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APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC): How to Read the Physical Card
The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is a wallet-sized card that allows eligible business travelers to access expedited immigration processing and visa-free entry (where applicable) across participating APEC economies.
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll see on the physical card and how to read it:
🔍 Front of the ABTC: Key Information
| Field | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Cardholder's Name | Your full legal name, as shown in your passport |
| Economy | The issuing country or economy (e.g., Australia, Japan, USA) |
| ABTC Number | A unique identification number tied to your card |
| Date of Expiry | The card's expiration date (usually 5 years from the issue date) |
| Photograph | A passport-style photo of the cardholder |
| Signature | Your signature, matching your passport and official documents |
| APEC Logo | A watermark or printed APEC emblem for authenticity |
Back of the ABTC: List of Approved Economies
This is one of the most important parts of the card.
You’ll see a grid of two-letter economy codes, such as:
- AU – Australia
- CN – China
- JP – Japan
- SG – Singapore
- TH – Thailand
- VN – Vietnam
✅ A checkmark (✔) or a printed economy code means that you are pre-cleared to enter that country using the ABTC.
🚫 If an economy is blank or crossed out, it means you do not have clearance to enter that country using your card, and you’ll need to follow regular visa procedures.
📌 U.S. and Canada are transitional members—they do not appear in the list of cleared economies, as they don’t offer visa-free entry with the ABTC.
🛃 How to Use the Card at Immigration
- Present your passport and ABTC together.
- Use the APEC fast-track lane if available.
- Immigration officers will verify the country codes on the back to confirm your pre-clearance.
🧳 Pro Tips for Travelers
- Your passport must match the country listed as your issuing economy.
- Always carry your ABTC and passport together.
- Double-check the validity of your card before each trip.
- If your passport is replaced, your ABTC becomes invalid—you’ll need to apply for a new one.