Decision No. 09/2023/QD-TTg dated April 12th, 2023 of the Prime Minister on procedures, authority for issuance and management of apec business travel cards

This Decision promulgates new regulations on issuance of the APEC business travel card (ABTC), including these contents: eligible entities who are granted the ABTC; procedures, authority for issuance and management of ABTCs for Vietnamese business people; personal information review, issuance of temporary residence certificates for foreign business people using ABTCs; responsibilities of agencies, organizations, enterprises and individuals in using and managing ABTCs.

ABTC is a card issued by the competent authority of an APEC participating economy participating economy) to its business people after receiving the approval for entry from other participating economies.

The ABTC has two forms: physical card and virtual card. A physical ABTC and a virtual ABTC have the same legal validity.

ABTC holders are given priority for immigration, temporary residence in participating countries written on the ABTCs to engage in business cooperation, trade, investment, service activities or attend conferences, seminars and for other business purposes.

Conditions for issuance of an ABTC are regulated at Articles 8, 9. In which, it is required to note that the enterprise applying for the ABTC must not fall under cases of temporary suspension from exit as prescribed in Article 36 of the Law on exit and entry.

Validity period of the ABTC issued to Vietnamese business people is 5 years and cannot be renewed (except the cases specified at Points b, c, d, and dd, Clause 1, Article 14 of this Decision.

This Decision takes effect from July 10th, 2023.

To replace Decision No. 45/2006/QD-TTg dated February 28th, 2006 and Decision No. 54/2015/QD-TTg dated October 29th, 2015.