APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)

 

 

The APEC Business Travel Card was initiated by the Asia Pacific Economy Cooperation (APEC) in year 1996 to ensure a fast and efficient travel for business people within the APEC member countries. The ABTC allows business travelers pre-cleared, facilitated short-term entry to participating member economies. The ABTC removes the need to individual apply for visas or entry permits by presentation of the APEC card and the valid national passport. Cards are valid for five years with fast-track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at major airports.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is an organization that formed in 1989 in creating wider economic cooperation in Asia Pacific region.

APEC member economies fully participating in the ABTC scheme include Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Taiwan, Philippine, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Canada and United States are transitional members of the scheme.

The applicants are required to submit the letters together with supporting documents to respective chamber members. Then the chamber member to submit it to ACCCIS. And, ACCCIS to submit to ACCCIM. ACCCIM will then collectively submit the ABTC applications to the ABTC Unit of Immigration Department. ACCCIM is one of the nominated chambers issuing supporting letter for ABTC.

Conditions of the applicants:-
1. Member of chamber members;
2. Company’s senior position;
3. Supporting documents are valid and verified.

Documents required:-

1. Chamber member’s supporting letter to ACCCIS
2. Company’s supporting letter to chamber member, ACCCIM, Immigration Department
3. Original completed APEC Business Travel Card Application Form with passport size photo (blue background)
4. Photocopy of applicant’s IC and Malaysian Passport (front page, more than 3 and a half years validity)
5. Photocopy of APEC Card (for renewal)
6. Latest print out of Corporate Information of Companies Commission of Malaysia
7. Fee imposed per application:
   a). RM30.00 make payable to the respective chamber member
   b). RM35.00 make payable to “The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sarawak”
   c). RM37.10 (inclusive of GST) make payable to “The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia”

ACCCIM will screen through to ensure that application made are genuine and issue supporting letter to submit to Immigration Department at Putrajaya, get the reference number issued by immigration and email to chamber members/applicants. Thereafter, ACCCIM will send respective reminders to chamber members/applicants to check ABTC status after 3 months from date of submission to immigration. Processing time is 2-3 months depending on the approval given by member countries through the ABTC system. Applicant shall pay RM100 before collecting the ABTC card.

For more information on ABTC, please log on to the Immigration Department’s website.