As global economic cooperation gets closer, more and more business persons travel between countries frequently. However, waiting in the long queue to apply for a visa is a big hassle for them. The good news is that many countries started to issue special travel cards to boost cross-border trips between member countries of their cooperative organizations, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). In this passage, we are going to introduce what the APEC card is, what it is used for, and how to apply for it in Singapore.
What is the APEC Card
APEC consists of 21 economies in the Pacific Rim region, most of which are Asian countries and regions, plus Canada and the United States. This organization aims to boost regional trade and investments.
APEC card, referring to the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC), is a unique travel document for citizens of APEC member economies for the purpose of business. The card carries basic information including name, gender, economy to which it belongs, date of birth, date of expiration, signature and passport number. It is usually valid for 5 years. During this process, the cardholders don’t need to apply for a visa or entry permit, but it must be used with a passport. This multiple-entry permit allows the owner to transit through member economies or stay for 59-90 days.
Participants of the APEC Card Scheme
Fully participating APEC members who allow citizens to travel with a valid passport and an APEC business travel card are listed as follows.
| Australia | Brunei | Chile | China | Hong Kong, China |
| Indonesia | Japan | South Korea | Malaysia | Mexico |
| New Zealand | Papua New Guinea | Peru | Philippines | Russia |
| Singapore | Taiwan | Thailand | Vietnam |
Please note that under the ABTC scheme, Canada and the United States are only transitional members. That is to say, they don’t grant preclearance and ABTC holders still need to obtain a visa or other required travel documents to enter these two countries. All 21 members provide fast-track lanes at the airport.
How To Apply APEC Card In Singapore
To be eligible for the Singapore APEC card, you must be
- a Singapore citizen without criminal records.
- a business representative, or
- a member of a professional institution, such as a hospital, law firm, accounting firm, etc, or
- a representative who is taking an official trip on behalf of government departments or agencies.
If you satisfy the requirements above, go to the official website of the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and follow the instructions below.
Gather Required Documents
Preparing all supporting documents in advance can not only save time but also reduce the chance of being rejected. And here is the checklist.
- Valid Singapore passport (photocopy)
It is the proof of your identity and citizenship. The APEC card is valid for 5 years, but during this period, it will also be invalid when your passport expires. It is suggested to renew the existing passport if it is going to expire soon. Submit a photocopy and make sure all the information on it is clear and recognizable.
- Digital head-and-shoulder photo
It must be a colored photo that presents your current look and satisfies the guidelines for passport photos.
- Scanned signature image
It must be in JPEG format no more than 60KB. The dimension is recommended to be 250 x 220 pixels.
- Letter of authorization (scanned copy)
It should come from your employer or the organization you are representing, serving as proof of your eligibility for business within the APEC region and the APEC card. It should explain your title, position, duration of employment, what you are going to do, etc. Hand it in in JPEG or PDF format and the file should be no more than 1MB. If the letter is signed by you, please attach a scanned copy of your Business Profile from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA).
- Explanation letter and proof of membership
These are required when you are a member of a professional institution and applying for the card in your personal capacity.
- Business registration certificate (scanned copy)
This is required when your economy body is an overseas company. It is accepted that the certificate is in English, Mandarin, Tamil or Malay. If not, provide a certified translated version.
Fill Out the Application Form
Choose whether you are applying as a public officer or a non-public officer and complete the electronic form online with your Singpass account. The form is used to gather your personal information and business activity details. Make sure it is 100% correct and complete, otherwise, it might be delayed or rejected.
Submit and Pay the Application Fee
After finishing all required fields, submit the application and upload supporting documents. Then you will be directed to the online payment page where you can pay via Visa or MasterCard credit/debit card, American Express credit card, Internet banking accounts, or PayNow.
The fee for an APEC card is S$100. Please note that it is not refundable whether your application is approved or not, so it is necessary to check if there is anything wrong with your information before submitting it.
Attend In-Person Verification (If Required)
Then wait patiently for your request to be processed. In some cases, applicants might be invited to attend an in-person interview, which aims to further verify the information you provide is accurate and complete. Don’t be nervous. Just bring all the necessary documents as required.
Pick up the APEC Card
Once approved, the authority will notify you through email or the ICA portal in 3-4 weeks. It will tell you how to collect your card, such as presenting your passport and supporting documents.
How To Apply for APEC Card In Hongkong
Hong Kong is one of the most popular economies to apply for APEC business travel cards, only second to Singapore. You can apply for it as a Hong Kong permanent resident and a bona fide business person.
Required Documents
Before submitting your application, please prepare the following documents.
- Recent colored photo
It should be 400 -800px in height and 300-600px in width. The file size should be in JPEG format no more than 5MB. If you decide to take a shot at home, it is suggested to use a passport photo maker to ensure photo quality.
- Hong Kong permanent identity card
It is accepted to only copy the front side that carries your personal information and photographs.
- Valid passport
It serves as proof of your nationality. Make sure the photocopy you provide includes personal particulars, nationality, date of issuance and expiration.
- Letter from the employer
It indicates you are representing your company to conduct business activities in other APEC economies.
Please note that the documents should be JPEG/PDF/GIF/PNG/TIF format and not be larger than 5MB.
APEC Card Application
The authority allows online, mail and in-person applicants.
If you decide to apply online, just go to the Immigration Department Portal to fill out the electronic form and submit scanned copies of the supporting documents.
If you apply by mail or in person, you can obtain the application form from the Information & Liaison Section of the Immigration Department. Mail the form and required documents, or bring them in person to the following address:
Other Visas and Permits Section, Immigration Department, 7/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong.
Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card
APEC card is a great bonus for frequent travelers between APEC countries and regions, featuring the following advantages.
Visa-free Travel
You used to fill out piles of forms, have an interview at the embassy or consulate, and wait for weeks to get a visa. Now, the days have gone. This card allows you to enter the fully participating members without a visa, which saves you time, hassles and money.
Expedited Entry
Due to preclearance and fast-track lanes, you don’t need to wait in a long queue. Even if you are in transitional countries, you can enjoy the fast track. Quickly passing through the checkpoint is important for business persons because time is money.
Simplified Immigration Procedures
As a multiple-entry travel card valid for up to 5 years and recognized by dozens of APEC economies, it eliminates the trouble of applying for a visa for each entry and separate visas for each economy. As no requirement for visa stickers, it saves space on your passport. Moreover, some countries issue digital APEC business travel cards to make things easier, including Australia, Mexico, Peru, Brunei, Chile, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Thailand.
FAQs
Q: Can I use an APEC card for personal travel?
A: No. The ABTC is not designed for non-business purposes, such as touring, but you might enjoy entry convenience in some economies. The card is used by students, spouses and children of a business person, people who are on working holidays, and some professionals (i.e. athletes, news correspondents, entertainers, musicians, artists or those of similar occupations).
Q: How long does it take to receive my APEC business travel card?
A: It takes 3-12 months. The processing time varies due to the completion of your application, the number of applications in ICA offices, etc.
Q: How can I track my Singapore APEC card application status?
A: Go to ABTC System. Select “Singapore” for “Economy of Application” and enter your passport number for “Application Number”.
Q: What if I lose my ABTC?
A: Whenever it is stolen or lost, report it to the issuance department of your home economy in case of identity theft or abuse.
Q: Can I use only my ABTC to enter APEC economies when my passport expires?
A: No. The APEC card must be used with a valid passport. The card will also expire when your passport is invalid.
Q: How can I renew my ABTC if it is invalid?
A: APEC card renewal is not available. Once it expires, please raise a new application for it.
Summary
The APEC business travel card is a necessary entry document for business persons. With the 5-year validity, individuals can enter 19 APEC member countries and regions with valid passports and without visas. The fast-track service makes it quite convenient and time-saving to pass the checkpoint. Although each economy is featured with a unique application system, most of them support online applications, such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, etc. When it comes to how to apply APEC card in Singapore, all you need is a valid passport and proof of identity as a business representative. If you do have to travel frequently among APEC members, it is highly recommended to apply for one.
Dolores Xiao