APEC Business Travel Card

[Danger]

The government has today announced that the validity of the APEC card will be extended from three years to five years.

The change will only apply to applications made from 1 September (ie. existing card holders and those who have already submitted applications and are awaiting approval will still be subject to a three year validity).

 

[dairyfloss]

The government has today announced that the validity of the APEC card will be extended from three years to five years.

The change will only apply to applications made from 1 September (ie. existing card holders and those who have already submitted applications and are awaiting approval will still be subject to a three year validity).

Here's hoping I meet the criteria when the time comes to renew! There was something about the change from 3 to 5 year validity coming at some point on the APEC Business mobility site... Glad to see it's actually on the way!

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Foreigner]

It looks like eligibility criteria is somewhat relaxed since i last looked:

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&...UnKOCUu8iv-pqnQ0w&sig2=hb4NjyKeNg2cnhzynhFs8Q

 

[Isochronous]

I have a NZ APEC card and SIN was the last country to sign off mine.

In using it it is great, but still prefer to get a visa to China than having to try to add an extra 20mins on average checking into non Shanghai or Beijing hotels whom have zero knowledge of them and takes longer trying to convince them that the APEC card is ones Visa. Having a visa also is just easier, quicker, faster when checking into a hotel.

Currently I am relying on my APEC card, cause my passport expires in April next year and last Visa expired in May gone and need 18 months on passport to get new 12 month multi visa.

OT, but I am in debate if I will travel past October, cause will need 6 months on passport to do so which I will not have come November unless I get new, but NZ passports go back to 10 Year from current 5 Year ones on 1st January next year.

You are not the first person to make that observation about Chinese hotels, especially if it is not a major international hotel chain in Beijing or Shanghai.

For those of you planning visits to less well-known Chinese cities, smaller hotels, or who just want some peace of mind, it might be useful to print out this page from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website which states in Chinese that APEC cardholders do not require a visa:

http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/wgrlh/lhqz/cjwdn_660600/t1175680.shtml

其他免签类型包括什么？

发布时间：2014年07月18日 09:07

（一）持有效APEC商务旅行卡者。APEC商务旅行卡相当于3年多次签证，持卡人可凭旅行卡及与该卡相一致的有效护照，在旅行卡有效期内多次进入中国境内，每次最长停留时间不超过2个月。
　 （二）持与中国建交国家的普通护照已在香港、澳门的外国人，经在香港、澳门合法注册的旅行社组团进入广东珠江三角洲地区（指广州、深圳、珠海、佛山、东莞、中山、江门、肇庆、惠州市所辖行政区）旅游，且停留不超过6天，可免办签证。
　 （三）下列国家持普通护照的公民，经中国国家旅游局批准在海南注册的国际旅行社组团（5人以上含5人）到海南省旅行，且停留不超过15天，可免办签证：美国、马来西亚、泰国、韩国、菲律宾、印度尼西亚、德国、英国、法国、奥地利、意大利、俄罗斯、瑞士、瑞典、西班牙、荷兰、加拿大、澳大利亚、新西兰、芬兰、丹麦、挪威、乌克兰、哈萨克斯坦、日本、新加坡。其中，韩国、德国、俄罗斯三国团组人数为2人以上（含2人），可停留21天。
　 （四）新加坡、文莱、日本三国持普通护照的公民，前来中国大陆旅游、经商、探亲访友或过境不超过15天者，从中国对外国人开放口岸入境时，可免办签证。

 

[Isochronous]

Got the full card today - Japan was the last country to approve. So that's 3 months total from submission - not bad at all!

 

[mushez]

You are not the first person to make that observation about Chinese hotels, especially if it is not a major international hotel chain in Beijing or Shanghai.

For those of you planning visits to less well-known Chinese cities, smaller hotels, or who just want some peace of mind, it might be useful to print out this page from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website which states in Chinese that APEC cardholders do not require a visa:

其他å…签类型包括什么？

I hear you - just I still wouldn't hold out hope in showing them that would satisfy them to the point you wouldn't be there any shorter time while they try to work though if they are going to accept it or not.

I have found this year in relying on my APEC card - that 80% of the time they simply take a copy of my last expired VISA and are more satisfied with that than the APEC card.

Even departing Wuxi last Sunday - the immigration officer had me stand aside and had to go and verify that I was lawfully in China and what an APEC card was. . . . . .

I have never been refused with an APEC card in China - just delayed - expect a 20 minute extra delay when relying on it each time I check into a hotel

Anyway - new passport has been applied for and in the post - edited APEC card will be issued to take me out to 2017 for my 3 years from application - and 12 month multi Chinese visa application sitting here waiting for me to take in to the BNE visa office to have a visa issued for the peace of mind it gives and back to China for 11th (ish) of October...... fifth visit of China this year.

 

[Comoman]

The APEC lane has now been removed from Perth international arrivals after baggage claim. Now only a red and green queue.

Perth airport really is an embarrassment.

 

[dajop]

The APEC lane has now been removed from Perth international arrivals after baggage claim. Now only a red and green queue.

There was an APEC lane after baggage claim? At MEL only ever had APEC lane for immigration, not exiting customs/quarantine after baggage claim. In fact historically, there was no priority lane for customs, but now it does have a lane for express pass holders.

 

[Comoman]

There was an APEC lane after baggage claim? At MEL only ever had APEC lane for immigration, not exiting customs/quarantine after baggage claim. In fact historically, there was no priority lane for customs, but now it does have a lane for express pass holders.

Yes it was on the left hand side at Customs/Quarantine.

Gone now.

 

[cityloop]

Re Processing Times. I've been waiting 4 months now and the application has still not been assigned to an officer. I already had an APEC card which has since expired but it did not take this long last time for processing. I followed them up but was told they are experiencing "unexpected delays". They are more than happy to process the application fee from Day 1 though!

 

[mushez]

Re Processing Times. I've been waiting 4 months now and the application has still not been assigned to an officer. I already had an APEC card which has since expired but it did not take this long last time for processing. I followed them up but was told they are experiencing "unexpected delays". They are more than happy to process the application fee from Day 1 though!

I got my new (NZ) APEC card a month ago - that I applied for in January -but given my old one wasn't expiring until March 2017 - I assume they took their time knowing I had a fully valid one still anyway. Now 5 year APEC card to match my new 5 year passport I got late last year.

 

[hummel]

I applied two months ago for my first one and have heard nothing.

Ended up having to renew my annual China visa as a result which is a bit annoying...

 

[Danger]

It's back.

I passed through a day ago. When I walked down the stairs into the baggage hall, there were no APEC signs to be seen. After I retrieved my bags I joined the queue and asked the airport staffer manning the line what had happened to the lane. She said it was still there but it had been temporarily removed earlier in the day when Customs had a declare line and nothing to declare line (something I've never seen in Perth). At that point, she removed an A3 orange laminated sheet that was covering the APEC/crew lane. This sign was at the point where the two lanes meet (ie. where the Customs officer views your arrivals card and says you're good to go or we suspect you of being a smuggler of contraband and we want to inspect every square inch of your luggage. However, the lady also pointed out the sign at the entrance to the APEC/crew lane (at the direct opposite point to where everyone else joins the line to exit). Sure enough, there was an APEC/crew sign there, which wasn't when I'd come down the stairs into the baggage hall a few minutes earlier.

 

[Comoman]

It's back.

I passed through a day ago. When I walked down the stairs into the baggage hall, there were no APEC signs to be seen. After I retrieved my bags I joined the queue and asked the airport staffer manning the line what had happened to the lane. She said it was still there but it had been temporarily removed earlier in the day when Customs had a declare line and nothing to declare line (something I've never seen in Perth). At that point, she removed an A3 orange laminated sheet that was covering the APEC/crew lane. This sign was at the point where the two lanes meet (ie. where the Customs officer views your arrivals card and says you're good to go or we suspect you of being a smuggler of contraband and we want to inspect every square inch of your luggage. However, the lady also pointed out the sign at the entrance to the APEC/crew lane (at the direct opposite point to where everyone else joins the line to exit). Sure enough, there was an APEC/crew sign there, which wasn't when I'd come down the stairs into the baggage hall a few minutes earlier.

Good news - I'm glad the experiment only lasted a few days it seems!

 

[Kefci2000]

Hi there

Does 2 trips to both HK and US count as visiting 4 countries or does it have to be 4 separate countries to count for qualification?

Thanks

 

[Cruiser Elite]

No does not need to be 4 different countries - 4 trips to same country will still get you over the line.

 

[dairyfloss]

No does not need to be 4 different countries - 4 trips to same country will still get you over the line.

I noticed a change in the form where it used to say at least 4 visits to an economy other than Australia... but now the writing is altered, and says "Provide information to demonstrate that you have travelled to a minimum of 4 APEC economies (other than your country of residence) in the past 12 months."

I've sent something to border protection to check, ahead of my initiating renewal (with a new application) later in the year. I should be ok either way, but it might alter the timing of my application.

Anyone 100% certain on this?

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Kefci2000]

Just sent off first application with 4 visits to 2 countries, so will soon find out

 

[dairyfloss]

I noticed a change in the form where it used to say at least 4 visits to an economy other than Australia... but now the writing is altered, and says "Provide information to demonstrate that you have travelled to a minimum of 4 APEC economies (other than your country of residence) in the past 12 months."

I've sent something to border protection to check, ahead of my initiating renewal (with a new application) later in the year. I should be ok either way, but it might alter the timing of my application.

Anyone 100% certain on this?

Cheers,
Matt.

Just expanding on the difference in the newer application forms that I've found. The older form which I applied on had separate questions on 'Frequency of Travel' for Applicants residing in Australia, vs. Applicants residing outside of Australia. The question for applicants residing in Australia was:

Provide information to demonstrate that you have traveled a minimum of 4 times from Australia to an APEC economy in the past 12 months
Note: The department will confirm this information against its arrival and departure records.

On the newer application, there is no distinction in terms of the required detail for applicants based on where they reside, and the question is the same for all applicants as it used to be for applicants residing outside of Australia, which is:

Provide information to demonstrate that you have travelled to a minimum of 4 APEC economies (other than your country ofresidence) in the past 12 months.
Note: You must provide documentary evidence of frequent business travel. This evidence can include boarding passes, airlinefrequent flyer statements or third party documents that identify you and relevant travel information. The department will alsoconfirm this information against its arrival and departure records.

Seems a bit more restrictive (and laborious)... but perhaps they are still approving applications based on the earlier criteria. I note the 'Eligibility Requirements' do say 4 visits to APEC economies in the last 12 months would be enough:

To be eligible for an ABTC, Australian applicants must satisfythe following business-related criteria:
• the applicant must demonstrate frequent travel(constituting a minimum of 4 visits during the previous12 month period) to APEC economies (other than Australiaor their country of residence) for business purposes;...

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[cityloop]

The department is severely under resourced! After submitting on March 2 (and APEC processing the payment straight away), I only received a confirmation they actioned the application in late May. They then contacted me in mid July saying I needed to resubmit the police check form as I missed a checkbox, I resent the form straight away and they only confirmed they sent it to the police last week. It took them 5 weeks to action my reply! I have since received an email this morning saying all approved to be eligible but now they will send my details to APEC countries for approval which will take another 2-5 months.

So long and short of it, expect the process to take up to 11 months from application to receiving the card. Plan well ahead and don't rely on receiving a card for any upcoming trips.