The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) champions free and open trade and investment initiatives to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. Its 21 member economies are home to around 2.8 billion people and represent approximately 57 per cent of world GDP and 47 per cent of world trade in 2012.
APEC operates as a cooperative, multilateral economic and trade forum. There are no binding commitments or treaty obligations and compliance is achieved through discussion and mutual support in the form of capacity building projects to help members implement APEC initiatives towards regional economic integration. They include the further improvement in the time and costs for goods, people, investment and services to cross borders, as well as in the enhancement of the business climate of the individual member economies.
To further develop its economy, Brunei Darussalam appreciates the multilateral cooperation provided by APEC to enhance its capacity through skills-training and technological know-how including in improving its ease of doing business and in nurturing small businesses to innovate. APEC's work to connect the region through improving physical infrastructure linkages, people mobility and institutional ties also offers Brunei Darussalam the opportunity to learn from best practices more efficiently through economic and technical cooperation (ECOTECH).
Established in 1989, Brunei Darussalam is one of the 12 founding members of APEC - together with Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United States.
Brunei Darussalam last held the APEC Chairmanship in 2000. Determined to benefit from globalization, APEC Leaders reiterated the commitment to implement outward-looking and market-oriented policies to enable people in the region to have individual or community-based access to the internet by 2010. As targeted, this vision was realized due to the strong partnership APEC had with its businesses and educational establishments around the region, tripling the number of people with individual or community-based access to the internet by 2005.
The APEC Secretariat is located in Singapore.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade acts as the national secretariat for APEC matters.
APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) »
The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) entitles frequent business travelers to pre-cleared, facilitated short-term entry to the following 21 APEC economies to explore new business opportunities, attend meetings and conduct trade and investment activities:
Australia Brunei Darussalam Canada Chile China Chinese Taipei Hong Kong | Indonesia Japan Korea Malaysia Mexico New Zealand Papua New Guinea | Peru Philippines Russia Singapore Thailand United States of America Viet Nam |
Passports remain a primary traveler identification document. A Cardholder will need to present his or her ABTC on arrival and departure. The granting of pre-clearance is in the discretion of each APEC economy. Any participating economy has the right to withdraw pre-clearance after card issue. Under this situation, the cardholders will be informed.
Brunei Darussalam joined the scheme as a full member in February 2001.
Canada and the United States are currently 'Transitional Members' of the scheme, which allows cardholders from all participating economies, including Bruneians, to use 'fast-track' immigration lanes (currently designated for air-crew) at major international airports. Cardholders will still need to present valid passports and visas if required by existing United States and/or Canadian law, although expedited visa interview scheduling will be provided to APEC Cardholders at United States and Canadian embassies and consulates in APEC economics in cases where a visa is required for the Cardholder to travel to the United States and /or Canada.
Benefits for cardholders
The ABTC cardholders enjoy the following benefits:
- Able to travel to, enter and undertake legitimate business in participating economies for a minimum of two (2) months. The maximum period of stay granted to a cardholder is three (3) months;
- No need to individually apply for visas or entry permits;
- The Cards are valid for three (3) years and allows multiple entries;
- Faster immigration processing on arrival via access to fast-track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at major international airports in participating economies.
Who is eligible in Brunei Darussalam?
Eligibility for the ABTC is to be accessed by the Department of Immigration and National Registration, Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) as the government agency responsible for the ABTC scheme in Brunei Darussalam, prior to the application being passed to all other participating economies for pre-clearance.
General eligibility criteria include:
- Citizens of Brunei Darussalam;
- Has never been convicted of a criminal offence;
- Hold a valid passport issued by the Department of Immigration and National Registration, MOHA;
- Are bona fide business persons who may need to travel frequently on short term visits with the APEC region to fulfil business commitments. These persons are strictly engaged in the trade of goods, the provision of services or the conduct of investment activities.
How to apply for Bruneian business travelers
- Registration fee for first time applicants is B$100.00 and B$50.00 for renewals.
- Fill in the APEC Business Travel Card Application Form which can be obtained from the Department of Immigration and National Registration, MOHA. Click here to view SAMPLE FORM for APEC Business Travel Card
- Application form must be attached with the following documents:
- A copy of the a valid Bruneian passport;
- A copy of the applicant's Identity Card;
- Company's profile;
- Company's Registration Certificate;
- A short statement on (a) why the need for the card; (b) how often does the applicant travel to APEC economies, and (c) the location(s) of the company's main activities.
- An endorsement from either the following government agencies/associations in Brunei Darussalam:
- Department of Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MoFAT);
- Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources;
- Chambers of Commerce registered in Brunei Darussalam;
- Young Entrepreneurs Association of Brunei (YEAB).
- Submission of the completed form along with the afore-mentioned documents and the letter of support from the relevant government agencies/associations to the Department of Immigration and National Registration, MOHA.
Note: Should the endorsement be requested from MOFAT, the Ministry will provide a letter of support to the Department of Immigration and National Registration together with afore-mentioned documents.
Please allow three to four months to process the card, as pre-approved clearance has to be obtained from all participating APEC economies. Please contact the Department of Immigration and National Registration, MOHA to check the status of your ABTC application.
