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Source:
www.ica.gov.sg |
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SINGAPORE IMPLEMENTS THE APEC
BUSINESS TRAVEL CARD SCHEME |
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With effect from 1 October 2005, Singapore
will implement the APEC[1] Business Travel Card (ABTC)
Scheme. |
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The Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA),
the issuing authority of the card, will begin to accept applications for
the card through its website
http://www.ica.gov.sg. |
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About the APEC Business Travel Card
Scheme |
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The ABTC scheme aims to facilitate the
travel of business persons between APEC economies. Cardholders enjoy the
following benefits: |
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- Streamlined
processing through designated lanes at the major airports and
entry points of participating economies. |
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- Without having to
make a separate visa application, pre-cleared cardholders will be
able to travel to and enter the participating economies for
business purposes up to 60 or 90 days. |
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The application fee for a new card is $100
(non-refundable). Each card is valid for three years, or up to the
validity of the passport, whichever is shorter. |
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The average processing time for each card is
at least two months. This is because each application has to be routed
to all participating economies for approval, and more time may be needed
for all economies to revert. |
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For the convenience of the applicant, an
interim card will be mailed to him one month after he submits his
application, or after five or more economies have pre-cleared his
application, whichever is later. The interim card is issued at no extra
charge. (A sample of the card is attached.) |
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Which are the participating economies? |
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Currently, 17 out of the 21 APEC economies
participate in the ABTC scheme. The participating economies are |
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- Australia |
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- Brunei Darussalam |
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- Chile |
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- China |
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- Chinese Taipei |
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- Hong Kong |
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- Indonesia |
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- Japan |
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- Republic of Korea |
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- Malaysia |
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- New Zealand |
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- Papua New Guinea |
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- Peru |
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- the Philippines
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- Singapore |
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- Thailand and
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- Vietnam[2] |
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Who is eligible to apply for the card? |
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The following groups of Singapore Citizens
are eligible to apply for the card: |
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- Bona fide business
persons (i.e. those who represent an economically-active business
entity); |
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- Members of
professional bodies such as doctors, lawyers, artists and other
members of professional bodies. |
| - Public officers
from Ministries, Government departments, economic agencies and
statutory boards who need to travel in their official capacity. |
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All applicants must have a valid Singapore
passport. |
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Foreign cardholders |
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Designated lanes have been set up at all
checkpoints to provide immigration clearance for foreign cardholders
that will be pre-cleared by Singapore. |
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Foreign cardholders are advised that
Singapore¡¯s ABTC facilities are accorded only after Singapore has
pre-cleared the foreign cardholder and Singapore¡¯s code ¡®SGP¡¯ is printed
on the reverse of the card. |
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More information pertaining to the card can
be found in the set of Frequently-Asked Questions at
Annex. |
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More..... |
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Source:
www.ica.gov.sg News Release 23 Sep
2005 |
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Singapore implements APEC Business Travel Card Scheme
