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ABTC — APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)

Work

At a Glance

Processing Time

3–6 months

Estimated Cost

MYR 100 MYR

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

3 months

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

No dependents

PR Pathway

None

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote not required

Overview

Pre-cleared business travel pass for Malaysian entrepreneurs to 19 APEC economies with expedited airport entry, requiring 3–6 months for approval across all participating nations.

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is a pre-cleared travel card for business professionals across 19 Asia-Pacific economies. Malaysian citizens who are genuine business professionals with a valid passport (at least 3 years) and regulatory agency endorsement can apply to eliminate repetitive visa applications and gain multiple-entry access.

Valid for 5 years, the card permits 60–90 day stays per visit with processing taking 3–6 months minimum due to pre-clearance requirements from all participating economies. The RM100 fee covers the application; no work authorization or dependent allowances are available. Cardholders access dedicated 'APEC Lanes' at major airports for expedited immigration clearance.

This visa is ideal for Malaysian executives, investors, and senior professionals who regularly conduct business across multiple APEC markets.

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

3 months

Eligible Nationalities (1)

Malaysia

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be a Malaysian citizen holding a valid passport with at least 3 years of validity.

Must be a frequent traveler to APEC economies.

Must be a member of the business and investment community engaged in trade and investment activities within the 19 participating APEC economies.

Must be endorsed by a relevant regulatory agency (e.g., MITI, MIDA, MDEC, SMECorp, MATRADE) through a supporting letter.

Must be a genuine business person (e.g., Company Director, CEO, Senior Management, Business Owner).

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Completed ABTC application form.

Copy of Malaysian passport (minimum 3 years validity).

Copy of identity card (MyKad).

One passport-size photo with a blue background.

Application letter from the company on letterhead (including name, DOB, MyKad, and passport details).

Supporting letter from the relevant Regulatory Agency.

Letter of authority for a representative (if the applicant cannot attend in person).

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 19 participating APEC economies under one application
Fast-track immigration clearance through designated APEC Lanes at major international airports
Pre-cleared entry approval from multiple economies reduces repeated visa applications
Valid for 5 years with multiple entries across participating business travel
Reduces time and cost of repeated visa applications for business travel
Signals credibility and legitimacy as a regional business player

Worth Knowing

Minimum 3–6 months processing due to multi-economy pre-clearance requirements
Card is strictly for business travel; does not allow paid employment or long-term residence
Local immigration laws apply; stays limited to 60–90 days per economy
No renewal process; new application required upon card expiry
Malaysian citizens only; non-nationals are non-qualifying
Requires endorsement from regulatory agency (MITI, MIDA, MATRADE, MDEC, or SMECorp)
Must demonstrate genuine business status as company director, CEO, senior manager, or business owner

Application Process

Prepare all required documents in a single PDF file for each applicant.

Obtain a support letter from a relevant regulatory agency (e.g., MATRADE, MIDA, etc.) confirming your status as a bona fide business person.

Submit the application and supporting documents directly to the APEC Unit of the Immigration Department of Malaysia in Putrajaya.

Pay the RM100 application fee upon submission.

Wait for security and background checks and pre-clearance requests to be processed by other APEC economies.

Check the status of the application via the ABTC virtual application or the official status check link.

Once approved by the required economies, proceed to the Immigration Department in Putrajaya for payment and printing of the physical card (if applicable).

Access the virtual ABTC via the mobile device as per the hybrid implementation.

Verified Claims (2)

Last verified Jun 27, 2026

Processing Estimates

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imi.gov.my