apec travel card renewal

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• Trusted Traveler Programs

U.S. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Travel Card Program FAQs

General questions about the program, what is the u.s. apec business travel card program.

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. Participants must also be members of a CBP trusted traveler program.  The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card will enable access to fast-track immigration lanes at airports in foreign APEC member economies. 

What is APEC and who are APEC members?

APEC, 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.  The United States is one of 21 APEC member economies, which include:  Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Vietnam.

Program Benefits

What benefits does the u.s. apec business travel card afford me.

The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card will enable access to a dedicated fast-track lane for expedited immigration processing at participating foreign APEC member airports.  For a complete list of APEC Business Travel Card participating airports, visit  www.apec.org/Groups/Committee-on-Trade-and-Investment/Business-Mobility-Group/ABTC .

U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holders may also use the available Global Entry processing technology at participating airports upon their U.S. return.  View the list of  airports with Global Entry .   

Eligibility for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card

Am i eligible for the u.s. apec business travel card.

To be eligible for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program, you must meet three criteria:

• you must be a U.S. citizen;
• you must be an existing member in good standing or be approved for membership in a CBP trusted traveler program (SENTRI, NEXUS, or Global Entry) during the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application process, , meaning they will go through a thorough vetting process including a review of all relevant national security and criminal databases prior to enrollment;
• you must be either a verified business person, or a U.S. government official, who is actively engaged in APEC business.

Who is a “verified business person” engaged in APEC business?

A “verified business person” engaged in APEC business  means a person engaged in the trade of goods, the provision of services or the conduct of investment activities in the APEC region.  Professional athletes, news correspondents, entertainers, musicians, artists or persons engaged in similar occupations are not considered to be verified business travelers engaged in business in the APEC region when they are traveling in such a capacity. 

A “U.S. government official” means a U.S. government official performing U.S. government activities that support the work of APEC.

What is the fee for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card?

The application fee for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card is $70.  The fee is non-refundable.  This fee is in addition to the fee for the selected CBP Trusted Traveler Program.

For example, a new applicant applying for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card with their Global Entry application would pay an application fee of $170.  This breaks down to $70 for the APEC Business Travel Card application and $100 for the Global Entry application.

Trusted Traveler Membership

How do i apply for membership in sentri, nexus, or global entry.

Apply for a CBP trusted traveler program on the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) website,  https://ttp.dhs.gov .  You also must schedule an enrollment center interview via your TTP dashboard during the application process.  For more information about Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI go to the  Trusted Traveler Programs  page.

Applying for and Renewing the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card

How do i apply for the u.s. apec business travel card program.

You must apply on the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) website,  https://ttp.dhs.gov .  This is the same website that is used to apply for CBP’s trusted traveler programs.  Check the box in TTP for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card. Then schedule a visit to any CBP trusted traveler enrollment center for an interview (if you are not already a CBP trusted traveler) and for electronic signature collection. 

However, if you are already a CBP trusted traveler, you can visit any CBP trusted traveler enrollment center for your interview/signature collection without an appointment.

Do I have to be a member of a CBP trusted traveler program to apply for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program?

All applicants for a U.S. APEC Business Travel Card must be existing members in good standing of a CBP trusted traveler program or apply and be approved for membership in a CBP trusted traveler program during the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application process.  An applicant for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card may be a member of any of three CBP  Trusted Traveler Programs : Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI, meaning they will go through a thorough vetting process including a review of all relevant national security and criminal databases prior to enrollment.  An individual may apply either for a CBP trusted traveler program in advance or when applying for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card. 

Is it more advantageous for me to apply for a CBP trusted traveler program in advance or when I submit the application for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card?

Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. 

If you apply for the  U.S. APEC Business Travel Card program  and the  CBP Trusted Traveler Program  concurrently, then you have to visit the enrollment center only once for the CBP trusted traveler interview and for signature collection.  If you first apply for a CBP trusted traveler program, you will need two trips to an enrollment center, once for the interview and again for signature collection.

If you apply for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card and the CBP Trusted Traveler Program concurrently, you will be required to pay the applicable fees for both programs when you submit the applications.  All application fees are non-refundable.  Since membership to a CBP trusted traveler program is a prerequisite for membership in the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card program, if you are denied CBP trusted traveler program membership, you would be also be denied a U.S. APEC Business Travel Card and no refunds are available.  This could be avoided if you applied first for a CBP trusted traveler program.

How long will my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card be valid?

Prior to December 13, 2016 ABTC cards were issued with a validity of 3 years or until the expiration date of the card holder’s passport whichever occurred first.  However, U.S. issued APEC Business Travel Cards approved on or after December 13, 2016 are now valid for five years from the date of issuance, or until the expiration date of the card holder’s passport, whichever comes first. This change in validity does not apply to current U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holders, whose cards remain valid only until the date printed on their card.

How do I renew my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card?

To renew the  U.S. APEC Business Travel Card , submit a new U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application, pay the program fee, and meet all the eligibility criteria, including maintaining active membership in one of the CBP Trusted Traveler Programs (Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI).

Do I have to renew my CBP trusted traveler program membership if it is set to lapse prior to the expiration of my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card?

Yes. CBP may revoke your U.S. APEC Business Travel Card if you fail to renew or maintain your CBP trusted traveler program membership. 

If I am already a member of a CBP trusted traveler program, do I still have to visit an enrollment center to complete my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application?

Yes, once CBP determines you are eligible to participate in the APEC program you must provide an electronic signature that will be printed on the APEC Business Travel Card. You can complete the interview/signature collection process via Enrollment on Arrival  when returning to the U.S. from an international flight or at any CBP Trusted Traveler enrollment center, no appointment necessary.   

If I am a U.S. citizen living abroad, can I complete my interview in the country in which I reside?

No. Interviews and signature collection for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card must be done at a CBP trusted traveler enrollment center and none are located outside of the United States and Canada. See a list of all CBP enrollment centers for Global Entry , NEXUS , and SENTRI . Alternatively, you can complete the signature collection process via Enrollment on Arrival when returning to the U.S. from an international flight.

How will I know when I am accepted into the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program and how will I receive my travel card?

If you are accepted into the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program, CBP will update your  TTP  account to reflect the acceptance and will mail the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card to the mailing address that you provided on your application.  CBP will mail the card to U.S. or international addresses, but not to post office boxes. 

Traveling with the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card

Can the u.s. apec business travel card be used in lieu of a visa in a foreign apec member economy.

No.  Foreign APEC member economies will not recognize the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card in lieu of a visa. The U.S. is a transitional member of APEC and does not reciprocate with other economies regarding full pre-clearance benefits to applicants.  As such, no countries are listed on the back of U.S. APEC Business Travel Cards and card holders are required to present any travel or identity documentation, such as a passport and visa (where applicable), required by the foreign APEC member economy.  If a  U.S. APEC Business Travel Card  holder does not conform to the foreign economy’s visa,  passport  or entry requirements, the card holder may be directed to a non-expedited lane or refused entry.   Check the entry requirements of the destination APEC member economy before travel. 

Can I use my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card for personal travel, such as vacation?

No. The APEC Business Travel Card is for members who travel frequently on short-term visits within the APEC region to fulfill business commitments. To use the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card, you must be traveling solely for business purposes to the foreign APEC economy.  

Is my spouse or child able to access the APEC lanes if they are traveling with me?

No. The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card is not transferable and applicable only to the card holder. Access to APEC lanes will not be extended to anyone traveling with the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holder.

Revoking or Suspending Membership

In what situations will cbp revoke or suspend a u.s. apec business travel card program membership.

A U.S. APEC Business Travel Card membership may be suspended or revoked if CBP determines that:

the individual provided false information in the application and/or during the application process;

the individual failed to follow the program’s terms, conditions and requirements;

the individual has been arrested or convicted of a crime or otherwise no longer meets the program eligibility criteria.

CBP can also revoke membership if the card holder is no longer a member of a CBP trusted traveler program.  A U.S. APEC Business Travel Card applicant or card holder who is denied, suspended, or removed will not receive an application fee refund.

If my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card expires or I am no longer eligible for a U.S. APEC Business Travel Card, does this affect my membership in a CBP trusted traveler program?

No.  You would still be considered a full participant in the CBP trusted traveler program for the remaining period of your membership.

Application or Membership Problems

Who can i contact if my u.s. apec business travel card application or membership is suspended, denied, revoked or canceled.

In the event you are denied or revoked from the Trusted Traveler Programs, you will be provided information in writing detailing the reason for this action. If you believe the decision was based upon inaccurate or incomplete information, you may request reconsideration through the Trusted Traveler Programs website.

Reconsideration Requests and attachments to the Ombudsman should be in English and must include the following details:

• Date of denial and denial reason(s) from the letter;
• Summary of information to further clarify a record or explain an incident or arrest;
• Court disposition documentation in PDF format for all arrests or convictions, even if expunged; and/or
• Other supporting documentation you feel may influence the Ombudsman's decision. Supported formats: PDF, DOCX, DOC, PNG, JPEG, and GIF.

• 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

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Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card

Related links.

• Fact Sheet: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card

Cardholders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation ( APEC ) Business Travel Card ( ABTC ) can use fast-track lines when travelling to participating APEC countries. The Canadian pilot was launched on June 16, 2014 .

ABTC members get faster border clearance en route to participating APEC countries . They also benefit from Trusted Traveller kiosks when returning to Canada.

Eligibility

All Canadian citizens must be NEXUS members before applying for an ABTC .

The non-refundable fee is US$70.

The ABTC is valid for five years, unless the member's passport and/or NEXUS card expires. In addition, ABTC membership is invalid if NEXUS membership is revoked.

How to apply and renew

Applications and renewals are coordinated through the U.S. Trusted Traveler Programs ( TTP ) System . Once your application is approved, you will be asked to visit an Enrolment Centre to finalize your enrolment and provide a digitized signature. You will then receive your card by mail.

Canadian cardholders

Canadian ABTC members use designated APEC lines when travelling to participating APEC countries and also benefit from Trusted Traveller kiosks when returning to Canada. They must still present all required documents such as passports, visas and permits when using their ABTC .

Foreign cardholders

Currently, 19 of the 21 participating APEC countries issue ABTC s. Foreign cardholders can enter Canada using designated APEC lines, or by using the Special Services/Crew Counter, at eight major international airports in the following cities:

When using designated APEC lines to enter Canada, foreign ABTC holders will be required to:

• a valid ABTC ;
• a valid passport;
• a visa or Electronic Travel Authorization ( eTA ) , if required; and
• work permits may also be required depending on the nature of the business to be conducted in Canada.

Declaring goods

ABTC members, must declare goods upon arrival. Travellers must also report if they are in possession of restricted or prohibited goods or  CAN$10,000 or more .

They are expected to make their declaration to a border services officer upon arrival.

Participating ABTC countries

Canada and the United States are transitional members. The other full ABTC members are: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Hong Kong (China), Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Vietnam and Russia.

Contact information

For enquiries regarding the Canadian ABTC pilot, contact the CBSA .

The APEC Business Travel Card

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) scheme was developed to provide the region’s business community with easier access to other economies in the Asia-Pacific region. The ABTC supports APEC goals of business development, trade and investment through the facilitation of travel between economies.

Currently of the 21 participating economies, 19 are full members which issue cards to their own citizens and provide pre-clearance approval and fast-track lane access to business travellers from other economies [1] . The United States and Canada are transitional members who participate in all aspects of the scheme except they do not issue pre-clearances in advance and instead still require ABTC holders to present at the border any visas, travel or other entry documents that are required for entry. Fully participating economies benefit from a reduced burden on at-the-border security resources because ABTC holders are screened by all economies to ensure they are low-risk travellers [2] .

The ABTC is valid for five years and permits eligible businesspeople with legitimate business travel needs to travel without the need for separate visa applications in fully participating economies and provides access to priority fast track lanes at border immigration inspection facilities in all economies. Thus, the card aims to save cardholders considerable money in terms of visa fees and considerable time in terms of border entry processing. The scheme reduces travel costs between APEC economies by 38% for cardholders [3] . Businesses pay 27% less in application fees and 52% less in immigration processing. This increases the ability of businesspeople to travel internationally [4]

Video Credit: APEC Secretariat

Photo Credit: APEC Secretariat

Context-development of the APEC Business Travel Card 

Australia, Korea, and the Philippines were the three original members of the scheme when it was first trialled in 1997. The ABTC aimed to support APEC’s objectives of regional economic integration and the facilitation of regional trade and investment by reducing the costs of cross-border trade and the movement of people across borders. It is this strong alignment with APEC’s objectives that encouraged economies to support the scheme initially.

The design of the ABTC scheme also allowed economies to signal interest and agree in principle to the scheme without needing to sign up initially. Economies with hesitations around the scheme or domestic regulation which hindered immediate participation were able to monitor the progress of the scheme and sign up when the economy was comfortable to do so. Early adopters of the scheme tended to be economies that already had high levels of visa free arrangements which meant the risk to sign up for the scheme was reduced. However, this also meant that initial participation in the scheme from those economies was lower as there was less need for a citizen to apply for a card if the economy they were travelling to already allowed visa free access. In comparison, economies which viewed the scheme as a greater threat to border security waited to observe the success of the scheme before signing up but found greater value in participation.

Some economies were able to join the scheme quicker than others. For economies like Peru, who approved its incorporation into the scheme in 2000, a coordinated effort was required between relevant domestic authorities to create regulation so that the economy would be able to participate in the scheme. It was officially implemented in 2003. Included in this regulatory change was the necessary work on how Peru would decide the criteria for a businessperson, determining who would be eligible for the scheme. The ABTC Operating Framework maintains a broad definition of a businessperson which ensures economies can offer eligibility and flexibility to a wide range of people under its own domestic laws and policies. Individual economies are responsible for further clarifying the definition which can mean some travellers are ineligible.

There were some reservations with the scheme when it first launched. The criteria that must be met to apply for the ABTC, coupled with the requirement that each economy individually approve the cardholder meant that the approved participants were low risk.

Characteristics of the ABTC Cooperation

To receive an ABTC, applicants who meet the criteria must make a single application to the economy for which they hold a passport or have permanent residence (in the case of Hong Kong, China). If this economy assesses the application as meeting the relevant criteria, the applicant’s details are provided to the other participating economies who conduct their own assessment of whether to grant pre-clearance. When all economies have made a pre-clearance decision, the applicant receives an ABTC that lists the economies to which they have permission to travel. The work is shared between economies as each is responsible for managing the processing of their own pre-clearance applications and no economy has any influence over the processing timeframes of another. The ABTC Operating Framework provides that pre-clearance processing times are expected to be kept as short as possible and that pre-clearance should be completed within 2-3 weeks of economies receiving the request. However, processing of the application can generally take much longer, 3-6 months on average. Applicants are able to receive an interim card which is sent out once the five priority economies that the applicant has self-selected have provided clearance which helped to partially reduce the long waiting times cardholders were experiencing.

Canada and the United States are transitional members. This means they participate in some, but not all aspects of the ABTC scheme. While transitional members do not participate in the preclearance portion of the scheme, they do issue ABTCs to their own citizens so that they can utilize fast-track passenger processing lanes in other economies. The United States offers foreign cardholders expedited visa appointments, when feasible, and access to specialized passenger processing lanes upon arrival.

The ABTC gives frequent business travellers fast-track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at participating airports and, for cardholders of fully participating members, multiple short-term entries to precleared APEC economies without having to make a separate visa application to fully participating members.

Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card vary between economies

The advertised benefits of the ABTC are attractive for business travellers seeking to regularly travel within the Asia-Pacific region. ABTC holders are able to travel to economies that are full members of the scheme for business purposes without needing to pay for and take the time to submit separate visa applications each time they travel. This reduces the expense for businesses collaborating and trading within the Asia-Pacific region, particularly for those who travel frequently for business.

Separate APEC cardholder lanes at airports aim to reduce waiting times when travelling and provide a smoother experience. Peru and Chile specifically noted businesspeople appreciate the special entry lanes for the quicker transit times through the airport, which makes it easier to schedule business meetings. While quicker movement through airports is attractive for busy business travellers, this benefit is not necessarily guaranteed. At busy airports, cardholders waiting in the specific lane can spend just as long, or even longer waiting to be processed than travellers using the regular lanes. Additionally, infrequent travel by ABTC members through certain airports can result in cardholder lanes being neglected as it is less cost effective to keep the lane constantly staffed. Greater levels of communication and training for border officers has been pinpointed as an effective way to reduce these issues, particularly in smaller airports where ABTC holders are less common.

The popularity of a scheme can depend on the advantages offered to participants. Variations in the extent to which it benefits certain groups can lead to inequal participation rates between economies. In the case of the ABTC, economies which already have visa free travel schemes with a greater number of economies see less benefit from the scheme and tend to have lower rates of participants. For example, Singaporean citizens tend to already have visa free access to many economies so participants in the scheme may use the card mainly for the fast-track lanes at airports rather than for the visa component. In comparison, Peruvian citizens would ordinarily need to obtain visas to access many APEC economies, so the multi-economy visa access provides a clear and valuable benefit to Peru cardholders and the Peru economy as this reduces the need to process individual visas for each entry and exit.

Economies may have different views on the advantages of a scheme, depending on the level of effort required. ABTC preclearance application processing requires significant resourcing, even though economies may not see a reward from this work if the applicants never visit their economy. This is especially an issue for smaller economies such as Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.  In 2014, Papua New Guinea received only 500 cardholder visits and roughly 900 cardholders visited New Zealand [2] .

 Peru noted that large volumes of applications can place a burden on the workforce, especially as it can be difficult to source workers with skills in this area.

Challenges of the ABTC Scheme

A common challenge expressed by both economies and clients is the length of time it takes for cardholders to receive pre-clearance approval from all 19 economies participating in the ABTC scheme. The average length of time for this process is three months, however, longer wait times are not uncommon and in some instances, approval can take up to a year. The ABTC Operating Framework sets an expectation of pre-clearance being completed within two – three weeks of receiving a request.

Although e-Government services continue to expand rapidly across the region as the virtual ABTC is rolled out, ABTC applications remain largely paper-based, which requires economy staff to manually enter all data into the ABTC system. Manual entry increases the likelihood of application errors which will need to be followed up. The increase in the duration of the card from 3 to 5 years has eased some of the resourcing burdens on economies due to the reduced frequency of reapplications.

Other challenges for governments include providing greater application process transparency and support for applicants, safeguarding client data, improving ABTC system functionality, achieving parity in technical capabilities of economies, and clarifying acceptable uses of the card.

There is also a perception that the process of reapplication for a card after expiry is redundant. Current cardholder applicants are less likely to pose any security risks yet further time and money must be spent by cardholders and APEC economies to go through the process again after the expiry of a card. This demonstrates the disconnect between economy processing staff, who view the ABTC as a travel document similar to a passport or visa, and cardholders, who view the card as a convenience that applicants must go through a strenuous process to receive.

Lessons Learned

The Virtual ABTC will be a quicker, more efficient tool for economies and cardholders. The Virtual ABTC was launched by the APEC Business Mobility Group during the APEC Leader’s Week in November 2020. The Virtual ABTC displays a digital version of the card on a mobile application which cardholders can present to enter an APEC economy. Security measures are included in the app to prevent fraudulent duplication and misuse.

On 1 March 2021, Australia transitioned to the Virtual ABTC and now offers it to approved Australian cardholders. While the intention is for the Virtual ABTC to eventually replace the physical version, each economy will determine its own timeline for transitioning. As transitional members, Canada and the United States will not have the ability to access the virtual ABTC at this time.

The developers of the virtual card have used the lessons learned from the physical card to create a card that is more secure, efficient, convenient and user-friendly, particularly as APEC members are looking for safe and effective measures to open up borders and resume international travel.

A major inconvenience with the physical card was the lengthy wait times for using the card. The new virtual card has removed this issue and provides a quicker service. When each economy approves the application, that economy will appear on the app and cardholders will then be able to use the card to access that economy. This reduces the length of time cardholders need to wait between submitting their application and being able to use their card. Peru noted that updated real-time information on the status of the virtual card has been a major benefit.

A benefit for economies is that they will no longer need to expend resources printing and sending physical cards. For Australia, this was a major benefit for transitioning to the virtual card, particularly as Australia used to print physical cards for other economies that did not have the necessary resources. Australia’s transition to the virtual card, and subsequent decision to stop printing cards, has encouraged those economies to transition to the virtual card as well. Chile has also noted that processing times for cards are quicker since its transition to the virtual card.

The new virtual card has the same design as the physical card, to help economies and cardholders understand and feel comfortable using the virtual card. This has meant that economies would not need to spend extra time retraining staff as the process at the border works much the same. While some economies would prefer extra security measures such as QR code, the design team recognised that it would be difficult to install specialist security software across all economies. Peru noted that not all cardholders are proficient users of technology and applications, and this can cause issues in the short term.

To date, the roll out of the virtual card has been hampered due to worldwide border restrictions restricting travel between economies. However, developers are confident that the benefits of the virtual card will encourage economies to transition, and that cardholders themselves will champion this change.

  [1] APEC (n.d.), APEC Business Travel Card Goes Digital , https://www.apec.org/Press/News-Releases/2021/0304_ABTC .

[2] Tetlow, J. and C. Wood (2014), “Supporting Continued Growth in Trade and Facilitation: End to End Review of the APEC Business Travel Card”, Washington: APEC Business Mobility Group .

[3] APEC (n.d.), APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) , https://www.apec.org/Groups/Committee-on-Trade-and-Investment/Business-Mobility-Group/ABTC .

  [4] Part of the information in the case study above has come from discussions with a variety of economies including Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru, the United States and others.  

Date :  Finalised in 2022.

Our Services

Apec business travel card (abtc) scheme, before applying.

This webpage sets out the arrangement for bona fide business travelers who wish to apply for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) under the ABTC Scheme for travelling within the APEC economies.

The aim of the Scheme is to enhance the mobility of business travellers among the APEC economies, thus promoting business within the region.

The ABTC is plastic and the size of a credit card. It is normally valid for five years Note 1 . The card is good for multiple visits of two to three months to participating economies Note 2  without the need for a visa if pre-clearance has been granted.

For card holders travelling to a participating economy where pre-clearance has been granted, they can use the special service lanes at selected control points for entry and exit clearance and enjoy streamlined immigration clearance upon presentation of the card and their valid national passport. In Hong Kong, card holders are allowed to use "resident" counters where available.

Card holders can use the special service lanes at selected control points of participating economies regardless of whether pre-clearance has been granted by that economy. For card holders travelling to a participating economy where pre-clearance has not been granted, they are still subject to usual immigration clearance process, such as presenting valid passports and where applicable, valid visas.

Card holders travelling to the United States can use the "fast-track" lanes (currently designated for aircrew) for passenger clearance at all international airports in the United States upon entry. However, ABTC holders are still subject to the usual immigration clearance process as applicable to other travellers, such as presenting valid passports and where applicable, valid visas for the United States. Should an ABTC holder require a visa for urgent business travel and find that there are no appointments available for the next working day, he/she may fax the US Consulate General's office at 2147 3586 to request a special appointment slot.

Card holders can also use the special service lanes for passenger clearance at the major international airports in Canada upon entry. ABTC holders may follow signage with the APEC logo to access the lane. However, they are still subject to the usual immigration clearance process as applicable to other travellers, such as presenting valid passports and where applicable, valid visas for Canada.

Note 1: Applications lodged on or after 1 September 2015 will be granted an ABTC normally valid for five years. Applications lodged on or before 31 August 2015 will be granted an ABTC normally valid for three years.

Note 2: The arrangement does not apply to Chinese citizen of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for entry into the Mainland. They should continue to use the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents (commonly known as the “Home Visit Permit”) for such entry. It also does not apply to ABTC holders of Hong Kong (China) for entry into Chinese Taipei.

The APEC economies participating in the Scheme are :

• Brunei Darussalam
• People's Republic of China
• Hong Kong (China)
• Republic of Korea
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• The Philippines
• Chinese Taipei
• Vietnam 

A business person residing in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region may apply for an ABTC if he/she:

• holds a Hong Kong permanent identity card and a valid national passport;
• has not previously been denied entry to any of the participating economies;
• has never been convicted of a criminal offence;
• must be a bona fide business person who needs to travel frequently on short term visits within the APEC region to fulfil business commitments.

A bona fide business person is taken to mean a person who is engaged in the trade of goods, the provision of services or the conduct of investment activities. It does not include entertainers, musicians, artists or persons engaged in similar occupations.

To facilitate our referral of your application to other participating APEC economies, please complete the application form ( ID 900 ) in English with your recent colour photograph, and enclosed with:

• a photocopy of the applicant’s Hong Kong permanent identity card (only the side with his/her personal particulars and photograph is required);
• a photocopy of the applicant’s valid passport showing his/her personal particulars, nationality, dates of issue and expiry;
• another identical photograph of the applicant; and
• a letter from the applicant’s employing company supporting his/her application.

The applicant may nominate a maximum of five economies which the applicant needs to visit as a priority when he/she submits the application. The nominated economies will expedite the processing of the applicant’s application as far as possible. Nomination of economies is optional. If the applicant wishes to make the nomination, please complete the "Options for receiving an interim card" ( SF/IM/1609 ) and submit it together with his/her application.

The applicant may be required to submit further supporting documents and information in connection with his/her application when necessary.

Online Application

Click here for online submission of application and uploading of supporting documents.

Other Means of Submission

The completed application form and "Options for receiving an interim card" (if applicable) should be sent by post or in person to the Other Visas and Permits Section, Immigration Department, 7/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

Underpaid mail items will not be accepted by the Immigration Department. For proper delivery of your mail items, please ensure your mail items bear sufficient postage with return address before posting. ( Details )

The current prescribed fee for new issue of the card is HK$540; a fee of HK$210 will be charged for card replacement for the remainder of its validity period. The fee is payable upon collection of the ABTC. The relevant fee could be settled by cash, EPS, Octopus, Faster Payment System (FPS) or cheque. The cheque should be crossed, made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”, properly dated and signed. Application fee should not be sent.

After Applying

Once the receipt of application has been acknowledged, applicant can enquire the application status here  or through 24-hour telephone enquiry system (852) 3160 8663.

After the completion of local processing of the application for ABTC in Hong Kong, the application will be referred to other participating economies of the ABTC Scheme for processing of the applicant’s pre-clearance request. A notification letter with ABTC Application Number will be sent to the applicant’s business postal address. The applicant can then check the pre-clearance status via the ABTC System website by inputting ”Hong Kong, China” and his/her ABTC Application Number. Should the applicant find the pre-clearance results meet his/her business needs, he/she may request for the issue of an ABTC by sending a written request with his/her signature to the Department by post or by fax 2824 1161. The applicant will be informed by letter when the card is ready for collection.

If the applicant submitted "Options for receiving an interim card" upon submission of the application, an ABTC will be automatically issued when all nominated economies have processed the pre-clearance request and a letter will be sent to the applicant for collection of the ABTC.

The applicant may collect his/her ABTC either in person or authorise a representative to collect it on his/her behalf. Upon collection, the applicant or his/her authorised representative must produce the applicant’s original valid passport for inspection if this has not been done when the applicant submitted the application or if the application is submitted online , and submit the applicant’s previously granted ABTC for cancellation (if any).

ABTC is valid for a maximum of 5 years from the date of issue. There is no renewal process. If the 5-year validity has expired or is soon going to expire, the applicant is required to reapply a new ABTC in exactly the same way as an entirely new application. The old ABTC will be cancelled upon collection of the new ABTC. On the other hand, an ABTC may have a shorter validity if the applicant’s passport bears a shorter validity.

When one or more economies approved the applicant’s pre-clearance request after the issuance of his/her first ABTC, the applicant may request for the issuance of an ABTC with the most updated pre-clearance results. Please make the request* in writing with the applicant’s signature to the Department. Such replacement with only updating of pre-clearance results is free of charge.

When all concerned economies have processed his/her pre-clearance request, the applicant still needs to provide a written request for the issue of an ABTC regardless an interim ABTC had been issued to him/her or not.

Since the ABTC is linked to the applicant’s current passport, the applicant is required to apply for a replacement ABTC if his/her new passport bears a different number. Please make the request* in writing with the applicant’s signature and attach a copy of his/her new passport to the Department for issuance of replacement ABTC. A replacement fee will be charged for card replacement for the remainder of its validity period and is payable upon collection of the replacement ABTC. Upon collection, the applicant or his/her authorised representative must produce the applicant’s original valid new passport for inspection if this has not been done when the applicant submitted the replacement application, and submit the previously granted ABTC for cancellation (if any).

If the applicant lost the ABTC or if there is any card damage, please make the request* in writing with the applicant’s signature to the Department for issuance of replacement ABTC. A replacement fee will be charged for card replacement for the remainder of its validity period and is payable upon collection of the replacement ABTC.

* The request for the issue of replacement ABTC with the applicant’s signature can be sent to the Department by post or by fax 2824 1161. The applicant will be informed by letter when the replacement ABTC is ready for collection.

The current prescribed fee for new issue of the card is HK$540; a fee of HK$210 will be charged for card replacement for the remainder of its validity period. The fee is payable upon collection of the applicant’s ABTC. The relevant fee could be settled by cash, EPS, Octopus, Faster Payment System (FPS) or cheque. The cheque should be crossed, made payable to “The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region”, properly dated and signed. Application fee should not be sent.

• APEC Business Travel Card website
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Application for APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)

APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) provides business people streamlined entry to participating economies through a simple pre-clearance system that allows them, through a single application, to obtain a multiple short-term entry to participating APEC economies.

Participating economies in the ABTC Scheme currently includes Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, People’s Republic of China, the Philippines, Peru, Russia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Qualifications for an ABTC, among others:

• The company/business entity represented by the business person must be engaged in international trade, and selling of goods or services and investments between APEC economies
• Applicants must have never been charged or convicted of any criminal offense
• Vested with powers and prerogatives to lay down and execute management policies in furtherance of the primary business purpose of the business entity and hold specific authority to negotiate and commit to trade and investment activities (e.g. Chairman, CEO, President, Vice Presidents, Chief Financial Officer, Regional Head and Board members of a registered company); or,
• An official nominated by the CEO, President, or Regional Head, whose work is directly involved in the trade of goods, the provision of services, or the conduct of investment activities when travelling overseas.

Applications may be filed through any of the following Certifying Business Organizations (CBOs):

• Makati Business Club (MBC) 2/F, AIM Conference Center Benavidez St., Legaspi Village Makati City Telephone No.: (+632) 7751-1137, 7751-1138 Fax No.: (+632) 7750-7406, 7750-7405 Email:  [email protected]
• Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) 3rd Floor, Commerce and Industry Plaza (CIP) 1030 Campus Avenue cor Park Avenue McKinley Town Center, Fort Bonifacio Taguig City Telephone No.: (+632) 8846-8196 loc 113 Fax No.: (+632) 8846-8621 Email Address:  [email protected]
• Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) International Trade Complex Roxas Blvd. cor Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue Pasay City Tel No.: (+632) 8230-5539 Email Addresses:  [email protected] ;  [email protected]
• Passport and ABTC details should be the same.
• Passports generally have to be valid for at least 6 months from the date of travel.
• Please report the loss immediately to ABTC-Philippines and apply for a new passport. Requirements for application include a Notarized Affidavit of Loss explaining the circumstances on how the passport was lost or stolen
• As soon as the new passport is issued, inform ABTC-Philippines of the new passport number and apply for the re-issuance of the card. Some economies do not accept cards bearing passport details different from the current passport

• Open Data Portal
• Official Gazette
• Office of the President
• Sandiganbayan
• Senate of the Philippines
• House of Representatives
• Department of Health
• Department of Finance
• Supreme Court
• Court of Appeals
• Court of Tax Appeals
• Judicial Bar and Council
• Bureau of Immigration (BI)
• Bureau of Customs
• Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
• National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)

APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) and Virtual ABTC for New Zealanders

The APEC Business Travel Card gives streamlined access to participating APEC economies for New Zealanders.

Processing time

Benefits of holding an apec business travel card.

• Express immigration clearance through special APEC lanes on arrival and departure.
• No requirement to apply for visas before travel.
• Multiple entries to participating economies.

New Zealand cardholders must

• Must be citizens of New Zealand and hold a current New Zealand passport.
• Travel frequently (on short notice and for short term stay) to conduct trade and investment activities in participating APEC economies.
• Must not have not been convicted of a criminal offence.

Members of APEC

The APEC Business Travel Card is recognised by participating APEC economies.

Members of APEC are:

Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China. Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, The Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, United States of America, Viet Nam.

We have been advised Russia will not accept the virtual APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC). Travellers to Russia must obtain a suitable visa before they travel.

Supporting documents

All applications must include Criminal Record Check issued by the Ministry of Justice that is less than 6 months old at the time of your ABTC application.

Ministry of Justice website

You will also need to provide supporting documents highlighting your need for frequent business-related travel to APEC economies. A lack of sufficient evidence may result in your application being declined.

Supporting documents may include:

• supporting letter from your employer
• invoice from overseas suppliers
• contracts and agreements
• invitations to overseas trade shows, fairs or exhibitions
• any other third party documents identifying you, your business and your need to travel for business related purposes.

How to apply

Send your completed application form, supporting documents and application fee to us. We accept credit card and debit cards for payment.

You can email your digital photo to: 

[email protected]

APEC Business Travel Card application form PDF 497KB

Virtual ABTC application changes

The introduction of VABTC has made changes to the application process.

• You must provide an email address on your application form to receive approval notification.
• You no longer need to select priority economies for pre-clearance and an interim card is no longer needed. Once your application is approved and released for other economies to provide pre-clearance, the pre-clearance granted will appear on your Virtual ABTC. This means you can travel to those economies.

Getting your ABTC

If your application is approved you will receive a link to download the ABTC app as a virtual card.

Virtual ABTC will be displayed on the app as you log in. Similar to the physical ABTC, the Virtual ABTC must be used with your valid passport.

Virtual ABTC FAQ for cardholders | Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation

The Virtual ABTC FAQ Quick Reference User Guide | Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation

New Zealand cardholders transfer to the Virtual ABTC

New Zealand started issuing the Virtual ABTC in August 2021. Physical cards are no longer issued. This includes replacement for lost cards or passport updates.

If you hold a physical ABTC and have not heard from Immigration New Zealand about transfering to the Virtual ABTC email us. Provide your full name, date of birth, and a copy of your ABTC card or the associated NZ passport.

Email: [email protected]

More information & latest updates

For more information and updates go to the Virtual ABTC page of the APEC website.

Virtual ABTC | Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

For more help contact:

[email protected]

Using the ABTC and Virtual ABTC

The ABTC and Virtual ABTC meets a business person's frequent short term travel needs and does not replace visa applications for infrequent travel.

A genuine business person is engaged in the trade of goods, the provision of services or the conduct of investment activities. It specifically does not include:

• the business person's dependent spouse and children
• people who wish to engage in paid employment or a working holiday
• professional athletes, news correspondents, entertainers, musicians, artists or people in similar occupations.

Card lifespan

APEC cards are valid for 5 years from the date the card is issued to you. The expiry date on your card will match the expiry date of your passport.

Your clearance will still be valid for 5 years. When you obtain a new passport, you must contact us with a scanned copy for us to update your details and issue you with an updated card.

New passport

If you get a new passport update your passport details by submitting a copy of your new passport bio-data page to us.

You will be notified when your new passport details have been updated on your VABTC, and you will need to login again using your new passport number to view this update.

Card renewal

All applications are treated as new applications. Cardholders cannot renew their APEC Business Travel Card.

You must submit a new application, photograph, and supporting documents to be assessed against eligibility criteria.

Criminal convictions

If you have a criminal conviction you will not be eligible for an APEC card.

Convictions concealed under the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004 do not need to be disclosed when you apply for a card and will not affect your eligibility. These convictions will not be disclosed to other participating economies.

Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004 | New Zealand Legislation

Note that the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004 does not apply when you fill out forms while travelling overseas. You will need to declare these convictions on your arrival card(s) overseas. If you do not meet that economy’s entry requirements, you may be refused entry.

You will need to check the entry requirements with that economy’s embassy or consulate before you travel.

You can visit this website for their contact details:

Foreign Representatives to New Zealand | MFAT

Pre-clearance from other economies

Once your card application is approved by Immigration New Zealand, it is up to the other economies to decide whether you will be granted entry pre-clearance and there is no set timeframe. You can only travel to the economies that have granted pre-clearance.

Checking the status of your application

You can use your application number (a five digit number at the top right hand corner of the acknowledgment letter and in the fee receipt) to monitor and track your application status online:

Application - Check Status - Search | ABTC System

• Next to Economy of Application, select New Zealand
• Enter your application number and click Search

Note you will not be able to track the status online until New Zealand has approved your application. You can then confirm the other member economies which have approved for travel for the selected APEC Business Travel Card.

This online status is updated daily.

Incorrect data

If your acknowledgement letter or APEC card includes incorrect data you must email us and tell us which information is incorrect.

Lost or stolen cards

Contact the police to report your card as lost or stolen.

Email us with the relevant information, detailing how and when your card was lost or stolen. We will issue you with a replacement virtual card. You will need to provide your passport number so we can easily identify you.

Address or email change

Email us to update your personal data.

Name change

You must submit a new APEC card application. We cannot change your name in the system once the application has been approved. Your passport details on your APEC card and the passport you travel with must match.

Holiday or business

APEC cards can only be used for business purposes and cannot be used as a holiday, private, recreational or sporting visa purpose.

If you are not from a visa waiver country or terrirtory, you will need to apply for a visitor visa in order to travel to New Zealand for a holiday.

Visa-waiver countries and territories

Apply for a visitor visa

NZeTA exemption

When you travel to New Zealand for business purposes with an APEC card, you are considered to hold a visa for New Zealand. You are exempt from holding an NZeTA.

Travelling for other purposes (such as tourism), requires an NZeTA or visitor visa.

Information about NZeTA

Explore visitor visa options

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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?

VISA-FREE – Up to 60 days stay period | Business Travel Made Easy | Click here for more info!

Welcome To APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)

The ABTC program was designed to promote ease of travel for investors and business persons traveling for work throughout the Asia Pacific region. As ABTC holders you’ll have pre-clearance privileges, which means you can slide right through customs like a VIP.

Advantages of ABTC

Obtaining visas are a hassle. With the ABTC, you are allowed multiple entries into these countries without having a need for a Visa; VISA-FREE especially for China, Australia, Papua New Guinea and Russia

UP TO 90 DAYS

The participating countries provide a minimum period of stay of 59 days, with some going up to 90 days! It may save you lots of time and money from doing visa runs to the border and back again.

MULTIPLE ACCESS

ABTC enables you multiple access into 19 Countries; Australia, Brunei, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam & Thailand.

EXPRESS LANES

Long queues typically plague many airports and after a flight, you just want to get in and out quickly. The special entry and exit APEC lanes are available at major airports to facilitate your mobility.

UP TO 5 YEARS

The card has up to Five (5) years validity. No renewal needed for the period. No need to apply for a visa or entry permit, as the card is treated as such. Save cost and time of visa application.

LOW SECURITY RISK

As an APEC card holder, you will be designated with a lower security risk, as you have been pre-cleared by all these countries for travel. Keep your card visible when going through security checkpoints, immigration & customs.

Savings Gained From ABTC

Travel Cost for APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders was reduced by 38% during a 12-months period in 2011-2012 which resulted in a total savings of USD 3.7 million.

Application time and cost were reduced by 43%

Immigration processing time and cost were reduced by 52.4%, application fees were reduced by 27.8%, 91% abtc holders were satisfied overall with the scheme, special access to 19 countries with the abtc card.

An ABTC is literally a card that you keep with your passport. There are an estimated 500,000 APEC travel cards currently around the world. The ABTC essentially gives you special access when arriving at airports within the Asia Pacific region.

The actual ABTC itself is about the size of a credit card. On one side it will list your personal information and on the other, it will list the countries you have been approved to enter without applying for a visa ahead of time.

Our Satisfied Customers

Outstanding service and constant updates from Mr. Marvin! He is meticulous in guiding through the applications! Highly recommend for new applicators! More value-added as compared to the other providers with the same amount paid.👍

The ABTC card has really made my business travels easier. I no longer have to apply for a visa to China, this has saved me a lot of time. Plus with the priority lane accorded to ABTC cardholders – I have been on time if not earlier for my business meetings.

Very good service provided. will keep update on the status of application until successful. will recommend friends to use their service.

Good services provided and keep us updated. Will recommed to my friend

The service is good and they do provide me constant updates on the APEC card status and upon approval, deliver the card to my home. Great job and will definitely refer my friends to engage their services.

Hassle Free application. Great Service & Periodical updates on status. I travel a lot to China for work and getting a visa each time is quite troublesome. With the APEC card, I don’t need a visa anymore to 19 economies – Save time, Save Money!

It is great to receive my apec card from ABTC and thank you for a good service

It is great to receive my apec card as per promise within the time frame given , amd this card will be helpful during my travel over the 19 country , once again thank you

I am very happy to get my Apec card has promised, it was so hassle free, thanks for your prompt response and attention

Hassle-free from submission to receiving the APEC card; delivered as promised. Appreciate the periodic updates. Thanks for the good service.

Very good and efficient professional

Leave us a message below and get the FREE Download of Application Form & Checklist of Documents for the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) application!

MyAPEC : Personalised ABTC Consultant for Malaysians

Discover the world of apec business travel.

Enjoy Hassle-Free Travel Across APEC Member Economies with the APEC Business Travel Card

Seamless business travel with abtc, the flexible and modern design, your success starts with our experts, awesome key features, 3254 happy clients.

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Simplifying apec business travel, consultation.

At MYAPEC, we understand that the ABTC application process can be complex and challenging, which is why we offer ongoing support services to all our clients. From the moment you engage our services, our team will assist and privde regular updates on your application status and addressing any questions or concerns that may arise. Even after you have obtained your ABTC, we remain committed to offering assistance with card renewal, usage, and any other issues that may emerge during your travels. Our unwavering dedication to client satisfaction and support ensures that you can focus on your business objectives while we handle the intricacies of the ABTC process.

Our submission services at MYAPEC aim to simplify and streamline the ABTC application process for our clients. Our consultants will work closely with you to gather and review all the required documentation, ensuring that your application is complete and accurate before submission. We will then submit your application on your behalf to the appropriate authorities, saving you time and effort. Our proactive approach and attention to detail minimize the risk of delays or issues during the application process, maximising your chances of a smooth and successful outcome.

At MYAPEC, we understand that the ABTC application process can be complex and challenging, which is why we offer ongoing support services to all our clients. From the moment you engage our services, our team will be by your side, providing regular updates on your application status and addressing any questions or concerns that may arise. Even after you have obtained your ABTC, we remain committed to offering assistance with card renewal, usage, and any other issues that may emerge during your travels. Our unwavering dedication to client satisfaction and support ensures that you can focus on your business objectives while we handle the intricacies of the ABTC process.

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Visa-free travel within participating APEC countries, reducing the need for multiple visa applications.

Expedited immigration clearance at airports, saving valuable time.

Access to designated APEC lanes at airports, providing a more convenient travel experience.

Unlock A World of Seamless Business Travel with MYAPEC

Choose MYAPEC as your trusted partner in obtaining an APEC Business Travel Card because our unparalleled expertise, personalized approach, and commitment to client satisfaction set us apart from our competitors. Our seasoned consultants possess in-depth knowledge of the ABTC application process, ensuring a seamless experience for our clients. We prioritize understanding your unique needs and objectives, delivering tailored solutions that maximize your chances of success. By choosing MYAPEC, you are not only investing in exceptional consultancy services but also forming a lasting partnership with a dedicated team focused on empowering your business travel experience within the APEC region.

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Once you've got your trip scheduled, we'll show you a full list of deals for your route. Don't forget to look at flights to alternative airports nearby, which can help you find a lower fare.

Transportation at the Airport

Once you have got your flight scheduled to Elektrostal with AARP Travel, you might want to book a car so you can get around on your own. You can book a Elektrostal rental car under our cars tab and get into the driver's seat as soon as you step outside. For more information, check out the Elektrostal Car Rentals Guide.

Things to Do in Elektrostal

If you aren't sure where to start, we can help you with that too. Not to worry—there's plenty to do in this city. Elektrostal has so much to do, and we can help you get started.

If you're looking for some fun activities to do in Elektrostal, make sure you look at our "Things to Do in Elektrostal" page for excursions and activities for the whole family.

Book Your Hotel in Elektrostal

Elektrostal has accommodation options in the area, make sure you check out our hotel listings tab for some great recommendations from past visitors. No matter where you stay, just remember that you'll get the best for your trip when you book with AARP.

Booking Your Visit to Elektrostal

We know that you want to focus less on the logistics and more on the fun stuff, so we provide travel arrangements that fall within your budget. Don't wait a minute longer—book your airfare today and land in Elektrostal tomorrow.

Airports near Elektrostal

• Zhukovsky Airport (ZIA)
• Domodedovo Intl. Airport (DME)
• Ostafyevo Airport (OSF)
• Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO)
• Vnukovo Intl. Airport (VKO)
• Grabtsevo Airport (KLF)
• Yuzhny Airport (IWA)
• Yaroslavl Intl. Airport (IAR)

Flights to Cities Near Elektrostal

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Top Flight Destinations

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Explore More Elektrostal Options

2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

Headline Obsession: #LordNaziRuso

Jun 06 2017.

In an occasional series, R&K staffers write about a story they can’t stop thinking about. Today, a Russian YouTube brute nearly meets his end in Cancun.

There is the dark web, and there is the Russian dark web. I got a searing brainful of it when I was covering the Caucasus and Eastern Europe a decade ago: Bloody footage from inside the Beslan massacre; Chechen fighters slaughtering young Russian recruits on ogrish.com ; the Dnepropetrovsk maniacs, two young Ukrainian serial killers who allegedly hoped to get rich by posting videos of their hammer-murders on Western shock sites.

The internet in Russia, in all its unreserved gore, seemed to take a cue from the mainstream media over there, which was likewise strewn with uncensored dead bodies in the tabloids and on television. I used to compulsively watch TV6’s Road Patrol, a voyeur’s delight of fresh car crashes and naked murder victims, while chain-smoking in my Moscow apartment and having very bad thoughts.

It was quite a mix: a country with weak institutions, not quite enough rule of law, and a tabloid press that raced around getting the most ghoulish pictures possible of the mayhem in society. I had only ever seen that mix firsthand one place before: Mexico.

He was arrested, found to be mentally ill, and yet still somehow later found to be well enough to renew his ID

So you can understand, maybe, how I would be obsessed with the story of #LordNaziRuso, which combines all of these things: Russia, Mexico, humans behaving terribly on the internet, and a bloody knife-fight and beating captured on video.

At the center of it all is Alexei Makeev—or alextime666games on YouTube. He is 42, Ukrainian by background, an itinerant dive instructor who lived for years in Elektrostal outside of Moscow. From what I can tell from the Russian news reports—mostly TV news shows who love the story because it comes with shocking video—he started filming in the home, vlogging his anger at his parents and their attempts get him psychiatric help. Other themes emerged. He liked videos of himself eating. He built a lot of campfires. He was always careful to put promotional material with his email in the backdrop of every shot and to film his official ID card and those of his parents. He started playing with axes . He liked to be in his underwear.

Ultimately, he took his behaviors into the street, began stalking Benetton stores and railing against them, walking around Elektrostal, haranguing stores and people alike. While in Russia, what he became known for—to the public and to authorities—were videos of him, often in deep snow, shoving old women and little kids alike to the ground while cussing them out. He was arrested for this, found to be mentally ill, and yet still somehow later found to be well enough to renew his ID. He left some time after that for Mexico for reasons that remain unclear.

By the time he made his way to Cancun, he had added Nazi ideology and symbols to this mix. He settled into a working-class neighborhood and started filming himself shouting racial slurs at people in something between Russian and broken Spanglish. He began carrying a machete with him, replacing the axes he showed off in Russia. On the sidewalk, in restaurants, or from a perch on his balcony, this barrel-chested, beer-bellied foreigner just berated whomever displeased him. In one video, he stomps in the middle of the food at a picnic some boys were having on the beach. In another, he threatens to murder a couple women and their baby. All the while, he had the camera trained both on his own face and on his victims and uploaded the videos to his channel.

He became, even before the night of the attack on him, a social media phenom, a source of huge contempt and outrage throughout Mexico, with millions of views for the many channels that both shared his videos and pointed out the insults. #LordNaziRuso, they tagged him, Lord Russian Nazi.

Part of what fascinates me about the story is that his neighbors tried to remove him peaceably. They reported him to the police, but the authorities were as feckless in Cancun as they were in Elektrostal. The Mexican government said that Makeev had no valid ID anymore and therefore couldn’t be deported. As his attacks on locals grew in frequency, the citizens of Cancun rallied behind a Change.org petition calling for Makeev’s removal from town for “manifestations of hatred towards Mexicans (including) death threats, unprecedented contempt for the elderly, cruel behavior towards children, as well as various aggressions expressing his hatred towards Mexico.”

Makeev’s time in Cancun came to a violent climax the night of Friday, May 19, when a mob gathered around his house with intent to extract and kill him. Other Russian vloggers, who have since become keenly interested in this fight themselves, think another Russian living in Cancun had publicized Makeev’s address so the large crowd of Internet-angry could join the neighborhood-angry and “solve” the #LordNaziRuso problem.

Earlier that day, before the attack began, Makeev continued to post online. First, a premonition: “Terrorists are trying to kill me!” and then, a taunt: “lick my dick Mexican piece of shit.”

Residents recorded the events of the night in real time on cell phone video cameras and at least one drone camera and spread the footage via livestreams broadcast across social media. Crowds, driven by anger and curiosity, gathered outside Makeev’s Cancun home. They launched bricks and stones through his windows, shouted through shattered glass.

The incensed crowd tore Makeev away from his computer screen.

In the same room from which Makeev uploaded his videos, he was attacked by the people he insulted. A crowd of roughly a hundred surrounded Makeev’s windows and flooded his doorway.

“Matalo! Matalo!” They shouted. “Kill him! Kill him!”

Shirtless and bloodied, Makeev retaliated, plunging a knife through the crack of his door. His weapon took aim, repeatedly stabbing a local 19-year-old boy in the stomach. As Makeev fled his living room for his roof, Carlos Eduardo Gutiérrez bled out on the sidewalk.

Once on the roof, Makeev, in plain sight of the mob and various cameras, collapsed with a fractured skull. Rumors of his death began to swirl and the mob dissipated. After being carried out of his apartment, bloodied and beaten, authorities carted Makeev to a hospital where he remains in critical condition with potential for brain damage. A judge sentenced Makeev to a year and a half in a preventative prison for the murder of Gutiérrez. The judge also granted local authorities two months to continue their investigation and determine Makeev’s legal situation. As of now, Makeev remains in the hospital until his condition improves.

Since May 19, Makeev’s polemical online presence has all but disappeared, save a selfie posted on Twitter by a man named Rodrigo Castillo who snuck into the hospital room to snap the now viral photo. Castillo is purported to be an employee of the Quintana Roo Attorney General’s office. In the picture, Makeev lies comatose and bloody, Castillo smiles. His caption reads: “Now they realize. Through a hard beating we took the devil out of the Russian Nazi. From now on they will respect us or they will be in for another beating.”

I don’t know what to make of it, except that it’s all quite tragic—Mexicans didn’t understand Makeev any more than his own countrymen did. Whatever his mental illness, Makeev’s outbursts were never really as much about the pride of Mexico as the Internet thought. There’s a compelling, if uncomfortable truth in all this—the big scary YouTube Nazi belonged in a hospital all along, just not this way.

With reporting by Valerio Ferris

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