APEC Business Travel Card

Kefci2000 said:
Could someone please advise if a visa is still required for China if you are an APEC holder.

Looking at a status run to Beijing for 24 hours
Click to expand...

If you have "CHN" on the back of your APEC card - that is all you need for a visa to visit China. Don't need any other visa to go.
 
Kefci2000 said:
Could someone please advise if a visa is still required for China if you are an APEC holder.

Looking at a status run to Beijing for 24 hours
Click to expand...

On a visit that short you would only want to do it with the APEC card - otherwise you'd spend the whole time in the immigration queue!

APEC is a godsend when it comes to skipping the lengthy queues in Chinese airports.
 
Application submitted: 21 August
Application approved: 25 August

On August 29, economies approved:
Australia
Brunei Darussalam
Indonesia
New Zealand
Philippines

Seriously impressed. This is my 3rd APEC card on this passport.


 
trippin_the_rift said:
Application submitted: 21 August
Application approved: 25 August

On August 29, economies approved:
Australia
Brunei Darussalam
Indonesia
New Zealand
Philippines

Seriously impressed. This is my 3rd APEC card on this passport.
Click to expand...

Wow! I guess they got past the choke point us others dealt with at the back end of 2016 and into this year!
 
mushez said:
If you have "CHN" on the back of your APEC card - that is all you need for a visa to visit China. Don't need any other visa to go.
Click to expand...

What's the deal with Vietnam? I'm approved on my APEC card but will be going on holiday there over Christmas. My wife will need a visa but unsure if I need one? I think the sticking point may be that it's not business related?
 
hummel said:
What's the deal with Vietnam? I'm approved on my APEC card but will be going on holiday there over Christmas. My wife will need a visa but unsure if I need one? I think the sticking point may be that it's not business related?
Click to expand...

Well a condition of the APEC Card is that it needs to be for business. But in practice seems like people get away with leisure trips.
A compromise would be
(I) buy a visa invite letter (in case u need to apply VOA)
(Ii) not clear immigration with your wife

I too though am curious about Vietnam.
 
Just a report of the timing of the renewal (done via the new online submission system) of my APEC card, on a new passport (although I'd updated my old APEC card with my new passport):

25 July 2017 - renewal application submitted online
1 August 2017 - approval notification received from DIBP
14 September 2017 - approval showing for Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam (bolded countries are interim card countries)

So Papua New Guinea and PRC still to come.
 
Interim card just received, which lists the interim countries in my post above, with the exception of Mexico.

I just checked the APEC online tool and it shows I am now approved for all economies. I wonder how long it will take to send out the final card?
 
Chalkie said:
Interim card just received, which lists the interim countries in my post above, with the exception of Mexico.

I just checked the APEC online tool and it shows I am now approved for all economies. I wonder how long it will take to send out the final card?
Click to expand...

It was a matter of days for me.
 
My APEC Card expires early next year but my passport in 2020 - am I right that a new passport requires a new APEC Card and so it makes sense to renew passport simultaneously with APEC renewal next year to get the maximum 5 year benefit from it?
 
Isochronous said:
My APEC Card expires early next year but my passport in 2020 - am I right that a new passport requires a new APEC Card and so it makes sense to renew passport simultaneously with APEC renewal next year to get the maximum 5 year benefit from it?
Click to expand...
Nope - I've got good news for you... well, DIBP does anyway. This, below (with my bolding), from the questions on this page: Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) for Australian citizens

My passport associated with my ABTC is about to expire. What should I do?
Your ABTC is valid for five years from the date of issue, or three years from this date if your application was received by the Department prior to 1 September 2015. If the passport associated with your ABTC application expires within this period, the expiry date shown on your ABTC will reflect that of your passport. To make full use of your ABTC’s lifetime, you should advise the Department of your new passport details. A new ABTC, which aligns with your new passport number, will be issued to you. The expiry date of your new ABTC will be five years from the date that your first card was issued, or three years from this date if your application was lodged with the Department prior to 1 September 2015.

To update your passport details submit a copy of your new passport bio-data page through ImmiAccount. You will be required to provide the document number of your current ABTC. As there is provision for only one passport to be linked to an ABTC, if you do not update your passport details with the Department, you may experience delays at airports and possibly be refused entry to foreign economies.
Click to expand...

Cheers,
Matt.
 
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One thing to note is that if Australia is anything like New Zealand, if you change your name you will have to reapply from scratch again, paying the fee again, and all that good stuff. It's a bit coughe.
 
Just noting current timelines:

- Applied for new card on 20 January
- Received notification that my new interim card was issued on 7 March (ironically my previous APEC BTC expired on 6 March), which included all the SE Asian countries + the Oceania countries (AU,NZ, PNG).
- As of 28 March only waiting for Korea. Last two economies to approve were Mexico & Chinese Taipei (that week).

Hopefully will approve shortly as otherwise I will need to apply for CN visa for trip at end of April.
 

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