Tiếng ViệtAPEC business card, also known as ABTC card, I often call this card “worth waiting for” because it brings many benefits and convenience. However, in order to use those benefits, it is necessary to meet both time and strict “material” conditions to be granted a card. So what are those conditions, let’s find out today with MGC.
I. What is the APEC Card?
The APEC Business Travel Card, referred to as the ABTC (APEC Business Travel Card) card for short, is a card issued by the competent authority of an APEC member economy to its business person after receiving the consent for the business travel. entry permits from other member economies.
Vietnamese entrepreneurs are people who have Vietnamese nationality, permanently reside in Vietnam and are working at agencies, enterprises and organizations established in accordance with Vietnamese law.
Currently, foreign businessmen cannot register and apply for an APEC card according to the same process and procedures in Vietnam as Vietnamese businessmen, but can only consider personnel or have an ABTC card when entering Vietnam.
The use period of this “power” card is 5 years from the date of issue and cannot be renewed.
II. Benefits of using ABTC
So why does MGC call this a “power” card that only businessmen and senior officials have? Surely it must have special benefits, it takes both money and time along with the preparation of a strict and thorough dossier to “get” this card. If it’s easy, it’s definitely not powerful and not worth the wait. When owning an ABTC card, you will:
1. No need to apply for a visa, you can still enter multiple times when visiting APEC member countries.
Thus, you have saved a huge amount of money and time for visa application thanks to the super convenient APEC card. I often tell my customers: “it hurts once than hurts many times” that’s why. Because those who do business will understand, administrative procedures for each time going abroad, especially countries that are difficult to get a visa like Korea, Australia, China, Japan, etc., take a lot of time, but time for entrepreneurs. then it’s money, gold or even diamonds. A little delay means the contract cannot be signed, a little delay will result in losing customers or having to compensate for damage when the deadline is not timely.
2. Stay up to 90 days, convenient for long business trips of businessmen. Currently, the length of stay is as follows:
1. Australia – Australia – AUS: 90 days
2. Chile – Chile – CHL: 90 days
3. New Zealand – New Zealand – NZL: 90 days
4. China – China – CHN: 60 days
5. Hong Kong – Hong Kong – HKG: 60 days
6. Japan – Japan – JPN: 90 days
7. Korea – Korea – KOR: 90 days
8. Taiwan – Chinese Taipei – TWN: 90 days
9. Thailand – Thailand – THA: 90 days
10. Malaysia – Malaysia – MYS: 60 days
11.Indonesia – Indonesia – IDN: 60 days
12. Russia – Russia – RUS: 90 days
13. Singapore – SGP: 60 days
14. Philippines – Philippines – PHL: 59 days
15. Brunei – Brunei Daussalam – BRN: 90 days
16. Papua New Guinea – Papua New Guinea – PNG: 60 days
17. Peru – Peru – PER: 90 days
18. Mexico – Mexico – MEX: 90 days
19. Vietnam – Vietnam – VNM: 60 days
3. Businessmen carrying ABTCs are given priority to carry out immigration procedures at designated areas at the border gates of member economies.
It is like a kind of “power”, a pride that only entrepreneurs with ABTC tokens can feel.
4. Do it once and use it for 5 years
If you work regularly with foreign partners, you will see how “light” those 5 years are even if you have to go abroad for unexpected work.
5. Travel is easier, reducing the risks, troubles or countless questions of the Immigration Agency “investigating” when entering their country.
6. Your visa application becomes more convenient when you go to other countries such as the US, Europe…
III. Form of ABTC card
– Currently, ABTC cards issued by Vietnam have two forms: hard cards and electronic cards. A physical ABTC card and an electronic ABTC card have the same legal validity.
+ The hard ABTC card is a rectangular card, printed on special materials according to the common technology of member economies and meets the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization.
+ Electronic ABTC card is a card issued on an electronic interface through the ABTC application on smart electronic devices with internet connection.
– Vietnamese businessmen have the choice to issue a physical ABTC card or an electronic ABTC card.
– Information on the ABTC card will include:
The ABTC card has the following information: portrait, full name, date of birth, gender, nationality, card number, card expiration date, signature, passport number, member economies information consent for entry.
IV. Conditions to be considered for issuance of ABTC
1. Conditions for the agency or organization where the entrepreneur is working:
There is a need to send personnel to travel frequently and short-term to attend conferences, seminars, annual meetings and activities on cooperation and economic development of APEC.
2. Conditions for enterprises where entrepreneurs are working:
a) The enterprise has operated continuously for 12 months or more, strictly abides by the provisions of law on trade, tax, customs, labor, social insurance and other relevant laws. other;
b) Enterprises must have activities of signing and direct business cooperation with partners of APEC member economies;
c) There is a need to send personnel to travel frequently and short-term to carry out business cooperation, trade, investment, service or other economic purposes in APEC member economies.
3. Conditions for business people to apply for ABTC cards:
a) Being full 18 years old and having full civil act capacity;
b) Currently working, holding actual positions at agencies, organizations or enterprises for 12 months or more up to the time of applying for permission to use ABTCs;
c) Not falling into the cases of suspension of exit as prescribed in Article 36 Law on exit and entry of Vietnamese citizens, including the following cases:
1. The accused or defendants; the denounced person, the person proposed for prosecution, but through examination and verification there are grounds to determine that such person is suspected of committing a crime and considers it necessary to immediately prevent such person from hiding or destroying evidences according to regulations. of the Criminal Procedure Code.
2. Persons entitled to a postponement of the serving of prison sentences, persons temporarily suspended from serving prison sentences, persons who are released from prison ahead of time with conditions during probation, persons entitled to suspended sentences during probation, persons serve the sentence of non-custodial reform during the serving period in accordance with the Law on Criminal Judgment Execution.
3. Obligors as prescribed by the civil procedure law if there are grounds to show that the settlement of the case is related to their obligations towards the State, agencies, organizations and individuals and Their departure affects the settlement of the case, the interests of the State, the lawful rights and interests of agencies, organizations and individuals or to ensure the judgment enforcement.
4. Civil judgment debtors and legal representatives of agencies or organizations that are obliged to execute judgments or decisions to be executed in accordance with the law on civil judgment enforcement, if any grounds to show that their exit affects the interests of the State, the lawful rights and interests of agencies, organizations or individuals or to ensure the execution of judgments.
5. Taxpayers, legal representatives of enterprises being forced to execute administrative decisions on tax administration, Vietnamese people leaving to settle abroad, Vietnamese residing abroad before leaving the country, the tax payment obligation has not yet been fulfilled in accordance with the law on tax administration.
6. The person being coerced, the representative of the organization being coerced to execute the decision on sanctioning of administrative violations and deems it necessary to immediately prevent such person’s escape.
7. The person being inspected, examined or verified has enough grounds to determine that his/her violations are particularly serious and considers it necessary to immediately prevent such person’s escape.
8. Persons who are suffering from a dangerous disease spreading or spreading and deeming it necessary to immediately prevent the disease from spreading or spreading to the community, unless they are allowed to enter by foreign parties.
9. Persons for whom the competent authority has grounds to believe that their exit affects national defense and security.
V. Objects to be considered for issuance of ABTC cards
1. Entrepreneurs working in state-owned enterprises:
a) Chairman of the Members’ Council, Chairman of the Board of Directors, President of the company, member of the Members’ Council, member of the Board of Directors; General Directors, Deputy General Directors, Directors, Deputy Directors of enterprises, banks or bank branches;
b) Heads, Deputy Heads of Management Boards of industrial parks, export processing zones and economic zones;
c) Chief accountants, heads, deputy heads, heads and deputy heads of departments directly related to business, trade, investment and service activities in enterprises; Head of branch of the enterprise.
2. Chairman of the Members’ Council, Chairman of the Board of Directors, President of the company, General Director, Deputy General Director or Directors, Deputy Directors of enterprises affiliated to socio-political organizations; Chairman, Vice President of Vietnam Federation of Trade and Industry; Head, Deputy Head, Director, Deputy Director, Head of Department of Vietnam Federation of Trade and Industry.
3. Entrepreneurs working in lawfully established enterprises in accordance with Vietnamese law:
a) Owner of a private enterprise, Chairman of the Members’ Council, member of the Members’ Council, Chairman of the Board of Directors, member of the Board of Directors; Company president; General Director or Director, Deputy General Director or Deputy Director of the enterprise;
b) Chairman of the Board of Directors, members of the Board of Directors, General Director or Director of cooperatives or unions of cooperativesss;
c) Chief accountant, division director or department head directly related to business, trade, investment and service activities in enterprises; Head of branch of the enterprise.
4. Cadres, civil servants and public employees have the duty to attend conferences, seminars, meetings and activities on economic cooperation and development of APEC.
5. Chief representative, deputy chief representative of Vietnam’s trade representative agencies in APEC member countries and territories.
VI. Procedure to apply for ABTC card
Currently, the procedure for issuing ABTC card goes through 2 steps as follows:
Step 1: Apply for a written permission to use ABTC
1. Enterprises with entrepreneurs shall submit 01 application for a written permission to use ABTCs directly at specialized agencies of the People’s Committees of provinces or centrally run cities or online through the Service Portal. People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities.
Profile include:
a) The original written request for permission to use ABTCs signed by the legal representative of the enterprise and responsible for personnel according to form CV01 in the Appendix;
b) A general report detailing the taxes paid by the enterprise or business person to the State Budget in the 12 months up to the time of applying for permission to use the ABTC card;
c) A certified copy or an authenticated electronic copy of the commercial contract signed by the enterprise directly or via electronic transaction with the partner of an APEC member economy with a term of no more than 02 years. up to the time of requesting to use the ABTC card, accompanied by documents showing that the contract, signed and cooperation documents have been performed. If the documents are in a foreign language, they must be notarized or certified to be translated into Vietnamese. In case there is no commercial contract, there must be documents proving the need to cooperate with partners of APEC member economies;
d) A certified true copy or an authenticated electronic copy of a valid passport or a document showing the need for frequent and short-term travel to carry out signing and business cooperation activities with the company. foreign partner. In case the copy is not authenticated, the original must be presented for inspection and comparison;
dd) A certified copy or an authenticated electronic copy of the business person’s decision on appointment of a position. In case the copy is not authenticated, the original must be presented for inspection and comparison;
e) Report on the enterprise’s observance of social insurance obligations in the last 12 months and the entrepreneur’s social insurance payment process up to the time of request for permission to use the ABTC card, enclosed with documents prove; the minimum period of payment of social insurance premiums for businessmen with the position applying for the card is 12 months. If they are no longer within the age of participating in compulsory social insurance or have fulfilled their obligation to participate in compulsory social insurance, the reason shall be clearly stated in the report and enclosed supporting documents. In case the entrepreneur is not subject to compulsory social insurance participation, the enterprise’s written certification must be submitted;
g) The enterprise’s latest year’s financial settlement report approved by a competent authority.
2. If the application is valid, the specialized agency of the People’s Committee of the province or city under central authority shall receive and handle it. In case the dossier is not valid, the specialized agency of the People’s Committee of the province or centrally run city shall guide the completion of the dossier according to form CV03 in the Appendix.
3. Within 03 working days from the date of receipt of valid dossiers, specialized agencies
of the People’s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities are responsible for transferring to the tax, customs, insurance, and police offices for verification of information related to enterprises and entrepreneurs requesting permission to use the services. use ABTC cards. In case of complicated problems, specialized agencies of the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities shall send them to other agencies for verification.
4. Within 20 days from the date of receipt of a written request from a specialized agency of the People’s Committee of the province or centrally run city, the tax, customs, insurance, and police offices have a written request. written response on verification results, if there is no written reply, it is considered as agreement and must be responsible for this. In the event that verification is required at more than one place, the tax, customs, insurance and police offices shall have a written exchange with the specialized agency of the People’s Committee of the province or centrally run city to extend the time limit. time for replying to verification results, extension time is not more than 15 days.
5. On the basis of verification by tax, customs, insurance and police authorities, and considering the business’s production and business capacity, capabilities and plans for cooperation with partners of member economies, Within 05 working days, the specialized agencies of the People’s Committees of the provinces and centrally run cities shall consider and submit to the Presidents of the People’s Committees of the provinces and centrally run cities for promulgation a written consent for the approval. allow businessmen to use ABTCs in cases where they are eligible, or a specialized agency of the People’s Committees of the provinces and centrally-run cities shall reply in writing in case of ineligibility.
6. Presidents of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally run cities consider and issue a written consent to allow businessmen to use ABTCs within 05 working days from the date of receipt of dossiers issued by agencies. program expertise. In case of refusal, it must be notified in writing and clearly state the reason.
7. Enterprises applying for a written permission to use ABTCs can register to receive results directly or online via the Public Service Portal or through the public postal service.
8. In case of direct application, the enterprise may send someone to submit the application and receive the result on behalf of the businessman.
Step 2: Apply for ABTC
Profile include:
a) 01 application form for ABTC card according to form TK06 in the Appendix, certified and stamped with a photo of the business leaders or agencies, organizations and officials of economic sectors, state management agencies specialized in the operation of enterprises;
b) 02 recent photos, size 3 cm x 4 cm, bare head, straight face, no glasses, white background;
c) The original of the written request for issuance of ABTCs, signed by the leader of the agency, organization or the legal representative of the enterprise according to form CV02 in the Appendix;
d) The original of the written permission to use the card issued by the competent authority.
1. If the application is valid, the Immigration Department, the Ministry of Public Security will receive and handle it. In case the dossier is not valid, the Immigration Department, the Ministry of Public Security is responsible for guiding the completion of the dossier according to form CV03 in the Appendix.
2. In case of detecting suspicious signs, in addition to the papers specified in Clause 3 of this Article, the Immigration Department and the Ministry of Public Security shall request agencies, organizations and enterprises to provide additional documents. relevant papers and documents for review. If after 03 months, the agency, organization or enterprise fails to provide papers and documents, the Immigration Department, the Ministry of Public Security shall not process the dossier and request the agency, organization or enterprise to The enterprise applies for a written permission to use the ABTC card from the competent authority in accordance with regulations.
3. Within 06 months from the time the competent authority permits the use of ABTCs, agencies, organizations and enterprises shall have to carry out procedures for new issuance of ABTCs. If the above time limit is exceeded, the agency, organization or enterprise is responsible for requesting the competent authority to re-issue a document permitting the businessman to use the ABTC card.
4. Agencies, organizations and businesses that apply for a new ABTC card for business people can register to receive results directly or online through the public service portal or through the public postal service.
5. In case of direct application, the agency, organization or enterprise may send someone to submit the application and receive the result on behalf of the businessman.
6. Agencies, organizations and enterprises that apply for a new ABTC card for business people must pay fees as prescribed.
VII. Some feedback from customers when they using ABTC
“I already have an APEC card. When I get this card, hold it and stand in line at the separate entrance for this card, I’m very proud, very happy”
“I used my APEC card to go to Australia twice (late 2009 & early 2010), the first time the “immigration control” staff let me pass very quickly, but then when I was waiting to receive my luggage, there was a staff member. Another member asked me to see my passport & APEC card, asked me a few questions and then “thank you.” The second time they came, they asked me to go to the office to wait, after about 15 minutes, let me pass. don’t ask anything”
VIII. Some frequently asked questions
Question: Why is Vietnam issued more ABTC cards than some other countries with the same APEC member (this question if you are asked when entering, don’t be confused)?
Vietnam needs to apply for an APEC card because Vietnam is one of the countries that have to apply for a visa the most in APEC countries, other countries can apply for a visa in APEC member countries very easily, you can apply right at the airport, not even at the airport. need to ask, so they have no need to do.
In addition, the people who travel a lot are mainly going to work and do business. Therefore, the APEC card is a “savior” to avoid spending a lot of time, effort and expense on each trip.
However, because of that, the application for an APEC card is tighter than before, and provinces and cities also have their own requirements for business people when making this card.
Question: Why is it only about 3 months from the time of applying for permission step 1 until applying for a card in step 2 according to the regulations, so why does it take 6-8 months or more?
The APEC card has passed the first “appraisal” from all agencies of Taxation, Insurance, Customs, Public Security, Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs; Industry and Trade, etc., then approved by the People’s Committee. After the approval is complete, the application must be made at the Immigration Department. In this step, it is necessary to apply for permission from each APEC member country, each country has different regulations and deadlines, so the delay is inevitable. Just like the card has to go through 19 countries, each with different rules, so the delay is completely understandable. But everything has its price, because when you hold the card in your hand, it feels light and easy when doing business with APEC brothers.
I used to make guests wait for nearly a year just because I got into the right case of applying for a license from two member countries in the process of adjusting the regulations on approving APEC cards, so it was extended for more time, but in the end, I still had to wait. As long as the peach branch is delicious, please get all 19 countries, customers will sign contracts with customers.
Question: Why is the processing agency different in each province and the requirements are also different?
Regulations on the issue of APEC cards are generally applicable, but depending on each province, the Provincial People’s Committee will have its own official dispatch, its own regulations and requirements, and its own handling authority.
For example, the specialized agency handling in Hanoi is the Department of Foreign Affairs, but in Hai Phong it is the Department of Industry and Trade, Hung Yen is the Department of Planning and Investment.
Or the business’s financial requirements, for enterprises in Hanoi, it is required: Entrepreneurs working in enterprises with revenue from business activities, services or total import-export turnover with foreign partners In addition to participating in the APEC business travel card program, at least 10 billion VND in the last 2 years.
For Hung Yen, the requirements: Enterprises applying for business cards must have a minimum production and business turnover of 05 (five) billion Vietnam dong or a total import-export turnover of at least 03 (three) ) billion Vietnam Dong in 01 (one) year of the last 03 (three) years.
Or, for Vinh Phuc, it must be an enterprise of small and medium scale or more, with import-export turnover in the latest year before the time of application submission, must reach at least 05 (five) billion VND (For enterprises operating in Vietnam). import and export activities), or a minimum turnover of 03 (three) billion VND (For enterprises not engaged in import and export activities).
At the same time, these regulations can completely be amended and replaced to suit each period, each period of that province or city. Therefore, updating information is very necessary so that the profile of the entrepreneur is not returned and returned many times.
Question: Can I use an APEC card to travel?
According to regulations, cardholders only use the card in travel to carry out business cooperation, trade, investment, service activities or attend conferences, seminars and other economic purposes. in member economies and not for tourism purposes. However, in fact, entrepreneurs can completely combine both working and tourism cooperation, as long as they meet the entry and residence requirements according to the regulations of the host country, it will not be affected.
Question: There is no need to make 19 countries, is it possible to make less water?
Okay. When making the application form, you can choose the countries you often go to to apply for a grant. Even if you write 19 countries, but during the process, there is a change be less, then you can contact MGC for support and handling.
Question: Is the above stay period correct?
The above time may vary from 60 to 90 days, depending on the policy of each country at each time. Therefore, to have the most accurate information, before deciding to stay in each country, business people should reconfirm the information of the period of stay with the APEC card at the diplomatic missions of the APEC member countries. However, the number of days of stay is almost no difference, the main countries have agreed to allow business people with APEC cards to stay up to 90 days, some countries have 90+.
Question: Why don’t the card issue countries have Canada and the US?
Currently, APEC members are 21 countries, however, Canada and the US are two countries that have not fully participated, so the APEC card has not been approved by these two countries.
MGC’s joy is to be able to advise, support and issue cards with as many APEC members as possible for customers because economic trade is extremely important. Every time a customer “shows off” signing more business contracts with partners in APEC, MGC is even happier than receiving a notification that the card has been approved and an appointment date.
If you need to consult, evaluate documents and make a package of APEC cards, please contact MGC for advice and support in all cases, all information related to APEC cards according to the following information:
Email: mgc.ltdvn@gmail.com
