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Those holding APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) are exempted from Vietnam visa requirements for a stay of up to 60 days, as stated clearly in Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam 2014. 

So, are you curious about this policy and whether you can take advantage of it? Let’s find out in this article!

1. What is an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)?

APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) is an intergovernmental organization that seeks to increase economic collaboration and commercial exchange between countries located in the Asia-Pacific region. Its members strive to promote sustainable economic progress, free and open trade, and investment in the Asia-Pacific.

Up to now, there are 19 fully participating (Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Taipei, Thailand, and Vietnam) and 2 transitional members (Canada and the US).

Source: VnExpress

Possessing an ABTC facilitates the entry of business travelers into APEC economies, including Vietnam. Successful applicants receive a five-year card, acting as an entry authorization to Vietnam with pre-clearance granted and a 60-day stay duration - eliminating the need for a separate visa application. Moreover, the ABTC expedites immigration processing at some busy international airports in Vietnam.

2. What are the benefits of holding an ABTC?

The ABTC gives frequent business travelers:

• Fast-track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at participating airports;
• Multiple, short-term entries to precleared APEC economies without having to make a separate visa application to fully participating members.

3. Who is eligible for ABTC applications?

Like any other cooperation/organization, APEC also employs the general requirements for ABTC applicants along with specific eligibility criteria of each economy. Generally, 

• They must be business individuals;
• They are citizens of participating APEC economies, or in the case of Hong Kong, present a Hong Kong permanent identity card;
• They have no criminal convictions;
• They possess a valid passport issued by the home economy or, in the case of Hong Kong, a Hong Kong passport or a valid travel document issued by another country or territory;
• They function as legitimate business individuals with a genuine need for frequent short-term travel within the APEC region to fulfill business commitments such as the trade of goods, provision of services, or conduct of investment activities.

*Note: Senior government officials and officials actively engaged in APEC business who meet the requirements may apply for an ABTC.

4. How to apply?

Step 1: Applicants submit their documents to the country they are a citizen of (home economy), or in the case of Hong Kong, have permanent residence.

Step 2: Applicants’ requests are sent to other economies related.

If their home economy deems that the application meets the relevant standards, the applicant's information will be given to the other economies involved in the process who then make their own determination as to whether or not to allow pre-clearance.

Step 3: Applicants receive an ABTC if all economies related agree on the pre-clearance.

An ABTC will be issued in the form of a card that lists the economies to which they have permission to travel. 

*Note: The Immigration Department of Vietnam is the authority in charge of evaluating and informing of this process in Vietnam. 

5. What about the Processing time & Fees?

The amount of time needed to finish processing an application may differ among countries. If the applicant states the preferred countries when they submit the application, it could speed up the wait time for a card. It is recommended applicants submit the ABTC application at least three months before their current card expires.

Regarding fees, Decision 09/2023/QD-TTg has promoted this scheme by imposing no fees on business individuals who are ABTC holders.