EnglishThe APEC card is considered as the most optimal solution to bring many benefits to Entrepreneurs who have the need to engage in regular business travel throughout the APEC region.
APEC is the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. When Entrepreneurs are granted the APEC Card, they are free to travel within APEC countries without having to apply for Visa.
WHAT IS AN APEC BUSINESS TRAVEL CARD?
APEC Card (ABTC Business Travel Card) is a kind of document issued by the competent authorities of the States in the APEC region to Entrepreneurs of their own nationality to use instead of visas to enter APEC Member economies. APEC cards are issued to Entrepreneurs of their own country to engage in activities of business cooperation, trade, investment, services, attending conferences, seminars and other economic purposes in countries and territories of APEC.
Conditions to be issued an APEC card:
• Vietnamese Entrepreneurs holding passports valid for more than 12 months;
• Entrepreneurs working at enterprises that have activities of business cooperation, trade, investment and service with partners in ABTC participating economies;
• Entrepreneurs working in enterprises are represented by labor contracts, decisions on appointment of positions and full participation in social insurance contributions;
• Entrepreneurs being 18 years of age or older and without being limited capacity for civil conduct;
• Entrepreneurs working at businesses that have been operating for 6 months or more and well complying with the laws on trade, tax, customs, labor and social insurance.
THE PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING FOR APEC CARD
Pursuant to the regulations in the Regulation on issuance and management of APEC business travel cards of entrepreneurs promulgated together with Decision No. 45/2006/QD-TTg, the issuance of ABTCs is carried out as follows:
Step 1: Entrepreneurs need to apply for approval from the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on allowing the use of APEC cards
The required documents:
• An approval letter for using APEC card;
• Certificate of business registration;
• Service contract for no more than 12 months with payment documents, L/C, bill of lading, customs declaration, commercial invoice, etc.
• Entrepreneur's passport;
• Decision on appointing the position of Entrepreneur;
• Labor contract of Entrepreneur;
• Written confirmation on participation in social insurance of Entrepreneur;
Step 2: Enterprises apply for an APEC card (ABTC) at the Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security. Within 03 working days, the Immigration Department will exchange Entrepreneur’s personnel data with the competent authority of the Country under the APEC region.
Documents to be prepared:
• Application for ABTC;
• Entrepreneur's passport;
• Decision on appointing the position of Entrepreneur;
• An approval letter for using APEC card from the People’s Committee of HCMC;
• Legal profile of the company.
Entrepreneurs with APEC Cards are allowed to enter and exit the member economies according to the specific maximum length of stay as follows:
1. USA - USA: may be required to have a valid Visa if applicable US law.
2. Russia - RUS: duration of stay with APEC card: from 14 to 90 days
3. Japan - JPN: duration of stay with APEC card: 90 days
4. Hong Kong - HKG: duration of stay with APEC card: 60 days
5. China - CHN: duration of stay with APEC card: 60 days
6. Korea - KOR: duration of stay with APEC card: 90 days
7. Chinese Taipei - TWN: duration of stay with APEC card: 90 days
8. Thailand - THA: duration of stay with APEC card: 90 days
9. Malaysia - MYS: duration of stay with APEC card: 60 days
10. Indonesia - IDN: duration of stay with APEC card: 60 days
11. VietNam – VNM: duration of stay with APEC card: 60 days
12. Singapore - SGP: duration of stay with APEC card: 60 days
13. Philippines - PHL: duration of stay with APEC card: 59 days
14. Chile - CHL: duration of stay with APEC card: 90 days
15. Australia - AUS: duration of stay with APEC card: 90 days
16. Canada: may be required to have a valid Visa if required under applicable Canadian law
17. New Zealand (NZL): duration of stay with APEC card: 90 days
18. Brunei (BRN): duration of stay with APEC card: 90 days
19. Papua New Guinea - PNG: duration of stay with APEC card: 60 days
20. Peru - PER: duration of stay with APEC card: 90 days
21. Mexico - MEX: duration of stay with APEC card: 90 days
Mokrica always updates the regulations on procedures related to APEC Card (ABTC), we will support to advise and solve problems arising in the application with reasonable cost and best commitment!
