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Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card

Do you or members of your company frequently travel to countries in or around the Asia-Pacific region? Similarly, are you looking to expand internationally into these regional markets?

If so, an APEC business travel card membership may provide an attractive travel solution easing routine international business trips.

Explore our guide to APEC business travel cards to determine your eligibility, plus the costs and benefits of becoming an APEC travel cardholder.

What Is the APEC Business Travel Card?

APEC stands for the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation , a multi-national coalition with 21 member countries. Since its inception in 1989, APEC’s stated goals are the facilitation of economic policy, financial cooperation, and free-trade policies amongst its participating nations.

In particular, APEC seeks to oversee improved business relationships via sustained and mutually beneficial economic regional growth, focusing on:

• Free-trade agreements for the transfer of goods and services.
• Enhanced investment opportunities.
• Easier travel for businesspersons in member nations working within corporate, manufacturing, finance, tech, and other industries relevant to APEC’s economic interests.

The APEC business travel card, or ABTC for short, is an APEC-run program permitting simplified APEC-related business travel. Also known as the ABTC scheme, bona fide businesspersons and senior government officials from APEC member nations can apply for APEC business travel cards, making routine short-term travel to and from these nations quicker, easier, and less bureaucratically red-taped.

What Countries Participate in APEC Cards?

Currently, 19 countries fully participate in the APEC business travel card agreement:

• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• South Korea

Furthermore, Canada and the United States are considered transitional members of APEC.

Given each of these countries’ locations, each respectively maintains a vested interest in trans-Pacific economic interactions, policies, and trade. However, there are a few discrepancies between full participating membership and transitional membership for prospective card members to note.

• Fully participatory countries: APEC business travel cardholders who are citizens of an APEC country receive pre-clearance benefits, meaning when traveling to other fully participating nations, they do not need to apply for visas, entry permits, or file any additional entry applications.
• Transitional countries: APEC cardholders who are citizens of transitional countries still need to apply for visas and entry permits and present relevant travel documents at customs. They do not receive automatic pre-clearance as their full participating counterparts do. Likewise, citizens from full participatory nations who travel to the U.S. or Canada do not receive automatic pre-clearance and must also apply for visas and present relevant travel documentation.

For quick reference, all full participatory ABTC countries you have been granted pre-clearance to will be listed on the back of your travel card.

Criteria to Qualify for the APEC Business Card

Every APEC economy maintains its own eligibility standards applicants must meet to become a cardholder.

However, several requirements cover all 21 current APEC countries for applicants to clear to be eligible for the program.

1. Clear Business Case

ABTC applicants must be considered a “bona fide” or “good faith” businesspersons.

A bona fide business traveler’s case is the most significant criterion for APEC card membership. To prove that “good faith” status, applicants must provide:

• Verifiable employment and a job title within an established, tax-registered company.
• Frequent international travel to APEC economies as a primary responsibility of their role.
• Documented, international business commitments in APEC economies related to finance, trade of goods, raw material procurement, investments, and other provisional services.

2. Citizen of an APEC Economy

Applicants must be documented citizens of a country within the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

• Exception: Residents of Hong Kong must maintain a Hong Kong permanent ID card in lieu of Chinese citizenship status.

3. No Criminal History

Applicants must have a clean criminal record, with no prior convictions of a criminal offense.

4. Valid Passport

Applicants must already hold a valid passport from their home country APEC nation, be that a full participatory or transitional one.

• Exception: Residents of Hong Kong must hold a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport.

5. Relevant Government Officials

Senior government officials whose appointments dictate frequent, consistent travel to APEC nations are also candidates for ABTC. In many cases, these government officials’ applications tend to receive priority treatment and expedited approval timelines.

How to Apply for an ABTC

Applying for an APEC business travel card is a multi-phased process that, in many ways, works similar to applying for passports.

1. Applying in Your Home Country

The first phase of receiving your APEC travel cards begins with an application submitted to your home country.

• In most countries, applications are received and reviewed by customs and border control agencies, departments of state, or departments of immigration.
• Applications are primarily performed online.
• Supporting documents needed to complete the ABTC application vary, but generally include scanned copies of a valid passport and proof of bona fide business status. In some countries, you may also need to present current membership in an  ancillary trust travel program .

2. Approval From Other APEC Economies

After approving your core application, your home country of citizenship passes your materials onto the other full-participatory and transitional economies.

Full-participatory economies will each review your application individually for pre-clearance. These pre-clearance criteria and eligibility will vary and are at the discretion of each APEC nation independently processing your travel status.

3. Receive Your Card

You will be notified after all participatory APEC nations have granted conditional approvals. From there, you will receive instructions on officially receiving your physical traveler’s card, either via the mail or in-person at a government-administered enrollment center.

You may begin using your ABTC upon its date of issuance, which is the date you receive your card in the mail or in-person.

APEC Business Travel Card Benefits

Businesspersons can expect the following benefits as members of APEC’s business travel card program.

1. Airport Fast-Track

First and foremost, ABTC holders can use the fast-track lanes at customs and immigration checkpoints throughout all 21 APEC member countries’ major airports.

These lanes are typically labeled for government officials. Using APEC fast-track lanes at participating airports dramatically reduces your time spend waiting in immigration and customs, contributing to a smoother and more convenient overall traveling experience.

2. Visa-Free Travel

APEC cardholders do not need to apply for visas before visiting any of the full participatory countries listed on their cards.

This unique benefit eliminates the need to apply — and pay — for multiple short-term visa entries, saving businesses considerable money on total business travel expenditures.

Remember, though, that cardholders traveling to the U.S. and Canada will still need to present a visa upon arrival at customs and immigration. At this time, neither of these countries permit pre-clearance to any APEC citizens.

You will also need to apply for and present the appropriate visa for any full-participatory economy not listed on the backside of your ABTC. Unlisted countries have not approved your pre-clearance and will require you to present visas and any other relevant travel documents upon arrival and departure.

3. Multiple Entries Permitted

APEC business travel card members are allowed multiple entries within a consecutive 90-day period across all pre-cleared economies — without needing to have a cumbersome and expensive multiple-entry visa.

Compare this perk to regular travelers and tourists who must submit multiple visas to each country they intend to visit in one trip, or apply and pay for a more expensive multiple-entry visa type to begin with.

4. Reduced Travel Logistics

Overall, the combination of express immigration lanes, multiple county entries in one trip, and visa-free travel to pre-cleared countries means simpler overall traveling. Businesses benefit from reduced travel expenses, while individual cardholders receive priority treatment at airport checkpoints plus fewer bureaucratic headaches before and during every single trip.

Frequent APEC Card Q&As

Review the most common questions business travelers have in regards to APEC business travel card ownership, including:

• Related passport requirements
• Application timelines
• ABTC usage limits

For a comprehensive list of APEC country travel card questions and answers, consult your home economy’s dedicated ABTC website as well as the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation’s own Q&A resources .

1. I’m a Citizen of a Full Participatory Country. Do I Still Need a Passport to Enter Another APEC Country?

Yes, you will always need to present your passport at destination airports alongside your APEC travel card. Passports are a mandatory primary traveler ID required regardless of entering or exiting a full participatory or transitional economy.

It’s a common misunderstanding that APEC business travel cards replace the need for passports. APEC business travel cards are not meant to supplant passports. In no circumstances should business or government travelers attempt to present their current APEC travel card without a valid passport and expect to enter or leave a country lawfully.

Passports and ABTCs must be presented together to confirm the passport numbers listed on both articles. What’s more, cardholders must remember to renew their ABTCs if they renew or replace their passports to keep passport numbers consistent across both documents.

In summary:

• ABTCs do not replace passports.
• ABTCs do replace visas in the 19 fully participating economies, but only if you’ve been approved for pre-clearance. Countries where you hold pre-clearance status will be listed on the backside of your ABTC.
• ABTCs do not replace visas in the two transitional countries, Canada and the United States.
• ABTC and passport numbers must match at all times.
• All pre-clearance and visa permissions remain at the discretion of individual APEC economies and may be reviewed, suspended, or revoked at any time. In addition, individual APEC countries reserve the right to withhold entry and exit from their borders under contingent legal circumstances even if a cardholder has pre-clearance, as well as bar a cardholder from remaining in the country under similar legal situations, emergencies, or changes in state affairs.

Again, travelers are always encouraged to review the APEC business travel card parameters of destination economies before all travel dates.

2. How Long Does It Take to Get an ABTC?

APEC business travel cards take, on average, two to three months to process but will vary based on the priority status of your home-country citizenship.

New applicants are recommended to submit their application for ABTCs a minimum of six months before impending business travel. Current cardholders renewing their cards should submit reapplication materials at least three months before their card’s expiration date.

The largest factor influencing how long it takes to receive your ABTC will be pre-clearance from full participatory economies. Each economy must review your application and grant its own clearance approval. Only then will you be issued your APEC business travel card with the full list of pre-clearance-granted countries listed on the back.

3. How Long Do APEC Travel Cards Last?

APEC business travel cards last a maximum of five years, beginning at the date of issuance to its listed expiration date. Your exact expiration date will be written on your card.

In a small minority of cases, some APEC economies may allow ABTCs to extend past five years, such as for certain appointed government positions.

4. What Happens If I Lose My ABTC?

Report lost or stolen ABTCs to your home country, similar to reporting a lost or stolen passport. Your home country will then initiate its own process for replacing your ABTC. Card replacement procedures vary country by country, with general requirements available on APEC’s online directory .

Furthermore, it is recommended to report lost ABTCs to local police as soon as the incident occurs.

Cardholders can rest assured that APEC business travel cards cannot be used by strangers since ABTCs must be presented alongside a valid passport. Customs officials cross-reference passport numbers on the card with that inside the physical passport.

5. Who Cannot Use or Apply for an ABTC?

ABTCs can only be used by bona fide, approved businesspersons and senior government officials traveling for business purposes.

Card usage is prohibited for any tourism-related traveling or vacations. This includes “working vacations” where cardholders mix business dealings with vacation activities or extending a stay in an APEC country for the expressed purpose of a vacation.

In addition to tourism restrictions, ABTC cards cannot be used by:

• A cardholder’s spouse, domestic partner, or children
• Cardholder colleagues and coworkers, even senior-ranking ones

Frequent travelers whose occupations fall outside approved business, finance, trades, and government work also cannot use ABTCs. These include professional athletes, international journalists, and artists, all of whom may travel internationally for their work but do not qualify for APEC business travel.

Some APEC participating economies may grant exceptions for cardholder uses for tourist or non-business-related travel based on special circumstances. Such arrangements must be made with the individual APEC country before any traveling.

Is the APEC Business Travel Card Worth It?

Having an APEC business travel card makes sense if you are a bona fide businessperson whose career involves regular travel to participating in Asian-Pacific economies. Travel frequency and duration will be the two largest factors influencing whether an APEC business card makes sense, with most countries recommending a minimum of four to six trips annually to justify its application and continual renewal. However, you and your company will ultimately decide.

Globalization Partners Can Help Your Business Expand to ABTC-Participating Countries

Contact Globalization Partners when you’re considering expanding globally into ABTC-participating countries. We can help:

• Determine the best traveling action plans for you and your employees.
• Review country-specific application steps.
• Lend broader HR, legal, and finance guidance on any global expansion questions you have.

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• National Media Release

CBP Announces APEC Business Travel Card Program

WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection today announced that it will publish an Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register to establish the U.S. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card Program (ABTC).  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. In order to participate, applicants must also be members of a CBP trusted traveler program such as Global Entry, SENTRI or NEXUS, meaning they will go through or have already undergone a thorough vetting process including a review of all relevant national security and criminal databases prior to enrollment.  The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card will enable access to fast-track immigration lanes at participating foreign APEC member airports. The Interim Final Rule will be open for public comment for 30 days. 

“Expedited entry benefits that come with the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card will allow U.S. businesses to remain competitive with other APEC member companies conducting business in the region,” said Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske.

The ABTC was created through the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Cards Act of 2011 and the APEC Business Travel Card Operating Framework.  This rule sets forth the eligibility requirements, the application procedures and fee, and the parameters of the program.  The ABTC will enable access to fast-track immigration lanes at participating members’ airports, which is expected to save card holders an average of 43 minutes. Fully participating APEC members may provide “pre-clearance benefits” to card holders of other fully participating members; Pre-cleared card holders would not need to apply for visas or entry permits each time they travel to other participating APEC members. 

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.  APEC is comprised of 21 members, including the United States.  APEC’s business facilitation goal is to reduce the costs of business transactions and to help importers and exporters in the Asia-Pacific region meet to conduct business more efficiently.  Facilitating travel for qualified business people within the APEC region contributes to the business facilitation goal, and to free, open trade and investment, and to the U.S. economy.   

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

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.

How the APEC Business Travel Card Benefits Frequent Travelers

Frequent travelers to the Asia Pacific region for business purposes may want to consider the benefits of an APEC Business Travel Card. Focused on improving travel experiences and speeds for frequent business travelers, the APEC Business Travel Card provides several benefits that save time, aggravation, and money.

What exactly is the APEC Business Travel Card, who needs one, and how do you get one? We answer these questions below.

What Is the APEC Business Travel Card?

First, APEC (or the U.S. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) is a cooperative organization of countries promoting trade between Southeast Asia, Australia, the Pacific islands, and North America.

The  APEC Business Travel Card  is a program that is voluntary for member countries. It allows access to fast-track immigration lanes at international airports in participating countries.

These participating countries include the United States, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Peru, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei Darussalam.

The APEC Business Travel Card also gives travelers the option of using Global Entry kiosks instead of having to deal with regular customs lines and immigration, making a return to the U.S. faster and more streamlined.

Similar programs exist in each participating country, but the APEC Business Travel Card is unique to the U.S.

To qualify for the U.S. version of the card, the applicant must be: 

• A U.S. citizen
• An existing member in good standing
• Approved for membership for a CBP trusted traveler program, such as SENTRI, NEXUX, or Global Entry
• Either a verified business person or a U.S. government official who is currently active in APEC business 

The process of being approved for the CBP trusted traveler program includes a background screening .

What's the Process for Getting an APEC Business Travel Card?

1. apply on the trusted traveler program website.

Applicants must apply on the Trusted Traveler Program website. As this is a part of the application process, applicants may want to consider starting the process by applying for one of these programs, then adding the APEC card once they have been approved.

2. Visit a CBP Trusted Traveler Program Enrollment Center

Once an applicant has been conditionally approved for the APEC card, they will then need to visit a CBP Trusted Traveler Program enrollment center for signature collection.

If the applicant is denied, there is an appeal process where they can submit additional documentation for consideration. If a reason was not provided, the applicant will need to file a CBP Freedom of Information request to the appropriate department.

Additional Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card

The Card provides additional benefits for travelers: if the traveler needs a visa for the country they’re visiting, it provides an expedited process for visa interview scheduling. It also allows for short-term entries of at least 59 days for member countries.

Travelers can go through an expedited border crossing process in participating countries, and Canadian and U.S. entries may provide for the use of air crew lanes to speed up the process.

With an appearance similar to a credit card, the card fits in most pockets or a passport carrier. It carries the standard magnetic strip and scanning capabilities, which makes it easy to read, and has several fields with personal information included.

The APEC Business Travel Card provides a convenient way to speed up the overall process and reduce the amount of time spent standing in line, making it an excellent tool for regular business travelers.

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Understanding the APEC business travel card

There’s a lot to planning and managing business travel - especially when it comes to frequent international travel. Not all countries have the same entry requirements and visas, and because of this, it’s not unusual for travellers to find themselves stuck in long immigration lines on arrival and departure.

If you’re in charge of organising the business travel for your workplace, your corporate travel partner can help you navigate the maze, and if in doubt, put you in touch with a visa advisory service, like Travcorp.

For frequent travellers, the APEC business travel card (ABTC) is worth considering. Its main purpose is to streamline the entry process into APEC countries - making business travel managers’ lives easier and accelerating immigration processing for travellers.

This detailed article explains everything you need to know about the APEC business travel card.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• What is the ABTC?
• What are its key benefits?
• The 21 members of APEC and which are in the ABTC scheme
• Fully participating and transitional members
• Who is eligible?
• Application criteria for New Zealand business travellers

Do I still need a visa and passport?

• Business versus personal travel

When a traveller’s passport is lost, stolen or expired

Why your business needs an apec business travel card, what is the apec business travel card.

APEC, or the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation , was formed in 1989 to help member nations discuss free trade and economic cooperation. In total 21 economies in the Asia Pacific region are members, with a focus on improving and facilitating business relationships, as well as supporting economic growth in the region - making it easier for goods, investments and people to move between member countries.

The APEC business travel card (ABTC) programme facilitates short-term business travel for eligible business travellers in the APEC region. It streamlines the entry process - visas and immigration - into APEC economies. Rather than applying for entry documentation for each country separately, New Zealand business travellers can apply once through Immigration New Zealand , and their information will be used for multiple destinations.

If successful, applicants are issued with ABTCs, giving them entry authority into other fully participating countries - effectively pre-clearance for short-term business travel of up to 90 days. Cardholders also benefit from express immigration processing at each country’s major international airport through special APEC lanes.

Key benefits of an APEC business travel card

There are two main benefits for business travellers holding APEC business travel cards:

• Express immigration - entry and exit through APEC lanes in the major international airports of fully participating and transitional APEC countries
• Apply for one, entry to many - multiple entries to fully participating countries for up to 90 days each visit without having to make separate visa applications

The 21 members of APEC, and those in the ABTC scheme

There are 19 countries that are fully participating members of APEC:

• Brunei Darussalam
• Hong Kong (China)
• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• The Philippines
• The Russian Federation
• Chinese Taipei

There are also two transitional members: Canada and the United States.

When you apply for an APEC business travel card, you will need to specify which countries you require clearance for as these will be listed on the back of your ABTC when it’s granted. If you need to travel to a country not listed on the back of your ABTC, you’ll need to present the normal entry documentation. However as a cardholder, you can still use the APEC lanes in international airports no matter which countries you have printed on your ABTC.

Fully participating and transitional members of APEC

As mentioned previously, 19 member nations are deemed fully participating members. This means they participate in the pre-clearance aspect of the ABTC programme.

Canada and the United States are not fully participating members, but rather transitional members. This means they do not participate in the pre-clearance aspect of the ABTC programme, but they do still allow ABTC cardholders to use the fast-track immigration lanes at participating airports.

So how does this affect your business travel? ABTC holders granted pre-clearance by fully participating APEC countries do not need to make separate visa applications before being permitted to travel to those countries. On the back of your travellers’ ABTC will be a list of the APEC countries they have been granted pre-clearance for - and they will not be required to present any other entry documentation when they arrive at their destination.

ABTC holders travelling to transitional countries - Canada and the USA - will need to present any visas, travel or other entry documentation when they arrive, as pre-clearance has not been granted. The same goes for any country your business travellers do not have listed on their ABTCs - whether the country is fully participating or transitional.

Best practice is to make sure you apply for pre-clearance to all APEC countries you might travel to in the next five years. Check the back of your ABTC when it arrives, and before departure; if travelling to a transitional APEC member country, check the entry requirements before travel to make sure your business traveller is prepared with the right documents.

Who is eligible for an ABTC?

The general eligibility criteria for an ABTC are relatively simple. They are available to all bona fide business travellers, i.e. business people engaged in trade and investment activities who are:

• passport holders from participating countries,
• travel frequently to participating countries for business, and
• have a clean criminal record.

On top of those three mandatory requirements, each APEC member can impose additional eligibility criteria and will vet its applicants.

Let’s start with passports. The ABTC does not replace your passport, so your business travellers still need to present valid passports on arrival and departure.

When it comes to visas, if your business travellers are headed to a fully participating APEC member country, they do not need to submit separate visa applications - so long as the country is listed on the backs of their ABTC. This means they have been granted pre-clearance.

If your business travellers are travelling to a transitional APEC country, or a fully participating country from which they have not received pre-clearance, they will need to make separate visa applications and present any travel and identity documents as required on arrival. 

Always check the conditions of your business’s ABTCs before any staff members travel, and check entry requirements for their destination country.

Business versus personal travel on an APEC business travel card

ABTCs are designed specifically for frequent business travellers within the APEC region. Therefore, they can only be used for business travel purposes. If you decide to visit any APEC member country for personal reasons, say a holiday with your family, you will need to apply for the appropriate visa before travelling - and each family member will need one too.

Other circumstances where an ABTC cannot be used:

• Students travelling
• For a business traveller’s spouse and children
• For a person who wishes to engage in paid employment or a working holiday

Professional athletes, news correspondents, entertainers, musicians, artists or persons engaged in similar occupations

For business travellers’ ABTCs to remain valid, they need valid passports. The passport number listed on your business traveller’s ABTC must match the current passport. This means if a passport expires or is lost, and is renewed or replaced, the ABTC will also need to be updated or renewed. Some APEC countries will simply issue you a new card if your application is still valid - New Zealand is one - but some may require you to purchase a new one. It’s best to contact your home country . Make sure to always report a stolen passport to the police.

Similarly, if an ABTC is lost or stolen, this should be reported to the police and your home country. In New Zealand, if the ABTC is still valid, you’ll be asked to send a scanned copy of your passport to [email protected] before you can be issued with a new card.

The APEC business travel card is designed to meet the needs of business travellers who engage frequently in international short-term travel - not replace visa applications for infrequent travel.

Corporate Traveller's National Sales Leader, Aisling Nevin, says she often recommends an ABTC to clients who travel overseas within the APEC region at least six times a year.

If you organise business travel as part of your role in a small to medium-size business, and your business traveller travels internationally at least six times a year, you should consider applying for an ABTC.

Still unsure whether an ABTC is right for your business? Talk to your dedicated Travel Expert or contact us to learn more.

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How to Get an APEC Travel Card: The Ultimate Guide

Dateline: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

If you’re a frequent business traveler in Asia, you’ve likely seen the chosen few disembark from their plane only to be whisked through customs and border control to enter the country without a visa.

Do they have a secret VIP card ? Well, kind of.

If you’re traveling a lot for work, you’ve probably already heard of the APEC Business Travel Card or ABTC, which essentially gives you special access when arriving at certain airports within the Asia Pacific region.

The ABTC program was designed to promote ease of travel for investors and business persons traveling for work throughout the Asia Pacific region. If you often travel in the region for work, take a minute to calculate all of the time you’ve wasted in line at customs or applying for visas. There is a better way!

For ABTC holders you’ll have pre-clearance privileges, which means you can slide right through customs like a VIP. If your home economy is one of the 19 reciprocal members of APEC, you’ll also skip the visa hassle and be able to enter visa-free or be issued a visa upon arrival.

ABTC privileges might sound like something James Bond-worthy, but an APEC travel card is actually not as difficult, or as costly, to get as you might imagine. You can actually receive your travel card in the mail within a few months of applying for less than $200 USD. If you often travel to Asia, it’s honestly kind of crazy to not have one.

Here, we’re going to walk American, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand citizens through the process for getting an ABTC.

But before we jump into the nitty-gritty of the application process, let’s take a minute to talk about APEC.

What is APEC?

Founded in 1989, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation is an association of countries promoting free trade and economic development in the Asia Pacific region. There are 21 APEC member states (full list at the bottom of the article). While most are in the Asia Pacific region, a few, like the US, Canada, and Russia, are included due to their economic involvement in the region.

There are a number of APEC programs from helping indigenous women export their products to environmental stewardship, but we’re going to focus on programs here that make your life easier. One of the ways in which APEC fosters economic growth in the region is by facilitating ease of movement across borders for people, goods, services, and investments. This includes faster processing through customs at borders both for business travelers and investors, which is where the ABTC comes it.

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card (ABTC)

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Travel Card is meant to foster ease of travel for those visiting the Asia Pacific region on business. It’s basically a VIP card that allows you to fast track your way through customs when you arrive at the border. It can also facilitate travel to the region without needing a visa, but that depends on your home economy. More on that later.

An ABTC is literally a card that you keep with your passport. There are an estimated 500,000 APEC travel cards currently floating around the world. 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.

You should note that the ABTC is for short-term business travel within the APEC region only. That means you must be visiting the region on a business-related trip and the amount of time you can stay is limited. You’re generally allowed to enter a given APEC country for 59-90 days, depending on the specific agreement between countries.

When traveling with an ABTC you should also keep in mind that not every entry point in every country is going to allow fast track access for the ABTC holders, so you’ll need to do your homework and figure out ahead of time which airports will honor you ABTC. Generally speaking, if you choose to fly into the major airports in a country, you’ll be able to use your ABTC for expedited clearance and visa-free travel, but double check first.

Eligibility

The basic eligibility requirements are quite simple. You must be a citizen of an APEC economy and hold a valid passport, travel through the region on a regular basis for business, and possess a clean criminal record.

Pretty basic stuff, but keep in mind that each home economy may have additional requirements for applicants. We’re going to delve into the specifics for American, Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand citizens in more detail later. For now, let’s talk about the basic application process for acquiring an ABTC.

The Application Process

One of the major benefits of the ABTC is that you only need to lodge a single application, rather than applying to each APEC country individually. If that seems uncharacteristically efficient for a bureaucratic system, don’t worry, it will still take up to several months before your application is fully processed and approved.

Rather than applying to the country you intend to visit, you’ll actually make an application to the APEC country in which you hold citizenship ie: your home country/economy). Once you’ve submitted your application and it has been approved by your home country, your native immigration bureau will forward your application and information to each participating country. Yes, this does mean longer wait times, but it also saves you the stress of filling out 20 different applications.

Your application may be approved by your home country, but that does not guarantee approval from every other APEC member state. Each country has different immigration laws and they may find a reason to deny your application.

After each country makes a decision about your pre-clearance application, you’ll receive you ABCT which will list all of the countries in which you’ve been approved for travel. Although your home economy won’t have any control over how long your applications are processed within individual countries, you can track which member states have approved your application using the ABTC Pre-clearance Status Tracker . American and Canadian citizens have a slightly different relationship with APEC. They can check their status through their Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) Account.

If your ABTC was issued before September 2015, your card is valid for three years. In September 2015, APEC agreed to extend the validity of new travel cards. Now, an ABTC is valid for five years.

Unfortunately, if you want to renew your card, there is no streamlined renewal process. Your only option is to file a new application with your home economy and pay the application fee again. Your application will be treated as if you were applying for the first time. This is to make sure you can still be approved in each individual country despite new personal details and changing immigration laws.

Passport Issues

Your ABTC card is associated with the specific passport you used to apply. If your passport expires before your ABTC, you’ll need to contact the immigration office in your home economy to resolve this conflict. You may be asked to purchase a new ABTC that matches your new passport details.

If your passport is stolen, you must file a police report and follow up with your home country’s immigration bureau with copies of the police report.

APEC Transitional Members

For citizens (and sometimes permanent residents) of the 19 APEC reciprocal member states, you’ll have the opportunity to apply for visa-free travel within the APEC region. However, there are two cases in which holding an ABTC does not grant visa-free travel.

The US and Canada are both transitional members of APEC, sharing some of the benefits of membership, but not all. American and Canadian citizens can use the ABTC for expedited processing at customs both in the APEC region and when returning home, but they will not be granted visa-free access to other member states, at least not through the ABTC program. ABTC holders from other economies should also not expect to be able to enter the US or Canada without a visa. That being said, as an ABTC holder, American, Canadian, or otherwise, you should expect shorter wait times for visa appointments, a small, but useful consolation prize.

Important Acronyms

Americans and Canadians applying for an ABTC will be doing so through the same online portal operated by the US Customs and Border Protection agency. The US government loves acronyms, so if you’re navigating the ABTC application on your own, you might find yourself completely lost in all of the terminologies. Below we’re including a brief summary of the most important acronyms and terms to help you get through this process with as little frustration as possible.

The US Customs and Border Protection. CBP is the agency that manages the ABTC application process and approvals for expedited reentry into the US.

Trusted Travelers Programs. A group of programs for American and Canadian citizens that grants them expedited travel at airports in the US, Canada, and sometimes Mexico. Before being granted an ABTC you’ll have to apply for Global Entry pre-clearance through the appropriate TTP. The application is processed through an online platform called GOES.

Global Entry. CBP program that allows for expedited clearance to pre-approved travelers. You must apply online before undergoing a background check and interview. When you arrive in the US as a participant in the Global Entry program you’ll head to a Global Entry kiosk with your passport to be fingerprinted and approved for entry. CBP agents always reserve the right to select you for further examination.

Global Online Enrollment System. The online platform used by Canadians and Americans to manage their trusted traveler program applications and renewals. Operated by US CBP.

This TTP allows ease of travel for those who travel frequently between the US and Canada. Canadians must already be enrolled in NEXUS before applying for an ABTC.

ABTC Application Process for Americans

The ABTC program is relatively new to the US. It actually only became a permanent program in 2017.

Those with business interests in the APEC region both as civilians or working on behalf of the US government are eligible for an ABTC. You have to be considered a “verified business person” by the US government; journalists, athletes, artists, etc… are not eligible.

To apply for an ABTC you must already be a member of a CBP Trusted Traveler Program (TTP). For American citizens, the ABTC will not only grant you fast-track access when arriving in approved APEC economies, it will also allow you to use the Global Entry kiosk when you re-enter the United States. After a long flight back home from Asia, the last thing you want to do is wait in line at the border for an hour or more, so the GE kiosk will end up being your portal to peaceful reentry.

The CBP TTPs essentially help you move through the line at the airport more quickly when you are re-entering the US. Once you pass through the GE kiosk, you’ll be waved right through to baggage claim and freedom. In theory anyway. CBP agents reserve the right to flag you for further screening.

The various trusted traveler programs “expedite processing for pre-identified, lower risk populations.” You can choose the program best suited to your needs depending on how often you fly internationally, domestically, and cross the southern or northern US borders. Note: trusted traveler programs are available for American citizens as well as permanent residents and Canadians.

Once you’ve chosen the best TTP, you can fill out an application online through the GOES portal. While filling out the application you’ll need your passport or permanent resident card as well as your address, employment, and travel history from the past five years. Yep, that’s right, you’re going to have to list every address and job you’ve held in the past five years, as well as every single country you’ve traveled to.

Of course, you’ll also have to pay an application fee. The fees will vary depending on which program you’re applying for, but they max out at $122.50 USD, not including the separate ABTC fee.

Once you pay the fee and receive conditional approval for your application, which can take several months, you can then schedule an in-person interview at a CBP trusted traveler enrollment center. Following the interview, your application will be approved or denied. Assuming you receive full approval, you can then activate your membership card and ABCT.

You can apply for an ABCT at the same time as your CBP trusted traveler application. It’s as simple as checking the ABCT box on the application and paying an additional $70 USD fee.

After your TTP and ABCT application are approved, your application will be sent out to the other APEC member states for individual approval. Within a few months, you should receive your ABTC in the mail.

For expats, you might run into trouble when applying for your APEC travel card. Technically, you must return to the US for your interview. However, some embassies in the Asia Pacific region have been working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to circumvent this issue. While you might end up having to fly home for your interview, you should check with your nearest US embassy to see if there is another option before you book your flight back to the US.

ABTC for Canadians

Like Americans, Canadians will not receive visa-free travel privileges but can expect fast-track entry in the APEC region and upon returning to the Great White North. Canadians will also be privy to expedited visa procedures when applying to visit an APEC member state, so that’s a small victory.

In addition to regularly conducting business in the APEC region, Canadians are required to already hold trusted traveler status before applying for an ABTC. Americans can choose from a number of trusted traveler programs, but Canadian must be approved through the NEXUS program. Through this program, Canadians will receive an expedited entry into the US and through a Trusted Traveller kiosk when they return to Canada.

For Canadians, the first step towards getting an ABTC is applying to the NEXUS program through the US operated GOES online portal.

To apply, you’ll first have to create a .gov login, then a separate TTP login before being able to access the application. Among the TTP options to apply for, choose NEXUS. The NEXUS application fee is $50 USD. If you are approved, you NEXUS membership will last for five years before you have to renew, which you can also go through the GOES portal.

From there indicating that you want to apply for an ABTC means selecting a box and paying an additional non-refundable application fee, much like the application process for Americans.

After your digital application is conditionally approved, you’ll have to visit a NEXUS Enrolment Centre in Canada for an interview and to provide your signature. NEXUS Enrolment Centres can be found at major Canadian airports as well as some land border crossings.

Your card will then be mailed to you once it has been approved by the respective APEC member states. This generally takes 2-3 months.

This process for Americans and Canadians might seem slightly tedious and time-consuming, especially considering you won’t be getting visa-free access to the APEC region. But honestly, you’ll only have to do it once every five years and it can save you hours and hours of time, not to mention stress. For frequent flyers, it’s hard to even calculate how much time you’ll save at borders and in visa applications within those five years.

ABTC for Australia and New Zealand

Unlike the US and Canada, Australia and New Zealand are both full members of APEC, so in addition to expedited entry at borders, Australian and New Zealand citizens will also benefit from short-term visa-free travel throughout APEC member states.

For Australians

The basic eligibility for Australians to apply for the ABTC is the same as most other countries: frequent business travel throughout the region, a valid passport, and a clear criminal record.

The Australian government does, however, issue more specific standards for determining whether or not you are a “bona fide” business person. You may be asked to provide supporting evidence to prove that your company is involved in investment or trade between APEC countries. Supporting evidence might include copies of leases for commercial property in other APEC countries, client information, and business licenses from the APEC economies where you do business.

If your business is a startup, you may also need to provide business plans as well as evidence of the viability of your enterprise. Additionally, if you are not a senior executive with your company or an owner, you will need to be nominated by a senior exec.

Although the Australian government may ask for a number of supporting documents, they do provide an online portal to streamline the application process. As of 2017, all applications for an ABTC must be filled out online through the ImmiAccount portal.

When you fill out your application you’ll be asked to provide: a certified copy of your passport bio-data, a certified copy of your Australian driver’s license, and supporting evidence. If you do not have an Australian driver’s license, you’ll be asked to provide other means of identification.

After you fill out your application you’ll be prompted to pay a non-refundable application fee of A$200.

Unlike Canadians and Americans, Australians will thankfully not need to turn up for an interview once your application is conditionally approved. If your application is approved by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs, it will be sent to the reciprocal APEC member states for approval. You will then receive an Australian application number which you can use to track the status of your application through the ABTC website. Each country will check your application against their own immigration laws before approving you for visa-free travel and expedited entry. Keep in mind, you won’t necessarily be approved by every country within the region.

Those visiting Australia with an ABTC (except Americans and Canadians) can enjoy 90 days of visa-free travel throughout the country.

Interim Card

Because your application needs to be approved by every APEC country individually before you receive your ABTC, this process can often take a few months. We recently heard from an Australian client that they were told their ABTC would take around six months to process.

Luckily for frequent flyers within the Asia Pacific region, Australia offers an interim ABTC option.

If you’re planning to travel through the APEC region within 6 months of applying, it’s recommended that you also apply for the interim card. When you submit your ABTC application, you’ll simply indicate five priority economies. Once your application is approved by Australia and these five countries, you’ll be issued an interim card which allows you fast track re-entry into Australia as well as visa-free travel to these five economies before you officially receive your ABTC.

Now, onto the Land of the Great White Cloud…

For New Zealand

The basic eligibility for Kiwis applying for an ABTC is the same as other countries, but New Zealand also adds the stipulation that anyone who has been deported from, asked to leave, or refused entry to any country is unable to apply for an ABTC.

Unlike Australia, the New Zealand ABTC application process is not digitized. To apply, you’ll need to download the application form from the New Zealand immigration website, then mail in the completed form with a passport size photo, a copy of the photo section of your passport, and the application fee of NZ$150. Applications should be sent to the Central Area Office in Auckland.

You’ll also have to include some supporting documents proving your position within your organization and your need to travel frequently within the APEC region. Supporting documents can include: a letter of support from your employer, contracts, invoices from suppliers in the APEC region, invitations to trade shows in the APEC region, and pretty much anything else you can think of to prove you are a “bona fide” business person with valid business interests in an APEC economy.

The application itself is pretty short – just two pages! – and should only take a few minutes to fill out.

After your application has been received, an acknowledgment letter will be sent out to you through the mail. This letter will also contain your application number. You’ll need to hold onto this number so you can begin tracking the progress of your application through the APEC platform.

If you have a criminal conviction, you are not eligible for the ABTC. However, if your conviction was expunged from your record under The Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004, you may still apply and do not need to disclose your history of a criminal offense. When your application is sent to other APEC member states for approval, New Zealand will not disclose your criminal record. That being said, you may need to declare your criminal convictions on your arrival card when traveling overseas, which may result in being denied entry.

It will take about six weeks for New Zealand to process your application. From there, your application will be mailed to reciprocal economies. New Zealand estimates that it should take between three to six months after conditional approval in New Zealand for you to actually receive your ABTC.

Like their sister country Australia, New Zealand also offers the option to receive an interim card. On the physical application, you’ll just need to check of up to five countries you would like to prioritize.

If you are entering New Zealand from a reciprocal economy you can conduct business in the country for 90 days without needing to apply for a work visa.

APEC Travel Cards: a Summary

Obviously, the process to receive an ABTC card is a lot less daunting than it might initially seem.

The first step is determining basic eligibility: a clear criminal record, frequent business travel in the region, and a valid passport to an APEC member state.

Next, you’ll have to apply for an ABTC through your home country. If your application is approved, it will be forwarded on to all other ABTC member states for approval.

Finally, you’ll receive your ABTC in the mail listing all of the countries that have approved you for visa-free short-term business travel and/or pre-clearance upon arrival.

For frequent flyers to the Asia Pacific region trying to minimize travel stress and live a more mobile lifestyle, an ABTC is a must. As you can see, the process really isn’t so tedious to warrant ignoring the major benefits of the APEC travel card. It’s definitely a step in the right direction towards the VIP Nomad Capitalist lifestyle.

If you do not hold a passport to a full reciprocal APEC member state, this might be reason enough to explore second passport options . There are also other “hacks” to getting an APEC card, like having the permanent right of abode in Hong Kong; starting a Hong Kong company and paying some tax for seven years can help accomplish this.

Full List of APEC Member States

Australia Brunei Darussalam Canada (transitional member) Chile People’s Republic of China Hong Kong Indonesia Japan Republic of Korea Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Papua New Guinea Peru The Philippines Russia Singapore Chinese Taipei Thailand The United States (transitional member) Viet Nam

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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 .

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Only 19 countries including Malaysia provide the following facilities:

• APEC card replaces VISA (countries that require a VISA and have their participation in APEC do not require a VISA)
• Provide APEC Lane or Special Route (Premier Lane) at the main entrances by air or land of each country to enjoy a faster and smoother movement process.

Currently, Canada and the United States have not yet fully joined the scheme. However, both countries provide PREMIER LANE facilities for the purpose of faster and smoother movement.

The following countries provide the following facilities:

• AUS -Australia
• BRN -Brunei
• HKG -Hong Kong
• IDN -Indonesia
• MYS -Malaysia
• MEX -Mexico
• NZL -New Zealand
• PNG -Papua New Guinea
• PHL -Philippines
• SGP -Singapore
• TWN -Taiwan
• THA -Thailand
• VNM -Vietnam

APEC Business Travel Card Privileges

This card helps to save time and cost for businessmen in meeting visa requirements and entry requirements as well as enjoying the Special Routes of APEC countries.

Holder information and details are shared with all participating countries to obtain pre-clearance status or VISA approval before the card is issued.

The validity of the APEC card is five (5) years subject to the validity period of the passport.

These cardholders are given the convenience of APEC routes or Special Routes at the main entrances of the countries concerned.

In Malaysia, the main entrances that provide the premier lane or APEC route are as follows:

“PREMIERE LANE” or APEC Main Route can be found as follows:

• Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)
• Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA 2)
• Penang International Airport
• Sultan Iskandar Complex, Johor Bharu
• Sultan Abu Bakar Building (Second Link), Gelang Patah, Johor

This card indirectly promotes trade and businesses relation between the participating countries.

To qualify for the APEC Business Travel Card, the applicant must be actively involved in business that requires them to frequently commute to the countries concerned.

Pre-Clearances or approval by the participating countries will be channeled through the ABTC System to Immigration Department of Malaysia.

Immigration Department of Malaysia Headquarters (Ministry of Home Affairs)

No. 15,  1-7 Floor, (Podium) Persiaran Perdana, Presint 2, 62550 Putrajaya. T : 03-8000 8000 (MyGCC)

Portal Feedback: [email protected]

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• 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
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• Document: Specimen Letter for ABTC application (for members of professional bodies) (PDF, 6KB)
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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

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• Judicial Bar and Council
• Bureau of Immigration (BI)
• Bureau of Customs
• Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
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Airline Credit Card vs. Flexible Points: Which One is Best?

Airline credit cards offer benefits when flying that airline, while general travel cards include rewards that can be used in multiple ways.

Airline vs. Flex Points?

Getty Images | Maskot

If you aren't loyal to a specific airline brand, you may benefit more from a flexible points credit card.

Key Takeaways

• Airline credit cards earn miles for that specific airline and include perks similar to elite status, such as free checked bags, priority boarding and in-flight discounts.
• General travel cards earn flexible points that can be redeemed for travel, cash back, gift cards and more or transfer to airline and hotel partners.
• Some travelers have both types of cards to get the best benefits, earning power and redemption options.

Earning airline miles, hotel points and flexible points helps travelers save money when booking trips. There are dozens of travel rewards credit cards to choose from, so it can be challenging for people to decide between an airline credit card and flexible points cards. Both types of rewards cards have a lot to offer, but they also have downsides. Here's how to choose the best travel credit card to match your goals.

What Is an Airline Credit Card?

An airline credit card is a rewards credit card that earns airline miles for a specific airline. These cards also offer exclusive benefits for cardholders when flying that airline, which typically mimics elite status perks. These benefits may include the first checked bag free, priority boarding, discounts on in-flight purchases and more. Some airline credit cards can also accelerate your path to elite status based on your annual spending.

Airline credit cards typically have different price points ranging from no annual fee to several hundred dollars per year. Typically, as the price increases, you'll earn higher rewards and receive additional benefits.

Premium versions of these cards may also include a complimentary airline lounge membership for an annual fee that is lower than buying the membership directly. For example, the United Club Infinite Card has an annual fee of $525 and includes complimentary entrance to the United Club lounges for the cardholder and their eligible travel companions. By comparison, purchasing a United Club lounge membership costs $550 to $650 (depending on elite status) and includes access for just the member.

What Is a Flexible Points Credit Card?

A flexible points credit card is a card that earns points from an issuer rather than a hotel or airline loyalty program. These travel rewards credit cards are not affiliated with a specific program, which makes them ideal for people who are looking for the best travel deal rather than focusing on a single brand.

Flexible points have multiple redemption options, including booking travel through the issuer's travel portal, getting cash back or a statement credit, online shopping and more. Most flexible points programs also have a dozen or more airline and hotel transfer partners. However, Wells Fargo just launched the ability to transfer points to partners in April 2024, and it has just one hotel and five airline options – but the bank says more are coming soon. When you transfer points to these programs, the rewards combine with your existing miles and points balances so you can book an award reservation sooner.

Banks also offer multiple versions of flexible points credit cards with annual fees ranging from $0 to almost $700. The earning power, category bonuses, annual fees, benefits and other features vary among issuers and which card you choose. While these cards don't offer specific airline or hotel benefits, they offer a range of general travel perks and protections. For example, you may receive an annual credit for travel spending, airport lounge access and protections that include trip delay, baggage insurance and rental car protection.

Before paying a higher annual fee, make sure that you'll get at least that much value from the card in order to justify paying the fee.

Are Points and Miles the Same?

While many travelers use the terms points and miles interchangeably when referring to travel rewards, they aren't the same. Points generally mean the rewards earned from a hotel credit card such as the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass ® Card or a flexible rewards credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card . Miles usually mean the rewards earned from an airline credit card, like the United ℠ Explorer Card .

However, some airlines and banks confuse consumers by switching these terms up themselves. Rewards earned from Southwest and JetBlue airline loyalty programs are points, while rewards earned from Capital One Venture cards and Spark Miles cards are miles.

The major difference between the two is that airline miles are generally redeemed for booking flights, while flexible points have multiple options. Flexible points can be turned into cash back, statement credits, gift cards, online shopping and more. Most flexible points programs also have airline and hotel partners where you can convert rewards into airline miles or hotel points.

Which One Is Worth More?

The value of airline miles and flexible points varies by program and how they are redeemed. Typically, airline miles are more valuable than points earned by hotel credit cards, and flexible points have the highest value. Flexible points are often the most coveted rewards because they can be used in many different ways, including transferring to airline and hotel partners to book award travel.

How to Calculate the Value of Points and Miles

The value of miles and points varies based on how they are redeemed. Most people consider it a good redemption if you can get more than the average value. However, the best redemptions are the ones you're happy with. Remember that airline miles and hotel points typically decline in value over time as those loyalty programs update pricing to book award flights and hotel rooms.

Before redeeming your travel rewards, perform a simple calculation to determine the value of the redemption you're considering. This will help you decide whether you should redeem them now or save them for another time.

For flights, you'll take the cash price of the airline ticket and divide it by the number of miles required. To get the best possible answer, you should also subtract any taxes and fees that the airline charges for booking the award flight. For example, airlines typically charge a $5.60 fee for each direction you're traveling on a domestic flight. A $300 flight that costs 15,000 miles has a value of 2 cents per mile, which is a good value for almost any airline loyalty program.

When booking a hotel award, you should add taxes and fees to the list price of the hotel room to get a total cash price. Divide that total by the number of hotel points required to book the room. For example, a hotel room that costs $325 (including taxes) or 40,000 points has an award value of 0.8125 cent per point. This redemption is a solid value for Hilton and IHG hotels, but it is a subpar value for Marriott and Hyatt hotels.

How to Choose Your Card

Choosing between an airline credit card and a flexible points card is easier once you narrow down what rewards and perks are most important to you. While these cards may have some crossover, benefits from airline credit cards tend to focus on the issuing airline, while flexible points card benefits are more general in nature.

Anthony Losanno, a travel expert at The Bulkhead Seat, says, "The decision between airline credit cards and flexible points cards varies by traveler. Those with elite status might find the benefits useless or lessened on an airline card if they're already getting the perks with their status."

Who Needs an Airline Credit Card?

Airline credit cards are best for travelers who want to focus on earning airline miles and receiving perks when they fly. These cards typically earn extra miles when buying flights or upgrades and paying fees with that airline. They may also include exclusive benefits that mimic elite status, such as free checked bags , priority boarding and in-flight discounts.

Moli Aggarwal, a credit card expert at Maple Miles, says that an airline credit card's perks have more value in the long run. "An airline-specific credit card provides benefits when flying with that airline, such as a free checked bag, lounge access or any form of priority service,” Aggarwal says. “Flexible points cards might offer travel credits to buy those services directly. However, those credits might only cover one or two round-trip flights. An airline credit card extends its benefits to every flight taken with the airline."

When you fly on one airline regularly, having that airline's credit card can help you earn miles faster. Plus, you can save money and time by taking advantage of the card's perks. Depending on the airline and credit card, you may be able to achieve elite status more quickly based on your spending.

Who Needs a Flexible Points Credit Card?

Flexible points credit cards are best for travelers who aren't loyal to a specific airline. They want to find the best deal or departure time when searching for flights, even if it means flying on different airlines each time they travel. These travel rewards credit cards offer multiple redemption options, including getting cash back, buying gift cards, booking travel and more.

Losanno argues that their "flexibility is the greatest advantage. Being able to transfer to a host of airline and hotel partners has tremendous value."

Transferring points to airline and hotel partners is also common with flexible points credit cards. Most programs have more than a dozen transfer partners to choose from. This benefit makes it easier to find award availability for flights and hotel rooms to match your needs versus an airline credit card, which only earns miles in one airline loyalty program.

Card Comparison 

Credit card annual fees, redemption options and benefits vary widely based on the issuing bank and associated loyalty program. Additionally, travel rewards credit cards with higher annual fees tend to offer higher earning power, additional redemption options and more valuable perks.

This chart highlights the main differences between airline credit cards and flexible points credit cards.

Should You Get Both?

Many travelers choose to have both airline credit cards and travel rewards credit cards in their wallets. This allows them to get the best of both worlds by having access to the earning power, redemption options, benefits and other features of both types of cards. When you don't want to fly a particular airline, you still have flexibility in redeeming rewards with your flexible points card.

When comparing which flexible points cards to get, seek out travel rewards cards whose points transfer to your preferred airline. This allows you to combine rewards to book award travel more quickly. Plus, the benefits from the airline credit card may be able to save money on baggage fees and in-flight purchases or get you on the plane faster with priority boarding. Either card may also include airport lounge access, travel protections and other benefits that improve your travel experience.

Tags: credit cards , Airline Credit Cards , rewards credit cards

Comparative assessments and other editorial opinions are those of U.S. News and have not been previously reviewed, approved or endorsed by any other entities, such as banks, credit card issuers or travel companies. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired.

How do the EU's new disability cards facilitate cross-border travel?

In this episode of Real Economy, Euronews reporter Paul Hackett travels to Ljubljana and Brussels to learn how Europe's new disability and parking cards aim to facilitate cross-border travel and enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

• Europe's disability and parking cards - easy-to-read version

The right to move freely and reside within the EU is a cornerstone of European citizenship. But for many people with disabilities, while this is possible in theory, the reality is very different. 

The new EU-wide European Disability Card and the updated EU parking card for people with disabilities aim to solve issues around this by enabling users to prove their disability status anywhere in the bloc.

Approximately 101 million people, or 27 per cent of EU citizens over the age of 16, have a disability according to the European statistics agency Eurostat. 

Eight EU countries - Belgium, Italy, Finland, Malta, Cyprus, Estonia, Slovenia and Romania - have been piloting the European Disability Card since 2016. The trial's success led Brussels to push for a full roll-out across the bloc and on February 8 this year the European Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement. 

Lawmakers have also agreed to update the European Parking Card for Persons with Disabilities with a standardised EU design to end confusion and fraud caused by the current patchwork of national cards.

The agreed text is expected to be formally adopted by both the Parliament and Council and put to a vote in the European Parliament's final plenary session between 22-25 April.

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The European Disability Forum  has described the latest policy developments as a "momentous victory", but has also emphasised that they are a first step. For instance, the new rules will only apply for short stays of up to three months with an exception for disability card holders who move to another member state for a mobility programme, such as Erasmus+.

In addition, member states will have 30 months to adapt and another 12 months to formally implement the new rules, meaning it could take another three-and-a-half years for the card to be accessible across the entire EU.

“The cards are the first step. They take away some obstacles when travelling. They make it easier, but they do not allow us to enjoy the right to move, to study, to work. Disability assessment needs to happen again. Our disability does not travel with us,” Yannis Vardakastanis, the President of the European Disability Forum (EDF) told Euronews.

More than just facilitating travel

Both cards will replace national cards currently issued by local authorities. Once applied for they will be issued within ninety days in a physical or digital format except in cases when longer medical checks are required. Receipt and renewal of the European Disability Card will be free of charge except when lost or damaged.

Cardholders who travel to other EU countries will have access to discounts on local transport, assistance on trains and other public transport, reduced or zero entry fees, priority access and reserved parking. 

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The new rules will also cover accompanying care support personnel or care support animals. Those who do not have additional support and need more assistance can add the letter 'A' to their card, entitling them to extra help when shown.

Once a provider like a gallery or museum joins the scheme, cardholders from other participating countries get the same rights.

Živa Rogelj, the Head of Education at the National Gallery of Slovenia , explained that they are trying to make the gallery as accessible as possible, "not just free entrance for the people with disabilities but also personalised guided tours or personalised creative workshops free of charge,” she said.

Former Paralympian Primož Jeralič was left almost fully paralysed from the waist down after a skiing accident at the age of 24. Today he uses both cards. 

“I have been a disabled person for about 16 years now and it was difficult, especially travelling around Europe to identify myself. Now that I am a holder of the EU Disability Card, I can be easily recognised as a disabled person,” he told Euronews.

"At the beginning, I must say I was afraid to show my disability card. But I was really surprised because this card is recognisable all around Europe. I'm travelling a lot, and I did use this card in Belgium, Italy, Austria, Croatia and Germany, all around Europe".

Possible next steps

The National Council of Disability Organizations of Slovenia (NSIOS) is calling for the two cards to be made into one to avoid any confusion with local authorities and make it less stressful for people with disabilities to travel.

“We want to build awareness among the people with disabilities. And we want to attract more providers to the card. And lastly, we hope that someday the EU card and parking card will be combined in one,” said Gašper Oblak, a representative from the NSIOS.

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Pieter Paul Moen is a member of the EDC Fan Team  in Belgium, a pan-European voluntary organisation striving for better inclusion for people with disabilities. Pieter has autism and told Euronews the police have sometimes mistaken his disability for drunkenness. 

“We want this card to also be used by the emergency services. When you have a panic or stressful situation, you can also use this card when you are in contact with police, ambulance or hospital. You can prove his or her handicap to the doctors or the nurse in this situation,” he advised.

The EU Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli , explained that the card is a step towards better integration but acknowledged it does have some limitations.

"With this card, any rights which a person with a disability has in one country will be available to all the persons with disabilities visiting that particular country, so this recognition is very, very, very important. 

"Of course, we have to abide by the treaties and we cannot go further than what we have done because then it is member state competence. But it is definitely an improvement on what there is now," she told Euronews.

The EDF petitioned for an EU Disability Card for more than a decade. While the organisation agrees the new rules will create greater awareness and acceptance, it argues that the cards will not make things easier for people with disabilities looking to move to another member state permanently.

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The disability card excludes social security, social assistance and other residence-based social benefits. People with disabilities looking to move to another state long-term will lose their right to social security-related benefits in their home country. They may have to wait months or even years before benefits are processed in the new country of residence.

Despite that, Commissioner Dalli explained that the legislation process had been quick, "this directive I am happy to say was one of the swiftest; I mean I've never passed any legislation which went by so quickly. So that shows that member states are keen on this card, which is so important and that is going to improve so much the lives of people with disabilities.”

The EDF has also advised that the cards shouldn't be issued automatically unless a person with disabilities has requested one or explicitly agrees to have the card issued or renewed. This will ensure that there will be no obligation for people with disabilities to show the card as proof of disability for better access to services.

If you would like more information on the European Disability Card or how to get one, click on the link here . To watch the episode click on the video in the media player above.

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The journalists on the editorial team at Forbes Advisor Australia base their research and opinions on objective, independent information-gathering.

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Our Pick Of The Best Credit Card Offers For Australians In April 2024

Updated: Apr 16, 2024, 10:26am

If you’re on the hunt for a credit card, there is no shortage of offers to entice you—often with same-day approval. Whether it be balance transfer offers, frequent flyer bonus points on sign-up or low interest rate cards, there are myriad choices on the market to suit a wide variety of spending habits, needs and wants.

The first question you need to ask yourself is whether you are able to pay off a new credit card in full each month. Credit cards can be a trap if not used widely, and one that many Australians are increasingly reliant on as the cost-of-living crisis continues to eat into household budgets.

If you are able to manage your money and the responsibilities of a credit card, it’s important that you shop around to find a credit card offer that suits your needs.

Here’s what you should know.

Note: The list below represents a selection of our top category picks, as chosen by Forbes Advisor Australia’s editors and journalists. The information provided is purely factual and is not intended to imply any recommendation, opinion, or advice about a financial product. Not every product or provider in the marketplace has been reviewed, and the list below is not intended to be exhaustive nor replace your own research or independent financial advice. For more information on how Forbes Advisor ranks and reviews products, including how we identified our top category picks, read the methodology selection below.

What Is a Credit Card Offer?

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• Best Credit Cards
• Best Frequent Flyer Credit Cards
• Best Qantas Points Credit Cards
• Best Virgin Velocity Credit Cards
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Best Debit Cards
• List Of Credit Card Companies In Australia
• Balance Transfer Credit Cards Explained
• Interest Free Credit Cards
• Rewards Credit Cards
• CommBank Neo Credit Card Review
• American Express Velocity Escape Credit Card Review
• Qantas Points Credit Cards Explained
• NAB StraightUp Credit Card Review

A credit card offer is a perk attached to your credit card that is unique to that particular card and designed in order to stand out against the competition and attract new cardholders. Some perks are only offered for a limited time, while others may be tied to a card permanently, such as a no interest rate card .

Which credit card offer is best for you will depend on your financial situation and preferences, as there are many different types of credit card offers on the market.

Here are our top picks for the best credit card offers currently available to Australians, listed in alphabetical order.

No Annual Fee Offer

Standard Interest Rate

Standard annual fee, offer expires.

If you’re looking to earn frequent flyer points with Velocity without spending a hefty amount on an annual fee, then the American Express Velocity Escape Card may very well be the pick of the lot for you. The no annual fee offer is tied to the American Express Velocity Escape Card permanently, rather than the common credit card introductory offer of the first year being a $0 annual fee before reverting to a high rate.

At the time of writing, Amex is not offering any other additional deals with its Velocity Escape Card, such as bonus points when signing up for a new card. However, there are other benefits to the card, such as uncapped earning potential. When evaluating our choices of the best Virgin Velocity Credit Cards for Australians , the Amex Velocity Escape Card scored 4.5 stars.

It is also worth noting that American Express offers the same card with the same conditions for Qantas Frequent Flyers , known as the Qantas American Express Discovery Card. It charges a $0 annual fee, a 23.99% interest rate, and uncapped earning potential.

Cashback Offer

Standard Annual Fee

The ANZ First Credit Card may be, as the name suggests, a good choice for Australians looking for their first credit card. Its minimum credit limit of $1000 makes it ideal for those not wanting to spend outside their means, and an annual fee of only $30 is much cheaper than the industry standard—and the lowest of all ANZ credit card offerings.

Currently, ANZ is offering new First Credit Card holders the ability to earn $125 cash back when spending $750 on eligible purchases in the first three months of approval. ANZ notes that it may vary or end this offer at any time without notice, and that the cashback deal is not available in conjunction with other offers, packages or promotions, or when transferring from an existing ANZ credit card.

ANZ also currently waives the annual fee for the first 12 months before reverting back to the standard annual fee of $30.

Bonus Points Offer

For Australians looking for a general rewards card that isn’t linked to a specific program— such as Qantas Frequent Flyers or Coles’ Flybuys—the ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card may hold appeal.

It offers 180,000 bonus points and $150 cash back to new customers. ANZ notes that the bonus points could be used for $800 in gift cards at participating retailers, $720 cashback to reduce your credit card balance or credited into an ANZ bank account, or transferred to frequent flyer points with ANZ’s airline partners.

To be eligible for these rewards, ANZ Rewards Black cardholders must spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months from approval. There is no specified end to this credit card offer, however, ANZ does state that it may “vary or end this offer at any time without notice”.

Balance Transfer Offer

14.99% p,a.

Bankwest is currently offering the longest running 0% balance transfer deal out of the credit cards that Forbes Advisor Australia analysed with the balance transfer period running for 28 months. A balance fee charge of 3% applies, along with other fees and charges dependent on the balance transfer amount.

Following this 28-month period, cardholders will be charged the standard 14.99% p.a rate on any further balance transfers.

As a bonus, the Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard also offers its cardholders an ongoing $0 annual fee—a permanent feature that doesn’t expire.

0% Interest Rate Offer

21.49% p.a.

The Citi Rewards Credit Card is a high-ranking credit card according to Forbes Advisor Australia, scoring 4.5 stars on our analysis of the best credit cards on the market for Australians this year . This is largely due to its many rewards perks, as well as its complimentary insurances, including phone insurance, international travel, purchase cover and more.

As for its current credit card deals, Citi Rewards Credit Card is offering new cardholders a 0% interest rate offer for the first 12 months.

Citi is also offering new Citi Rewards Credit Card holders a 0% p.a. interest rate on balance transfers for the first 12 months, with no balance transfer fee. After this period, balance transfers will incur a very high 22.24% rate.

No Annual Fee

Issued by NAB, the Coles No Annual Fee Mastercard is just as the name suggests: a card offering no annual fee. It is a rewards card although instead of earning points that can be redeemed anywhere, cardholders earn Flybuys points that are therefore only able to be redeemed at participating Flybuys retailers.

As the Coles No Annual Fee Mastercard has a low minimum credit limit of $1000, it could be a suitable option for frequent Coles’ shoppers who want to earn more Flybuys points to redeem for their groceries, hardware needs from Bunnings, or office staples from Officeworks, without having to worry about spending outside their means.

Additionally, for new cardholders who apply for the Coles No Annual Fee Mastercard by June 30, 2024, you will be able to enjoy a 0% purchase rate for the first six months before it reverts to the standard interest rate of 19.99%.

For those looking for a credit card with no annual fee, the Kogan Money Visa Card could be an appropriate choice. It is a type of rewards credit card, where cardholders are able to earn rewards to an uncapped potential.

It is rare that reward cards do not charge an annual fee, making the Kogan Money Visa Card stand out in our analysis.

The perks on offer by the Kogan Money Visa Cards don’t end there, either. For those applying for the card in the next few weeks, you will be able to enjoy 0% p.a on balance transfers for the first six months with no balance transfer fees applying. After the six month promotional period, the balance transfer rate will revert to 21.74% p.a.

Additionally, when you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months from card approval, you will be eligible to receive a $300 Kogan.com credit voucher. Both the balance transfer deal and the credit offer are only available to those who apply for a new Kogan Money Credit Card by April 30, 2024.

Low Interest Rate

The NAB Low Rate Credit Card offers a low interest rate to its cardholders of 13.49% p.a. This is significantly lower than the current credit card interest rate average in Australia which, at the time of writing, is around 20%.

There is also 0% on balance transfers for the first 28 months (with a 2% balance transfer fee). After the 28-month period, any remaining balance transfers will be subject to the card’s cash advance rate of 21.74%.

In conjunction with the balance transfer offer, NAB is also offering new cardholders a $0 annual fee for the first year. This introductory offer commenced on October 4, 2023, and is still running as of April 2024—although NAB does state that this offer “may end at any time”.

It’s important to note that these introductory offers are not available when closing or transferring from another NAB credit card account or in conjunction with any other offer. However, the low rate offer remains available.

With a 0% interest rate card, the NAB StraightUp Card is a leading choice according to Forbes Advisor Australia. It may suit Aussies looking for a no-frills credit card, but not be ideal for those looking for a card that supports balance transfers or the potential to earn rewards.

The NAB StraightUp Card also doesn’t charge an annual fee like most credit cards do. Instead, it charges a monthly fee dependent on the credit limit the cardholder chooses. For a $1,000 credit limit, your monthly fee will be $10; a $2,000 credit limit incurs a monthly fee of $15; and the highest credit limit option of $3,000 will result in a $20 monthly fee.

This monthly fee can then be multiplied by 12 in order to understand the annual cost and compare it to other credit cards on the market. For example:

• A $1000 credit limit would cost $120 annually in monthly fees,
• A $2000 credit limit would cost $180 annually in monthly fees, and
• A $3000 credit limit would cost $240 annually in monthly fees.

However, it is important to note that if you don’t make any purchases and have an outstanding balance of $0 during the whole statement period, NAB will reverse your monthly fee for that period. That means you will only be charged the total annual fee if you use your credit card every month.

Bonus Points

St George is currently offering a significant deal to new Amplify Rewards Signature cardholders, with 150,000 bonus Amplify points on sign-up. These bonus points are available to St George Amplify Rewards Signature cardholders who spend the minimum amount of $12,000 on eligible purchases within the first 12 months from card approval.

St George is also offering a discounted first year card fee of $199 (before reverting to the standard $295 annual fee), and a 0% p.a. balance transfer deal for the first 24 months. The balance transfer offer needs to be requested at the time of application, and will be subject to a 1% fee on the balance.

All of the above promotions are only available to those who apply and are approved for a new Amplify Rewards Signature credit card between now and July 31, 2024.

Pre-existing St George card holders can also benefit from a more heavily discounted card fee for the first year of $99, before reverting to the standard $295 annual fee.

Below we outline the different types of credit card offers available to Australians, and round up our top ten picks for the best deals on the market right now. It’s worth noting that these deals aren’t always standalone offerings, either. Some cards will have numerous offers attached to them.

Balance Transfer Offers

Credit card companies will frequently offer a period of 0% balance transfers to new cardholders, encouraging them to move from their current credit card issuer. Since a credit card balance transfer involves moving the amount you owe (the balance) to another credit card, you may end up saving money if you transfer your balance within a promotional period and pay zero interest.

These balance transfer offers vary with some offering the 0% interest rate for a period of six months and some for up to 28 months. After this period expires, the balance transfer interest rate is usually quite high.

Related: Balance Transfer Credit Cards Explained

Many rewards cards offer cardholders the ability to earn points, which can then be redeemed for a variety of goods and services. Sometimes these points are directly linked to the company—such as Coles’ Flybuys points program—while others can be used to redeem in a variety of stores, or even to put towards paying off your balance.

Bonus points are a common introductory offer for new customers. Credit card companies will entice individuals to sign up to their credit cards in order to receive a large chunk of bonus points if they spend a certain amount of money within a specified time frame.

Credit card companies may also offer ad-hoc bonus point specials, such as extra bonus points to customers who shop at a particular store (again, spending a certain amount of money within a timeframe). These bonus point deals are for a limited time only and vary across each credit card company due to their retail partnerships and the like.

Frequent Flyer Deals

Similar to bonus point offerings, frequent flyer credit cards may also offer deals to their customers, albeit in relation to travel. While this often involves a large amount of frequent flyer points upon sign-up, it could also include a waived annual fee of a frequent flyer membership program, access to airport lounges at no extra charge, travel insurance, and other travel-related perks.

Related: Our Pick Of The Best Frequent Flyer Credit Cards

Sometimes a credit card company may offer you a cash back deal when you sign-up and spend a certain amount on your new credit card within a specified period from when you are approved for the card. The amount of cash back, the spending criteria, and the period of time ranges depending on the credit card issuer. This is another example of an introductory offer.

It’s worth noting that some cards have cash back deals as an ongoing offer, which are valid through partnerships with the credit card issuer. For example, at the time of writing, the American Express Velocity Escape Card is offering $100 back to those who spend $500 at Samsung online when they activate the offer. These offers are valid for a limited time, and therefore vary throughout the year.

A common sign-up offer from credit card companies is to waive the first year’s annual fee for new customers, and then revert back to the standard annual fee after the first 12 months. This is an example of an introductory offer.

However, there are some cards on the market that don’t charge an annual fee whatsoever, although many charge a monthly account keeping fee. These types of cards can suit those who are looking for a no-frills type of card, that they may only use in the case of an emergency, instead of a rewards card that is designed to maximise perks and points.

No Interest Rate

Many card companies are now offering no interest rate charges on the first year for new cardholders. As this is an introductory deal, it would revert back to the actual interest rate, which may even be much higher than the average interest rate on the market.

However, there are also cards that offer no interest as a permanent offering, again suiting Australian consumers looking for a straight-forward, no-frills option.

To establish the above list, Forbes Advisor Australia conducted extensive research into the credit card offers currently on the market. To best represent all of the deals, we found a minimum of three cards for each of the following categories:

• 0% balance transfer offers
• Bonus point and cashback offers
• Frequent flyer offers
• No annual fee deals
• No or low interest rate cards

After establishing the large spread of deals available to Australian consumers, Forbes Advisor Australian then analysed the cards to find the leading contender/s of each category. The criteria varied depending on the offer, but largely included:

• What is the current deal on offer?
• When does the credit card offer expire, or is it attached to the card permanently?
• Are balance transfers available and, if so, at what rate?
• What is the interest rate charged?
• Is there an annual fee and, if so, how much is it?
• What is the minimum credit limit?
• Can cardholders earn rewards, including frequent flyer points, through the card?
• Does the credit card offer any other perks outside of the primary offer?
• What are the eligibility requirements for the credit card?

Answering the above questions then helped us to establish the stand-out offers in each category, and rank them accordingly. From these rankings, we then established our top 10 picks.

As you can see from our pick of the best credit card offers, some credit card deals were featured multiple times via different credit cards, while other categories were only featured once. This is due to the overall benefits that the credit card could provide a cardholder, along with the standard of reviews via ProductReview.

Whatever you decide, it is critical to fully understand the terms and conditions of a credit card agreement before applying. Though we always recommend paying off your balance in full each month, it’s particularly important with rewards credit cards as interest rates are generally higher. Any interest charges on a balance will quickly wipe out the value of any rewards earned.

Is a low credit limit offer good?

A low credit limit on a credit card can be a good thing for those looking to spend within their means, and don’t want to risk falling into credit card debt. By having a lower credit limit, cardholders can be assured that they will be able to pay off their balance in the specified timeframe. Higher minimum credit limits, therefore, are more risky for those who don’t have the financial means to be borrowing—and repaying—a large figure per month. It also means that you are looked upon more favourably by lenders because when you apply to borrow for a mortgage or loan as lenders assume your credit card limit is reached—even if it isn’t—when they assess your loan viability.

Do all AMEX cards offer bonus points when signing up?

While it is common for American Express to offer bonus point deals for new cardholders upon signing up, it is not guaranteed. For example, at the time of writing, only six of the nine personal American Express credit cards are offering a new cardholder offer of bonus points.

These bonus point offers are for a limited time only, and can change in value throughout the year.

Can I receive a credit card deal if I’m already a cardholder?

Most credit card deals are only available to new card holders, and many are known as introductory offers for this purpose. If you already hold a credit card and a new offer commences, such as no annual fee for the first year, you will not be eligible. However, if it is a deal that is tied to the credit card permanently, then you will be.

The terms and conditions of each credit card deal and offer depends on the credit card issuer, so be sure to read the fine print before signing up to an offer.

Sophie Venz is an experienced editor and features reporter, and has previously worked in the small business and start-up reporting space. Previously the Associate Editor of SmartCompany site, Sophie has worked closely with finance experts and columnists around Australia and internationally. Sophie grew up on the Gold Coast and now lives in Melbourne.