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Taiwan (ABTC) Application Introduction

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Taiwan (ABTC) Application Introduction

To promote the development of economic and trade activities in the Asia-Pacific region and to deepen business ties in the region, the APEC Business Travel Card Program (APEC) provides expedited entry and exit for business visitors who need to frequently travel across the Asia-Pacific region for short-stay business trips without having to go through complex immigration procedures for each trip.

The program provides a 5-year validity period for APEC holders and simplifies immigration and visa procedures for 19 Asia-Pacific member regions. In addition to fast-track access to special airport lanes, cardholders will also be pre-clearance by member regions to stay visa-free for a limited period of time, giving flexibility to travel arrangements and better access to timely business decisions. This allows the cardholder to make immediate travel arrangements when necessary to conduct business in person, thus eliminating time spent on visa applications and allowing for efficient and convenient business operations within the Asia Pacific region.

An APEC application is subject to individual review by each of the 19 member regions after submitted to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tawan (BOCA), and it is difficult to generalize the review time for each region. The review process typically takes around 3 to 6 months, and there is no expedited service available. The actual processing time depends on a case-by-case basis.

Program Scope

The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC), valid for 5 years and allows multiple entries with a visa-exemption stay of up to 3 months each time (the duration may vary by member regions). It is designed for business travelers.

As of September 2024, there are 19 APEC member regions, including Australia, Brunei, Chile, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, and 2 transition members, including the United States and Canada.

The APEC Card is not mutually applicable between Taiwan, Hong Kong and Mainland China, so the Taiwan APEC cardholders are not eligible to travel to Hong Kong and Mainland China..

The card holder can travel within the APEC member regions freely, with pre-approval and visa-free stay for up to 3 months each time. Regardless of whether they have been pre-approved or not, cardholders can cross the border at special lanes at designated control points and only need to go through simplified immigration procedures, which significantly reduces the waiting time at every entry and exit.

Please note that when APEC cardholders enter the transitional members such as Canada and United States, they do not offer reciprocal entry arrangements, but do provide fast track immigration processing at major international airports.

Eligibility Criteria

APEC is available to businessperson who:

(1)	Holds a valid Taiwan passport with ID number;
(2)	Has no restriction on Leaving Taiwan;
(3)	Has never been convicted of a criminal offense;
(4)	Must be a bona fide businessperson who needs to travel frequently on short-term visits within the APEC region to fulfil business commitments.

Note: Entertainers, musicians, artists or persons engaged in similar occupations are not eligible to apply for an ABTC.

Documents and Information Needed

The required documents for the ABTC application:

(1)	ABTC application form;
(2)	2 applicant’s recent photos taken with 6 months (passport size, <5545mm or >5040mm);
(3)	Photocopy of the applicant’s Taiwan identity card;
(4)	Photocopy of the applicant’s valid passport showing his/her personal particulars, nationality, dates of issue and expiry (the validity must have at least 5 years, if the validity is less than 5 years, the ABTC will be valid only until the passport’s expiration date);
(5)	Photocopy of Taiwan Company registration documents;
(6)	Letter of Recommendation from authorities;
(7)	Non-criminal record certificate within 3 months;
(8)	Employment Certificate issued by the applicant’s employing company;
(9)	Further supporting documents and information in connection with his/her application e.g., contract, invoice, purchase order, if applicable;
(10)	Other supporting documents requested.

Note: The ABTC does not replace the passport as the primary travel document. Cardholders must present both their passport and ABTC when entering or exiting any APEC member region.

Disclaimer

All information in this article is only for the purpose of information sharing, instead of professional suggestion. Kaizen will not assume any responsibility for loss or damage.

If you wish to obtain more information or assistance, please visit the official website of Kaizen CPA Limited at www.kaizencpa.com or contact us through the following and talk to our professionals:
Email: info@kaizencpa.com
Tel: +852 2341 1444
Mobile : +852 5616 4140, +86 152 1943 4614
WhatsApp/ Line/ WeChat: +852 5616 4140
Skype: kaizencpa

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Taiwan (ABTC) Application Introduction

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