Five cases where businesspersons may have their ABTC reissued from July 1, 2026

On May 29, 2026, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 28/2026/QD-TTg prescribing the procedures, order, authority for issuance and management of APEC Business Travel Cards, effective from July 1, 2026.

According to Clause 1 Article 2 of Decision No. 28/2026/QD-TTg, the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is a card issued to businesspersons, allowing them to enter APEC member economies without obtaining a visa.

ABTCs are issued in two forms: physical ABTCs and electronic ABTCs. Physical ABTCs and electronic ABTCs have the same legal validity. Vietnamese businesspersons may choose to be issued with a physical ABTC, an electronic ABTC, or both.

Five cases where businesspersons may have their ABTC reissued from July 1, 2026 (Illustrative image)

Pursuant to Clause 2 Article 14 of Decision No. 28/2026/QD-TTg, an ABTC may be reissued in the following five cases:

1. The businessperson has been issued with an ABTC, but the existing card has expired or is about to expire in terms of approval granted by APEC member economies;
2. The businessperson has changes to his/her personal information;
3. The businessperson has changes in position or workplace; 
4. The businessperson has completed serving a criminal sentence, the court decision imposing travel restrictions has expired, or he/she is no longer subject to a wanted notice or no longer prohibited from using the card for national defense or security reasons;
5. The enterprise relocates its headquarters to another centrally run province or city.

• The businessperson requests reissuance because the existing ABTC is nearing the end of its validity period;
• The businessperson has been issued with a new passport;
• The businessperson requests the addition of an APEC member economy to the ABTC;
• The businessperson loses the physical ABTC or the login account for the electronic ABTC;
• The physical ABTC is damaged.

The dossier for ABTC reissuance from July 1, 2026 includes:

• An electronic copy or the original application form for ABTC issuance using Form AP05;
• Two 3 cm x 4 cm photographs taken within the preceding six months;
• An electronic copy or the original written request for ABTC issuance;
• The original written approval for use of the ABTC issued by the competent authority; where the dossier is submitted online, an electronic copy of such written approval shall be used.

In addition, within six months from the date on which approval for use of the ABTC is granted by the competent authority, the agency, organization, or enterprise shall submit one dossier for ABTC reissuance directly, online, or via postal service to the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security.

The agency, organization, or enterprise requesting ABTC reissuance for a businessperson is also required to pay fees in accordance with law.