Introduction
APEC is an organization established in 1989 to build greater economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region and came into effect on March 1, 1999.
The APEC Business Travel Card is an initiative of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to help businessmen who frequently deal with APEC countries.
The following 21 countries participate in the APEC Business Travel Card Program:
Australia, United States, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico
New Zealand Papua New Guinea Peru Russia Philippines Singapore Taiwan Thailand Vietnam
Only 19 countries including Malaysia offer the following facilities:
APEC card replaces VISA
Providing APEC channels or special channels at major entry points at airports or checkpoints in various countries to enjoy a faster and smoother travel experience
Currently, Canada and the United States are not fully participating in the program. However, both countries offer Premier Lane facilities for faster and smoother travel.
The following countries offer the following facilities:
AUS-Australia
BRN-Brunei
CHL-Chile
CHN - China
HKG-Hong Kong
IDN - Indonesia
JPN-Japan
KOR-Korea
MYS-Malaysia
MEX-Mexico
NZL - New Zealand
PNG - Papua New Guinea
PER-Peru
RUS-Russia
PHL-Philippines
TWN-Taiwan
THA-Thailand
VNM-Vietnam
APEC Business Travel Card Privileges
The APEC Card is a special card designed to help business people save time and costs, enabling cardholders to quickly pass through APEC member countries and enjoy special treatment. Here are some of the main features and benefits of the card:
1. Save time and cost: APEC card holders can quickly pass through customs through special channels or routes, avoiding long waits and cumbersome procedures, thus saving time and cost.
2. Convenient entry requirements: APEC card holders can enjoy special treatment when entering APEC member countries without having to meet regular visa requirements or entry procedures, which is especially convenient for business travelers.
3. Information Sharing: Cardholders’ information will be shared with all participating countries/regions to obtain pre-clearance status or VISA approval before card issuance, which helps to simplify the application process and increase application success rate.
4. Long-term validity: The APEC Card is valid for five years, depending on the validity period of the holder's passport, which means that the holder can benefit from the convenience of the card for a long time.
5. Enjoy special routes: APEC card holders can enjoy the convenience of APEC routes or special routes at the main entrances of relevant countries, which usually means faster customs clearance and less waiting time.
In Malaysia, key points of entry providing a premier gateway or APEC route may include major airports and land ports, the details of which may vary by policy and location.
The “ PREMIERE LANE ” or APEC’s main service lane can be found through the following ports:
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)
Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA 2)
Penang International Airport
Sultan Iskandar Building, Johor Bahru
Sultan Abu Bakar Building (Second Link), Gelang Patah, Johor
The APEC Business Travel Card does not directly promote business ties between APEC countries, but rather facilitates those who frequently need to travel to APEC countries for business activities. Applicants must be directly involved in these business affairs, and their clearance results will be transmitted to the Malaysian Immigration Department through the ABTC system.
Therefore, applicants for APEC Business Travel Cards need to be able to prove their business needs and activities and that their involvement is directly related to business ties between APEC countries. This means that applicants must be able to clearly demonstrate their business activities and business relationships with APEC member countries.
Transmitting the clearance results to the Malaysian Immigration Department through the ABTC system ensures that the applicant’s eligibility and pre-approval status is recognized and verified upon entry into Malaysia. This helps to simplify the clearance process and ensures that cardholders can smoothly enjoy the convenience provided by the APEC Business Travel Card.
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