Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card Do you or members of your company frequently travel to countries in or around the Asia- Pacific region? Similarly, are you looking to expand internationally into these regional markets? If so, an APEC business travel card membership may provide an attractive travel solution easing routine international business trips. Explore our guide to APEC business travel cards to determine your eligibility, plus the costs and benefits of becoming an APEC travel cardholder. © 2021 Globalization Partners. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | We respect your privacy Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card | 1 Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card What Is the APEC Business Travel Card? APEC stands for the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation, a multi-national coalition with 21 member countries. Since its inception in 1989, APEC’s stated goals are the facilitation of economic policy, financial cooperation, and free-trade policies amongst its participating nations. In particular, APEC seeks to oversee improved business relationships via sustained and mutually beneficial economic regional growth, focusing on: Free-trade agreements for the transfer of goods and services. Enhanced investment opportunities. Easier travel for businesspersons in member nations working within corporate, manufacturing, finance, tech, and other industries relevant to APEC’s economic interests. The APEC business travel card, or ABTC for short, is an APEC-run program permitting simplified APEC-related business travel. Also known as the ABTC scheme, bona fide businesspersons and senior government officials from APEC member nations can apply for APEC business travel cards, making routine short-term travel to and from these nations quicker, easier, and less bureaucratically red-taped. © 2021 Globalization Partners. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | We respect your privacy Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card | 2 Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card What Countries Participate in APEC Cards? Currently, 19 countries fully participate in the APEC business travel card agreement: Australia New Zealand Indonesia Brunei Malaysia Papua New Guinea Philippines Singapore Chile Peru Mexico Thailand Vietnam Hong Kong Taiwan China Japan South Korea Russia Furthermore, Canada and the United States are considered transitional members of APEC. Given each of these countries’ locations, each respectively maintains a vested interest in trans-Pacific economic interactions, policies, and trade. However, there are a few discrepancies between full participating membership and transitional membership for prospective card members to note. Fully participatory countries: APEC business travel cardholders who are citizens of an APEC country receive pre-clearance benefits, meaning when traveling to other fully participating nations, they do not need to apply for visas, entry permits, or file any additional entry applications. © 2021 Globalization Partners. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | We respect your privacy Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card | 3 Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card Transitional countries: APEC cardholders who are citizens of transitional countries still need to apply for visas and entry permits and present relevant travel documents at customs. They do not receive automatic pre-clearance as their full participating counterparts do. Likewise, citizens from full participatory nations who travel to the U.S. or Canada do not receive automatic pre-clearance and must also apply for visas and present relevant travel documentation. For quick reference, all full participatory ABTC countries you have been granted pre- clearance to will be listed on the back of your travel card. Criteria to Qualify for the APEC Business Card Every APEC economy maintains its own eligibilitystandards applicants must meet to become a cardholder. However, several requirements cover all 21 current APEC countries for applicants to clear to be eligible for the program. 1. Clear Business Case © 2021 Globalization Partners. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | We respect your privacy Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card | 4 Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card ABTC applicants must be considered a “bona fide” or “good faith” businesspersons. A bona fide business traveler’s case is the most significant criterion for APEC card membership. To prove that “good faith” status, applicants must provide: Verifiable employment and a job title within an established, tax-registered company. Frequent international travel to APEC economies as a primary responsibility of their role. Documented, international business commitments in APEC economies related to finance, trade of goods, raw material procurement, investments, and other provisional services. 2. Citizen of an APEC Economy Applicants must be documented citizens of a country within the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation. Exception: Residents of Hong Kong must maintain a Hong Kong permanent ID card in lieu of Chinese citizenship status. 3. No Criminal History Applicants must have a clean criminal record, with no prior convictions of a criminal offense. 4. Valid Passport Applicants must already hold a valid passport from their home country APEC nation, be that a full participatory or transitional one. Exception: Residents of Hong Kong must hold a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport. 5. Relevant Government Officials Senior government officials whose appointments dictate frequent, consistent travel to APEC © 2021 Globalization Partners. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | We respect your privacy Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card | 5 Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card nations are also candidates for ABTC. In many cases, these government officials’ applications tend to receive priority treatment and expedited approval timelines. How to Apply for an ABTC Applying for an APEC business travel card is a multi-phased process that, in many ways, works similar to applying for passports. 1. Applying in Your Home Country The first phase of receiving your APEC travel cards begins with an application submitted to your home country. In most countries, applications are received and reviewed by customs and border control agencies, departments of state, or departments of immigration. Applications are primarily performed online. Supporting documents needed to complete the ABTC application vary, but generally include scanned copies of a valid passport and proof of bona fide business status. In some countries, you may also need to present current membership in an ancillary trust travel program. 2. Approval From Other APEC Economies After approving your core application, your home country of citizenship passes your materials onto the other full-participatory and transitional economies. Full-participatory economies will each review your application individually for pre-clearance. These pre-clearance criteria and eligibility will vary and are at the discretion of each APEC nation independently processing your travel status. 3. Receive Your Card You will be notified after all participatory APEC nations have granted conditional approvals. © 2021 Globalization Partners. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | We respect your privacy Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card | 6 Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card From there, you will receive instructions on officially receiving your physical traveler’s card, either via the mail or in-person at a government-administered enrollment center. You may begin using your ABTC upon its date of issuance, which is the date you receive your card in the mail or in-person. © 2021 Globalization Partners. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | We respect your privacy Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card | 7 Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card © 2021 Globalization Partners. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | We respect your privacy Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card | 8 Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card © 2021 Globalization Partners. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | We respect your privacy Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card | 9 Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card © 2021 Globalization Partners. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Service | We respect your privacy Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card | 10 Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card APEC Business Travel Card Benefits Businesspersons can expect the following benefits as members of APEC’s business travel card program. 1. Airport Fast-Track First and foremost, ABTC holders can use the fast-track lanes at customs and immigration checkpoints throughout all 21 APEC member countries’ major airports. These lanes are typically labeled for government officials. Using APEC fast-track lanes at participating airports dramatically reduces your time spend waiting in immigration and customs, contributing to a smoother and more convenient overall traveling experience. 2. Visa-Free Travel APEC cardholders do not need to apply for visas before visiting any of the full participatory countries listed on their cards. This unique benefit eliminates the need to apply — and pay — for multiple short-term visa entries, saving businesses considerable money on total business travel expenditures. Remember, though, that cardholders traveling to the U.S. and Canada will still need to present a visa upon arrival at customs and immigration. At this time, neither of these countries permit pre-clearance to any APEC citizens. You will also need to apply for and present the appropriate visa for any full-participatory