The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will digitalize the “APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)”.
Applications made by the end of February will receive a plastic ABTC, while those made from April onwards will be issued a virtual ABTC. March will be a transition period, during which applications are discouraged. The fee for new issuance applications will be reduced from 13,100 yen to 13,000 yen. It’s also possible to switch from a plastic ABTC to a virtual ABTC.
Under the new system, applications are made by entering information and attaching files on a dedicated website. A fee, which has to be sent by postal mail using revenue stamps, is required. After domestic approval, the ABTC is issued immediately and will be displayed in real-time on the app following approval from each country/region. There’s no worry about losing the card. Depending on the conditions, it’s also possible to apply online for re-issuance due to a change in passport number.
Currently, the virtual ABTC cannot be used for traveling to Russia, while the plastic ABTC can.
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