Eligibility and conditions for obtaining an APEC Business Travel Card.

VTV.vn - Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc signed Decision No. 28/2026/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister stipulating the procedures, authority for issuing and managing APEC business travel cards.

Conditions for consideration for an ABTC card

The decision stipulates the following conditions for considering the issuance of an ABTC card:

Conditions for the agency or organization where businessmen Currently working: There is a need to send businesspeople on short-term trips to various destinations. economy APEC members may use their agency or organization's activities to conduct business or attend conferences, seminars, and meetings.

Requirements for the business where the entrepreneur is working:

Businesses that have been operating continuously for 24 months or more up to the time of applying for permission to use the ABTC card and comply with all regulations are eligible. law regarding trade, taxes, customs, labor, and insurance. society and other legal regulations in effect at the time of applying for the ABTC card.

There is a need for sending businesspeople on short-term trips to APEC member economies to conduct business activities.

Decision No. 28/2026/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister stipulates the procedures, authority for issuing and managing APEC Business Travel Cards.

Requirements for businesspeople applying for an ABTC card:

Must be 18 years of age or older, possess full legal capacity; and have registered permanent residence in Vietnam, except as stipulated in Clause 4, Article 9 of this Decision.

Currently employed at the agency, organization, or business applying for the ABTC card for 12 months or more up to the time of application.

Social insurance contributions must be paid at the agency, organization, or enterprise applying for the ABTC card, based on the position for which the card is requested, for a period of 6 months or more, excluding those who are not required to participate in compulsory social insurance according to the law on social insurance.

Not subject to the circumstances of temporary travel ban as stipulated in the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens.

Eligible candidates for ABTC card issuance

The decision specifies the eligibility criteria for ABTC card issuance as follows:

For enterprises in which the state holds more than 50% of the charter capital or total voting shares:

Businesspeople working at credit institutions, excluding people's credit funds: holding positions from Deputy Head of Department or equivalent or higher; Chief Accountant.

Businesspeople are working at companies operating in this field. Finance, securities, insurance: holding positions from Deputy Head of Department or equivalent or higher; Chief Accountant.

Businesspeople working at corporations, holding companies established by the Prime Minister and member units of those corporations, holding companies: holding positions from Deputy Head of Department or equivalent or higher; Chief Accountant; Assistant or Secretary to the Chairman of the Board of Members, or the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the Chairman of the Company, or the General Director.

Businesspeople currently working at other companies: holding positions from Deputy Head of Department or equivalent or higher; Chief Accountant.

For organizations and enterprises in which the state does not hold or holds less than 50% of the charter capital or the total number of voting shares:

Businesspeople working at credit institutions: holding positions from Head of Department or equivalent or higher; Chief Accountant.

Businesspeople working in companies operating in the finance, securities, and insurance sectors: holding positions from Department Head or equivalent or higher; Chief Accountant.

Businesspeople working at the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry: holding positions from Head of Department or equivalent or higher; Chief Accountant.

Businesspeople working in cooperatives or cooperative unions: holding positions such as Chairman of the Board of Directors, member of the Board of Directors, General Director, Director, Chief Accountant.

Businesspeople currently working in other companies: holding positions from Department Head or equivalent or higher; Chief Accountant.

Officials and civil servants are tasked with attending conferences, seminars, meetings, and activities related to APEC economic cooperation and development.

Heads and Deputy Heads of Vietnamese trade representative offices in APEC member economies.

Responsibilities for using ABTC cards

The decision states that Vietnamese businesspeople granted ABTC cards have the following responsibilities:

Use the card for travel to conduct activities for agencies, organizations, or businesses, or to attend conferences, seminars, and meetings in APEC member economies.

Take care of and protect the card; do not erase, alter, or falsify the appearance or information on the card without authorization; do not use the card to violate the law.

Respect and comply with the laws and regulations regarding entry, exit, transit, residence, and other regulations related to the activities of businesspeople in APEC member economies.

In cases where the businessperson no longer holds the position specified in the document authorizing the use of the ABTC card as stated in Article 9 of this Decision, they are responsible for returning the ABTC card to the agency, organization, or enterprise within 05 working days from the date of ceasing to hold the position.

Foreign businesspeople using ABTC cards must comply with the laws and regulations regarding entry, exit, and residence. foreigner in Vietnam.

This decision takes effect from July 1, 2026; replacing Decision No. 09/2023/QD-TTg dated April 12, 2023 of the Prime Minister stipulating the procedures, authority, issuance and management of APEC Business Travel Cards.

Businesspeople who were issued ABTC cards before the effective date of this Decision may continue to use the cards until their expiration date, except as stipulated in Article 16 of this Decision.

Businesspeople who submit applications for approval to use ABTC cards; applications for new ABTC cards, or reissued ABTC cards submitted before the effective date of this Decision and are still under review and processing will continue to be subject to the provisions of Decision No. 09/2023/QD-TTg dated April 12, 2023, of the Prime Minister, which stipulates the procedures, authority, issuance, and management of APEC business travel cards.

Source: https://money.vtv.vn/doi-tuong-dieu-kien-duoc-cap-the-doanh-nhan-apec-109260602185641537.htm