TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. WHAT IS AN APEC CARD?
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is an international organization consisting of 21 different members, including countries from Asia, Oceania and the Pacific region.
APEC card is a permit for individuals or organizations belonging to members of APEC. This card supports business and travel between members of APEC. APEC card help individuals and organizations attend conventions, events, business dealings within APEC without having to apply for a visa or deal with complicated customs procedures.
2. WHO IS SUITABLE FOR AN APEC CARD?
APEC cards are convenient for business or travel in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation region.
2.1. Who Is Eligible For APEC Card?
APEC card is suitable for the following:
- Businessmen: Constantly travelling abroad, especially between APEC members to expand their businesses and to look for new opportunities.
- Upper-level management: Directors, CEOs, Upper management and responsible people critical to expanding and developing their businesses.
- Political leaders and government officials: Government officials and political leaders involved in economic and international commerce, as well as bilateral or multilateral relations between members of APEC.
- Researchers and scholars: Researchers and scholars working on fields related to economic, commercial, international cooperation to exchange knowledge and research between members.
- Skilled workers: Experts, engineers, and skilled labourers need to travel to different countries within APEC.
However, applying for an APEC card depends on the specific regulation of each member of APEC.
2.2. What Is The Benefit of APEC Card?
APEC card bring many utilities, some of the most important include:
- Visa free: travelling between APEC countries without having to apply for a visa, this saves time and effort.
- Smoother travel: APEC card holders can enjoy special benefits at customs, airports when travelling within APEC.
- Events and conventions participation: APEC cards allow holders to participate in events, conventions and other commercial activities without having to apply for a visa.
In summary, the APEC card is a useful tool to further cooperation and commercial exchange between members of APEC, while also reducing barriers and procedures between businessmen and upper-level management.
3. LIST OF COUNTRIES ELIGIBLE FOR AN APEC CARD
To date, there are 21 members of APEC, all these countries accept and use APEC cards. The list include:
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Be aware that while Taiwan is a part of APEC, Taiwanese’s APEC card has some restrictions or different regulations compared to the rest.
4. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR AN APEC CARD
Individuals organisations need to prepare these documents:
- An application form for issuing and reissuing APEC cards (model X05), certified and overlapping seal of the business Chief executive or direct controller organizations.
- 2 new portrait photos 3×4 cm, with white background, no head cover or glasses, look straight ahead.
- APEC card approval letter from authorised government department:
- Documents from the Prime (if you are a businessman working for or appointed by the Prime Minister)
- Documents from Ministers of Ministries (if you are a businessman working for or appointed by Ministers)
- Documents from the Provincial People’s Committees if you are a businessman working in the Provincial jurisdiction or appointed by said Committees.
5. APPLYING FOR AN APEC CARD
To begin the process of applying for an APEC card, you need to do 2 simple steps:
Step 1: Document preparation:
The documents need to apply for an APEC card include:
- A signed and sealed recommendation letter from the sponsor business/organization according to local regulations.
- Work contract, Commercial cooperation contract, service provider contract or other import, export papers (L/C, transportation bills, customs declarations, bills) no later than 1 year from the date of applying for the APEC card for partners within APEC (please include the original copy so we can compare), if these documents are in foreign language please include a Vietnamese translation.
- Commercial registration/ investment permit (certified).
- Original passports and 3 copies (certified).
- Copy of the decision to appoint a position with more than 1 year in that position, meeting report to appoint a position with more than 1 year in that position.
- Social insurance confirmation.
- A copy of employment contract (Employment contract with unspecified time with more than 1 year in that position).
For civil servants, the documents would need the following
- Recommendation letter from a Ministry, department, office, brach
- A certified copy of the Decision of authorized department sending said civil servants to participate in APEC’s events.
- A certified copy of a personal passport applies for an APEC card.
Step 2: Submit documents
After preparations, businesses/organizations will submit the required documents to the appropriate authorities.
- Department of Planning and Investment or Foreign Service Department ( with businesses and organizations do not belong to any of the below groups)
- The Management board of industrial and manufacturing zone ( with businesses/ organizations operating within an industrial or manufacturing zone)
- High-techzone Management board (for businesses/organizations operating within a high-tech zone)
- Urban management board (for businesses/organization operating within urban area)
6. HOW LONG CAN I TAKE APEC CARD?
It takes 21 working days according to regulations, starting from the day a valid application is received. However in reality it depends on the response of all participants in issuing the APEC card. Therefore it usually takes as long as 3-4 months for each stage.
In conclusion, it takes around 6-13 months to complete the entire process.
7. WHERE TO SUBMIT APEC CARD?
Submit your documents at the Department of Immigration, Police Ministry.
You have to bring the documents to the receiving and result returning area at the Immigration Department. The address listed below for Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh and Da Nang departments:
- Ha Noi: 44-46 Tran Phu road, Ba Dinh district
- Ho Chi Minh city: 333-335-337 Nguyen Trai road, 1st district
- Da Nang: 7 Tran Quy Cap road
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8. APEC CARD REQUIRED FEES
Fees for applying for an APEC card is 1.200.000 VND for a single card – Regulation No 09/2023/QĐ-TTg date 12/4/2023 by the Prime Minister Regulate order, procedures, authorities and managing APEC cards.
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