APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) is a card issued to business travelers and senior-level management of companies who meet certain requirements. APEC manages the ABTC program, which it refers to as the ABTC scheme. The ABTC scheme seeks to facilitate travel in the APEC region. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, APEC started to shift ABTC cards from physical to virtual. The Virtual ABTC was created for convenience, to bring the ABTC Scheme into modern and digitized, a more secure, efficient, convenient, and user-friendly service. This virtual card is accessible via an APEC-created mobile app.Â
MBC is one of only three business organizations authorized by the Department of Foreign Affairs to endorse applicants for the APEC Business Travel Card to the DFA.
Successful applicants from fully participating economies are issued with a five-year card that serves as the entry authority to other fully participating economies which have granted pre-clearance for short-term business travel of up to 60 or 90 days. The card also enables holders to fast track immigration processing at each economy’s major international airports. Note that Canada and the United States of America (the United States) are transitional members of the ABTC scheme and do not offer reciprocal entry arrangements, but do provide fast track immigration processing at major international airports.Â
What are the benefits of holding an ABTC?
1. Fast-track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at participating airports
2. Multiple, short-term entries to precleared APEC economies without having to make a separate visa application to fully participating members. (Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei / Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam)
PROCESSING FEE
P 10,000.00 For New and Renewal Application (Non-refundable)
Must be paid upon submission of hard copies of requirements
VALIDITY
APEC economies may issue a card with a maximum validity of 5 years.
Eligibility Criteria
Filipino citizen and Philippine Passport Holder
Have not been convicted of a criminal offense
Applicant must have a business travel frequency of at least four (4) times a year for the past five (5) years within APEC region at the time of application
Holds an executive or managerial position in an MBC member company
Virtual ABTC
The virtual ABTC is an innovative new method for travelling on the ABTC and brings the existing Scheme into the digital era, providing the much-valued service on cardholders’ smart devices. The virtual ABTC is a more secure, efficient, convenient and user-friendly service and importantly, it provides real-time updates, so that a cardholder can immediately benefit from using their virtual ABTC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about the Virtual ABTC’s perks and privileges, its real-time data system, security features, some tips to get the most out of your virtual APEC Business Travel Card, and more!
Explore the Virtual ABTC Platform
Check out the step-by-step guide on how to log in through the ABTC mobile application and try see how you can maximize your virtual ABTC Card!
Types of Applications
CONTACT US
For inquiries, please email MBC Secretariat at abegail.eclipse@mbc.com.ph
To all interested applicants (new or for renewal), please fill out the form below:Â
An MBC representative will send a link to the email you indicated above
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