The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program is a voluntary program to facilitate travel for U.S. citizens engaged in verified business in the APEC region and U.S. government officials engaged in APEC business. Participants must also be members of a CBP trusted traveler program. The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card will enable access to fast-track immigration lanes at airports in foreign APEC member economies.
APEC, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, is an economic forum whose primary goal is to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. The United States is one of 21 APEC member economies, which include: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Vietnam.
The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card will enable access to a dedicated fast-track lane for expedited immigration processing at participating foreign APEC member airports. For a complete list of APEC Business Travel Card participating airports, visit www.apec.org/Groups/Committee-on-Trade-and-Investment/Business-Mobility-Group/ABTC.
U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holders may also use the available Global Entry processing technology at participating airports upon their U.S. return. View the list of airports with Global Entry.
To be eligible for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program, you must meet three criteria:
A “verified business person” engaged in APEC business means a person engaged in the trade of goods, the provision of services or the conduct of investment activities in the APEC region. Professional athletes, news correspondents, entertainers, musicians, artists or persons engaged in similar occupations are not considered to be verified business travelers engaged in business in the APEC region when they are traveling in such a capacity.
A “U.S. government official” means a U.S. government official performing U.S. government activities that support the work of APEC.
The application fee for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card is $70. The fee is non-refundable. This fee is in addition to the fee for the selected CBP Trusted Traveler Program.
For example, a new applicant applying for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card with their Global Entry application would pay an application fee of $170. This breaks down to $70 for the APEC Business Travel Card application and $100 for the Global Entry application.
Apply for a CBP trusted traveler program on the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) website, https://ttp.dhs.gov. You also must schedule an enrollment center interview via your TTP dashboard during the application process. For more information about Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI go to the Trusted Traveler Programs page.
You must apply on the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) website, https://ttp.dhs.gov. This is the same website that is used to apply for CBP’s trusted traveler programs. Check the box in TTP for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card. Then schedule a visit to any CBP trusted traveler enrollment center for an interview (if you are not already a CBP trusted traveler) and for electronic signature collection.
However, if you are already a CBP trusted traveler, you can visit any CBP trusted traveler enrollment center for your interview/signature collection without an appointment.
All applicants for a U.S. APEC Business Travel Card must be existing members in good standing of a CBP trusted traveler program or apply and be approved for membership in a CBP trusted traveler program during the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application process. An applicant for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card may be a member of any of three CBP Trusted Traveler Programs: Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI, meaning they will go through a thorough vetting process including a review of all relevant national security and criminal databases prior to enrollment. An individual may apply either for a CBP trusted traveler program in advance or when applying for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card.
Each method has its advantages and disadvantages.
Prior to December 13, 2016 ABTC cards were issued with a validity of 3 years or until the expiration date of the card holder’s passport whichever occurred first. However, U.S. issued APEC Business Travel Cards approved on or after December 13, 2016 are now valid for five years from the date of issuance, or until the expiration date of the card holder’s passport, whichever comes first. This change in validity does not apply to current U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holders, whose cards remain valid only until the date printed on their card.
To renew the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card, submit a new U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application, pay the program fee, and meet all the eligibility criteria, including maintaining active membership in one of the CBP Trusted Traveler Programs (Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI).
Yes. CBP may revoke your U.S. APEC Business Travel Card if you fail to renew or maintain your CBP trusted traveler program membership.
Yes, once CBP determines you are eligible to participate in the APEC program you must provide an electronic signature that will be printed on the APEC Business Travel Card. You can complete the interview/signature collection process via Enrollment on Arrival when returning to the U.S. from an international flight or at any CBP Trusted Traveler enrollment center, no appointment necessary.
No. Interviews and signature collection for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card must be done at a CBP trusted traveler enrollment center and none are located outside of the United States and Canada. See a list of all CBP enrollment centers for Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI. Alternatively, you can complete the signature collection process via Enrollment on Arrival when returning to the U.S. from an international flight.
If you are accepted into the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program, CBP will update your TTP account to reflect the acceptance and will mail the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card to the mailing address that you provided on your application. CBP will mail the card to U.S. or international addresses, but not to post office boxes.
No. Foreign APEC member economies will not recognize the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card in lieu of a visa. The U.S. is a transitional member of APEC and does not reciprocate with other economies regarding full pre-clearance benefits to applicants. As such, no countries are listed on the back of U.S. APEC Business Travel Cards and card holders are required to present any travel or identity documentation, such as a passport and visa (where applicable), required by the foreign APEC member economy. If a U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holder does not conform to the foreign economy’s visa, passport or entry requirements, the card holder may be directed to a non-expedited lane or refused entry. Check the entry requirements of the destination APEC member economy before travel.