Issuing Apec card is an important process for Vietnamese businessmen who want to take advantage of benefits from APEC. This procedure includes applying for a document authorizing the use of the card and making an application for the card at the Immigration Department. The article below will provide detailed information about the APEC card, benefits, conditions and application process, helping you better understand this important travel card.

What is the APEC business travel card?

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is a document that allows business people to be approved for a visa before traveling within the APEC bloc. This card waives the need to apply for a separate visa, creating favorable conditions for short-term entry into APEC member territories.

ABTC cards have 2 forms: hard cards and electronic cards, with the same legal value according to Clause 1, Article 4 of Decision No. 09/2023/QD-TTg. The card’s validity is 5 years, except for some special cases. When it expires, the entrepreneur must apply for a new one and cannot extend it.

The APEC card helps promote trade and investment among APEC member economies. It creates conditions for businessmen to move easily, contributing to APEC’s goal of trade and investment liberalization.

Benefits of APEC card

APEC Card brings many significant benefits to Vietnamese businessmen:

• Visa-free entry to APEC member countries named on the card.
• Allowed to enter multiple times a year.
• There are priority immigration lanes at international airports of member countries.
• Short-term stay at each entry is from 59 to 90 days, depending on each country’s regulations.
• Reduce the time and cost of applying for visas for entrepreneurs and businesses.
• Facilitate trade and investment between Vietnamese businesses and APEC partners.

These incentives help business people save time, costs and administrative procedures when traveling for business and transactions in APEC countries. Thereby, the APEC card contributes to promoting international business activities of Vietnamese enterprises.

Conditions for issuing APEC card

According to Article 8 of Decision No. 09/2023/QD-TTg, conditions for issuance of APEC card include:

For agencies and organizations where entrepreneurs are working:

• There is a need to send personnel to travel regularly and short-term to attend APEC economic cooperation and development activities.

For businesses where entrepreneurs work:

• Operating continuously for 12 months or more.
• Comply with legal regulations on trade, tax, customs, labor, social insurance and other related regulations.
• There are direct signing and business cooperation activities with partners from APEC member economies.
• There is a need to send personnel to travel regularly and short-term to carry out business, trade, investment and service cooperation activities in APEC member economies.

For businessmen applying for an APEC card:

• Be 18 years old or older, have full capacity for civil acts;
• Currently working or holding an actual position at an agency, organization or enterprise for 12 months or more up to the time of requesting to use the ABTC card.
• Not subject to cases of temporary exit as prescribed in Article 36 of the Law on Entry and Exit of Vietnamese Citizens.

These conditions are intended to ensure that APEC cards are issued to entrepreneurs and businesses that have real, reputable business activities with APEC partners.

Procedure for applying for an APEC card

Application for APEC card (ABTC card)

According to Article 13 of Decision No. 09/2023/QD-TTg, the application dossier for an APEC card includes:

• 01 declaration form requesting issuance of APEC card model TK06 In the Appendix, there is confirmation and stamped photo of business leaders or personnel organizations of economic sectors, specialized state management agencies on the activities of businesses;
• 02 recent photos, size 3cm x 4cm, bare head, straight face, no glasses, white background;
• Original document requesting issuance of ABTC card signed by the leader of the agency, organization or legal representative of the enterprise according to model CV02 in the Appendix to this Decision;
• Original document authorizing the use of the card from the competent authority.

Competent state agency to issue APEC card

The Immigration Department – Ministry of Public Security is the competent authority to issue APEC cards in Vietnam. Businessmen can submit applications directly at the Department’s headquarters in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, or submit online through the National Public Service Portal or the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security.

Procedures for applying for an APEC card

The APEC card application process includes the following steps:

Step 1: Submit application

• Applications are submitted directly at one of the two offices of the Immigration Department – Ministry of Public Security:

No. 44-46 Tran Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi City.

No. 333-335-337 Nguyen Trai Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

• Or submit your application online via the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security Public Service Portal.

In case of direct application, the agency, organization or business can send someone to submit the application and receive the results on behalf of the entrepreneur. The substitute must have written authorization from the businessman.

Step 2: Immigration management officers receive the documents, check the legality and content of the documents:

• In case the dossier is valid, an appointment letter will be issued to return the results or the system of the Public Service Portal will notify you by text message (sms) or electronic mail (email) about the receipt of the dossier; collect fees according to regulations.
• In case the dossier is not valid, the officer receiving the dossier will instruct you to complete the dossier according to form CV03 or the Public Service Portal system will notify you by text message (sms) or electronic mail (email).

Businessmen can register to receive results in person or online through the Public Service Portal or through the public postal service.

Time to receive applications: office hours from Monday to Saturday morning every week (except Tet and holidays).

Step 3: Get results

• For hard ABTC cards: businessmen receive results directly at the Immigration Department or request to receive results via public postal service. In case you request to receive results via postal service, follow the instructions of the postal service provider.
• For electronic ABTC cards: businessmen receive electronic ABTC card login account information directly at the Immigration Department or online via the National Public Service Portal or the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security.

In case of refusal to issue an ABTC card, the Immigration Department must respond in writing or notify the National Public Service Portal or the Public Service Portal of the Ministry of Public Security and clearly state the reason.

Time for returning results: office hours from Monday to Friday every week (except Lunar New Year holiday and other holidays).

Consulting and support services for applying for APEC card in Long Phan

Long Phan provides comprehensive consulting and support services during the APEC card application process for Vietnamese businessmen. With a team of experienced experts, Long Phan is committed to helping you complete your application quickly and accurately, ensuring maximum opportunities to be granted an APEC card.

Long Phan’s services include:

• Free consultation on conditions and procedures for applying for an APEC card.
• Support preparing and completing documents according to the latest requirements.
• Representatives submit applications and monitor approval progress, preparing additional documents if necessary.
• Answer questions and provide support throughout the card application process.

With Long Phan’s support, you will save time, effort and ensure your application meets the requirements right from the first submission.

APEC Card brings many practical benefits to Vietnamese entrepreneurs and businesses during the process of international economic integration. Customers who need support with Apec card issuance procedures, please contact Long Phan via Hotline: 0906735386 for detailed advice and timely support.