delayed.

You may wish to check the approval status of your application via https://www.abtc-aps.org/abtc-core/status/check.html , 3 to 4 weeks after the approval of your application. Do select "Singapore" as the Economy of Application and key in the applicant's passport number to check.

Should you have any ABTC-related enquiry, you may reach out to us via  https://go.gov.sg/abtc-enquiry .

Related Links

• Advice for Singapore Citizens
• Apply/Renew a Singapore Passport
• Photo Guidelines
• Document: Specimen Letter for ABTC application (from supporting organisation) (PDF, 262KB)
• Document: Specimen Letter for ABTC application (for members of professional bodies) (PDF, 6KB)
• e-Service: ABTC
• Payment/Refund FAQs

• Skip to navigation
• Skip to main content

Popular searches

Your previous searches.

• Integrated Cargo System (ICS)

Australian Trusted Trader APEC business travel card

Australian Trusted Trader (ATT) is a partnership with Australian businesses to streamline legitimate trade. Become an accredited trusted trader and save your business time and money.

APEC Business Travel Card

The Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) offers faster and easier entry to some Asia-Pacific economies, and fast-track entry and exit lanes for ABTC holders at many international airports.

As an accredited Trusted Trader, you will automatically satisfy some criteria for the ABTC if:

you are a senior business person, relative to the structure of the nominating business, and

you undertake frequent travel for business purposes

Streamlined applications arrangements are available to these applicants, who also meet the ABTC individual identity and criminal history requirements as long as they:

note in the ABTC application that the sponsoring business is a Trusted Trader (by adding “ATT” in the Business Details section, ahead of the Legal registered name)

provide the Australian Business Number, and

are an Australian citizen employee of the Trusted Trader

If your application is successful, we issue you with an ABTC which lists your passport details and the places you can enter and stay without needing to apply for a separate visa.

Need a hand?

• Introduction
• Organization Structure
• ABTC Management
• APEC Economic Development Reports
• Board Member Companies
• About ABTC Club
• APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)
• Policies & Procedures
• Application Forms
• Council in the News
• CAA in the News
• Board Member in the News
• ABTC Club in the News
• Newsletters
• APEC Singapore 2009
• Singapore at a Glance
• APEC CEO Summit 2009
• 2009 ABAC Events
• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
• APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC)
• AEPC CEO SUMMIT
• China & APEC
• APEC History
• Shanghai APEC 2001

APEC Business Travel Card Scheme

Related links.

Ⅰ. Brief Introduction Since the establishment of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 1989, in order to strengthen their internal cooperation, and promote the free movement of business people, the state leaders from Philippines, South Korea and Australia initiated the APEC Business Travel Card Scheme (hereinafter referred to as the scheme)at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting held in Philippines in November 1996, which the ABTC participating economies provide multilateral long-term visas and expedited clearance through designated ABTC lanes. In early 1997, the scheme was implemented. The ABTC is a multiple journey visa where cardholders enjoy visa-free entry for 3 years. The applicants can enter the ABTC participating economies with ABTC and a valid passport at any time within 3 years and each can stay 2-3 months (different standards in different member economies). The ABTC participating economies set up expedited clearance through designated ABTC lanes, so the cardholders can enjoy the convenience of the speedy customs clearance. There are 20 member economies currently joining the scheme except Russia, consisting of the Philippines, South Korea, Australia, Chile, China, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Malaysia, Brunei, Peru, Thailand, China, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Vietnam, Mexico, the United States and Canada. The United States and Canada are the transitional members of the scheme, so they don't accept the ABTC applications for other economies and don't issue the card for its citizens. They just facilitate visa applications and entry and exit clearance for the cardholders from other participating economies. APEC BUSINESS TRAVEL CARD OPERATING FRAMEWORK is the fundamental document for the scheme, which stipulates the operating approach for the scheme. Except Hong Kong, the participating economies only accept its own citizens or the regional applicants (Taiwan). Hong Kong applicant should have a Hong Kong permanent resident status, not limited to nationality. In addition, the applicant should not have been convicted of a criminal offence. The application procedure for the APEC Business Travel Card is that the applicants apply for the ABTC in their respective economies, and then the respective economies will submit the relevant information to other participating economies for approval after its own approval for the applicants. After approved by other participating economies, the respective economies will grant the APEC Business Travel Card for the applicants. The applicants can not enjoy the visa-free entry to the economy if he or she would not be granted by the economy. The APEC Business Travel Card contains your photograph and signature on the front side for secure identity recognition. The reverse side of the APEC Business Travel Card contains your passport number and the three letter code of each economy that your APEC Business Travel Card is valid for travel to. Cardholders will still need to present ABTC and valid passports when he or she enter into the relevant economies. Ⅱ. China Joined APEC Business Travel Card Scheme In October 2001, on behalf of the Chinese government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that China joined the APEC Business Travel Card Scheme. Personnel exchanges between Mainland, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei still follow the original approach and are not applicable to the ABTC. In February 2002, Vice Foreign Minister Li Jinzhang and the Business Group Director signed the exchange of notes and promised to comply with the APEC Business Travel Card Operating Framework, which formally implemented all the procedures for China joining the scheme. The Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the only power organization to approve and issue ABTC. In December, 2003, the Department of Consular Affairs began to accept applications for APEC Business Travel Card. In March, 2004, it began to issue ABTC for Chinese applicants. Up to September 2008, it has accepted 1,161 applicants and issued 944 APEC Business Travel Card.  Ⅲ.Relevant Economies' Policies for the ABTC 1. The Arrangement for Cardholders to Apply for U.S. Visas and Enter into the U.S. In 2007, APEC created a transitional membership category that allowed the U.S. to join the scheme even though it does not meet all the criteria of the ABTC. The U.S. joined the ABTC Scheme as a transitional member in September 2007. The U.S. currently recognizes the ABTC to some extent and facilitate the U.S. visa application for cardholders. The cardholders just need to apply for appointment in the U.S. embassies and consulates by fax without making an appointment through Shanghai Visa Call Center, and the application will be given priority to deal with. The U.S. also announced that cardholders can enter into the U.S. through the speedy clearance lanes and the U.S. airports will set up relevant signs. 2. ABTC Cardholders Can Enjoy Speedy Clearance to Mexico The APEC member economy Mexico announced that since March 15, 2007, the ABTC cardholders can enjoy the speedy customs clearance in Mexico City, Cancun and other 9 airports through diplomatic and crew channels, but it needs to get a visa in advance. In addition, the Mexico embassies and consulates will give priority to the visa applications for cardholders. 3. APEC Business Card holders Can Enjoy Speedy Clearance to Canada Since January 1, 2008, APEC Business Travel Card cardholders can enter into the country through expedited clearance in 8 international airports in Canada, but cardholders still need to get a Canadian visa in advance. The 8 International Airports are as follows.                  Vancouver International Airport 　　Toronto Pearson International Airport (Terminal 1 and 2) 　　Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport 　　Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport 　　Halifax Robert L. Stanfield International Airport 　　Calgary International Airport 　　Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport 　　Edmonton International Airport 

Copyright © 2009 China APEC Development Council. All rights reserved.

京ICP备09050722号

MYHRMIS Mobile

Introduction.

• Department History
• Organization Chart
• Malaysian Immigration Attaché
• Achievements & eAwards
• Client Charter Achievement
• Our Anthem & Oath
• Malaysian International Passport
• Passport Recipient and Issuance Offices
• Restricted Passport to Brunei
• Foreign Worker
• Entry Permit
• Malaysia My Second Home (MMH2) – En
• International travel
• Domestic Travel (Domestic)
• Enforcement
• Visa Requirement by Country
• Visa With Reference
• Apply for Visa
• Security Bond/Bank Guarantee Rates
• Endorsement of Exemption Section 66
• INTRODUCTION
• ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
• REGULATORY AGENCY
• APPLICATION FORM
• Important Link
• Certification of Identity
• Special Programme
• Visitor’s Pass (Temporary Employment)
• Employment Pass
• Long Term Social Visit Pass
• Short Term Social Visit Pass
• Professional Visitor Pass
• Student Pass
• Residence Pass
• Required Documents
• Border Pass (Malaysia – Indonesia)
• Border Pass (Malaysia – Thailand)
• Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH)
• Restricted Travel Documents
• Document In Lieu of Internal Travel Document
• Prohibited Immigrant
• Frequently Committed Offences
• Entry Requirements for Ship Crew Member (Seaman)
• Address & Location
• Operation Hours
• Staff Directory
• Chief Information Officer
• Frequently Ask Question

Saturday : May 04, 2024 - 6.20 am

• E-Participation
• Tenders & Quotations
• Statistic Of Online Services Transaction

Only 19 countries including Malaysia provide the following facilities:

• APEC card replaces VISA (countries that require a VISA and have their participation in APEC do not require a VISA)
• Provide APEC Lane or Special Route (Premier Lane) at the main entrances by air or land of each country to enjoy a faster and smoother movement process.

Currently, Canada and the United States have not yet fully joined the scheme. However, both countries provide PREMIER LANE facilities for the purpose of faster and smoother movement.

The following countries provide the following facilities:

• AUS -Australia
• BRN -Brunei
• HKG -Hong Kong
• IDN -Indonesia
• MYS -Malaysia
• MEX -Mexico
• NZL -New Zealand
• PNG -Papua New Guinea
• PHL -Philippines
• SGP -Singapore
• TWN -Taiwan
• THA -Thailand
• VNM -Vietnam

APEC Business Travel Card Privileges

This card helps to save time and cost for businessmen in meeting visa requirements and entry requirements as well as enjoying the Special Routes of APEC countries.

Holder information and details are shared with all participating countries to obtain pre-clearance status or VISA approval before the card is issued.

The validity of the APEC card is five (5) years subject to the validity period of the passport.

These cardholders are given the convenience of APEC routes or Special Routes at the main entrances of the countries concerned.

In Malaysia, the main entrances that provide the premier lane or APEC route are as follows:

“PREMIERE LANE” or APEC Main Route can be found as follows:

• Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)
• Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA 2)
• Penang International Airport
• Sultan Iskandar Complex, Johor Bharu
• Sultan Abu Bakar Building (Second Link), Gelang Patah, Johor

This card indirectly promotes trade and businesses relation between the participating countries.

To qualify for the APEC Business Travel Card, the applicant must be actively involved in business that requires them to frequently commute to the countries concerned.

Pre-Clearances or approval by the participating countries will be channeled through the ABTC System to Immigration Department of Malaysia.

Immigration Department of Malaysia Headquarters (Ministry of Home Affairs)

No. 15,  1-7 Floor, (Podium) Persiaran Perdana, Presint 2, 62550 Putrajaya. T : 03-8000 8000 (MyGCC)

Portal Feedback: [email protected]

Copyright © 2021 | Immigration Department of Malaysia (Ministry of Home Affairs) Best viewed using the latest browser: Mozilla Firefox 4, Google Chrome or Internet Explorer 10.0 and above, with a resolution greater than 1024 x 768

• Skip to main content
• Skip to "About this site"
• Departments

Language selection

• Search and menus

Executive Summary Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) scheme was created in the late 1990s to respond to demands of the regional business community for simpler short-term entry procedures within APEC . For fully participating economies, the ABTC provides frequent business travellers with visa-free travel, multiple short-term entries into participating APEC economies, and expedited airport processing.

The ABTC scheme is comprised of 19 fully participating countries or economies: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Currently, Canada’s visa policy does not recognize an ABTC application as a visa application and thus Canada is a transitional member in the ABTC scheme, along with the United States. This means that Canada offers expedited entry to ABTC holders at its major international airports but does not receive, nor provide, visa-preclearance.

In June 2014, Canada began a domestic ABTC pilot project, whereby membership is limited to qualified Canadian applicants who are members of the NEXUS program. Cards are valid for up to five years from the date of issue, or to the validity of the holder’s primary travel document.

For the domestic pilot project, the CBSA obtains consent from applicants and members for collecting, using, and sharing of customs/personal information pursuant to the Certification and Consent Statement in the application package that an applicant will need to agree to before proceeding with the application, as well as a Privacy Statement in the application package that explains the authorities for the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information. It also includes an attestation that the applicant is a bona fide business person. For the purposes of this document, all references to personal information collected for the domestic ABTC pilot project are considered customs information.

Right of Access

Applicants are advised of the purposes, uses, disclosure and retention of their personal information in a Privacy Statement on the application form.

Electronic applications may be destroyed according to the following schedule:

• Rejected applications for ABTC : The application forms may be destroyed two years after the redress period has expired if there has been no request for redress. This information is kept in order to satisfy Privacy Act requirements to keep personal information for two years following the last administrative use, and to allow refused applicants the opportunity for redress.
• Successful applicants for ABTC : The applications may be destroyed six years after the date on which an application is approved.

Note that information shared with the United States’ Government Printing Office for card production will be purged as soon as the card is produced.

Accountability

If you have concerns about the collection, use, disclosure or retention of your personal information, you may issue a complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada who is mandated to investigate.  Complaints should be made in writing, and include your name, contact information, and a brief description of your concerns. Details of the complaint process can be found on the Privacy Commissioner’s Website: https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/report-a-concern/file-a-formal-privacy-complaint/file-a-complaint-about-a-federal-institution/

If you are denied membership in the ABTC pilot, or are cancelled or suspended from the program by the CBSA , you may write to the Recourse Directorate at Headquarters or on-line to request a review of the decision within 90 days of the date shown on the ABTC letter. Further information on these processes can be found at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/abtc-cvaa/menu-eng.html .

The Federal Register

The daily journal of the united states government, request access.

Due to aggressive automated scraping of FederalRegister.gov and eCFR.gov, programmatic access to these sites is limited to access to our extensive developer APIs.

If you are human user receiving this message, we can add your IP address to a set of IPs that can access FederalRegister.gov & eCFR.gov; complete the CAPTCHA (bot test) below and click "Request Access". This process will be necessary for each IP address you wish to access the site from, requests are valid for approximately one quarter (three months) after which the process may need to be repeated.

An official website of the United States government.

If you want to request a wider IP range, first request access for your current IP, and then use the "Site Feedback" button found in the lower left-hand side to make the request.