Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (Formerly known as Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers)
FMM Members Only

APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Application

Table of Contents
Table of Contents

Update on Payment and Printing of APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)

Reference is made to the circular ITP/14/2023 on the Implementation of Virtual APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC). Effective December 18, 2023, Unit APEC of the Bahagian VISA, Pas and Permit Putrajaya will be moved to the following address:

Unit APEC, Bahagian Visa, Pas dan Permit
Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia
No.15, Tingkat 5 (Podium)
Persiaran Perdana, Presint 2
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
62550 Putrajaya

In this regard, all approved ABTC holders with "Final Card" status (pre-clearance approval from 19 countries) will be able to make payment and printing of ABTC at Unit APEC on Level 5 of JIM, Putrajaya. Kindly check the status of the card through the ABTC virtual application or through the link: https://www.abtc-aps.org/abtc-core/status/check.html to ensure you have obtained the approval from 19 countries under APEC before proceed for the printing.

Application for FMM Members only

Please be informed that APEC card applications through FMM are applicable to FMM members only.

If your company is NOT a member of FMM, you may refer to you may refer to the Immigration Department of Malaysia’s website at www.imi.gov.my for further information on other authorised government agencies, chambers, or associations that can provide a "Support Letter" for the APEC card application.

New ABTC Application Not Permitted When Existing Card Has More Than 6 Months Validity

ABTC cardholders are not permitted to submit a new ABTC application after renewing their passport if the existing ABTC card still has more than 6 months of remaining validity. In such cases, the cardholder must update the new passport number with the Immigration Department and may continue using the existing ABTC card until its expiry date. A fee of RM100 applies for each passport update.

Company Letter to Immigration Department of Malaysia for APEC Card Application

With immediate effect, the “Letter from Company to Immigration Department of Malaysia” must be signed only by a Director listed with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM). Electronic signatures are not acceptable.

Electronic Signatures Not Acceptable for APEC Card Application

Please note that electronic signatures are not acceptable for APEC card application.

Introduction to APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) Application

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) provides the following benefits:

Cardholders are granted pre-cleared, multiple-entry access (no visa required) to participating APEC economies for short-term business visits.
Cardholders are not required to apply for a visa or entry permit each time they travel to participating APEC economies, as the ABTC serves as a visa.
Cardholders are eligible to use express immigration processing lanes at participating airports, marked as “Special APEC Lanes.”

Currently, 19 APEC economies participate in the ABTC scheme:

  • Australia
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Chile
  • China
  • Hong Kong (China)
  • Indonesia
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Malaysia
  • Mexico
  • New Zealand
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Russia
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan (Chinese Taipei)
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam

As the United States and Canada do not participate in the ABTC scheme, ABTC cardholders travelling to these countries are subject to the standard immigration clearance procedures.

Company Eligibility for APEC Business Travel Card

The Federation of Malaysian Manufacturing (FMM) (formerly known as the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers) is authorised by the Immigration Department of Malaysia to issue ABTC support letters to its registered members.

Accordingly, FMM processes ABTC applications for FMM members only. Please click here to check on your membership status.

Company that is NOT eligible for ABTC application with FMM is as follows:

  • Non-Member
  • Subsidiaries of member companies
  • Suspended Member
  • Sole proprietorships or partnerships

Personnel Eligibility for APEC business travel card

To qualify for an ABTC application, applicants must fulfill the following conditions:

Must be a Malaysian citizen holding a valid passport with at least three (3) years’ validity.
Must be a frequent traveller to APEC economies.
Must be a member of the business and investment community engaged in trade and investment activities within the 19 participating APEC economies.
Must be endorsed by the relevant regulatory agency through a supporting letter.

Personnel ELIGIBLE to Apply:

  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Chairman / President
  • Managing Director
  • Executive Director
  • Director
  • Chief Operating Officer
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • General Manager
  • Business Development Manager
  • Marketing Manager
  • Sales Manager
  • Export Manager
  • Import Manager
  • Procurement Manager
  • Branding Manager

Personnel NOT ELIGIBLE to Apply:

  • Admin Manager
  • Finance Manager
  • Production Manager
  • Company Secretary
  • Head of Division
  • Project Manager
  • Consultant
  • HR Manager
  • Technical Advisor
  • Engineering Manager
  • IT Manager
  • Technical Manager
  • Factory Manager
  • Assistant Manager
  • Personal Assistant

Renewal of APEC Business Travel Card

There is no renewal process for the APEC Business Travel Card. Once the APEC card has expired, the applicant must submit a new application for approval.

You may refer to the application process below.

Implementation of Virtual and Physical APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)

The Immigration Department of Malaysia has implemented the Virtual APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) effective 24 October 2023. With the introduction of the virtual ABTC, there is no longer a requirement to print a physical card for presentation purposes.

However, Malaysia has adopted a hybrid approach, offering both virtual and physical ABTC options:

Virtual ABTC
A digital version of your existing physical card, accessible on your mobile device.
Physical ABTC
Allows visa-free entry and access to APEC priority lanes in participating APEC economies (excluding the United States and Canada).

*Note: The Immigration Department of Malaysia continues to issue the physical APEC Business Travel Card.

As Malaysia has adopted a hybrid approach, existing ABTC holders are strongly advised to:

  • Not destroy or dispose of their physical cards.
  • Approved ABTC applicants should print their physical card from the Immigration Department of Malaysia to avoid potential technical glitches at immigration checkpoints, as a screenshot of the ABTC is not accepted.
  • ABTC holders must present the live status obtained from the downloaded ABTC application on their mobile device.

Application Process to Apply for APEC Business Travel Card

Below are the 8 steps to apply for the APEC card through FMM:

Step 1: Documents Required

Please prepare and email the documents, arranged in the following sequence, for our review prior to submission to the APEC Unit in a single PDF file for each applicant:

1 Completed Checklist of Documents Required
2 Letter from Company to Immigration Department, Malaysia must be typed on the company’s official letterhead and signed by the Director as listed in the latest Company SSM. Electronic signatures are NOT acceptable
3 Completed ABTC Application Form (written in capital letters with black ink and bearing original signature)
4 One (1) recent passport-sized photograph with a blue background, wearing a collared shirt, to be pasted on the ABTC Application Form
5 Letter on Applicant's Job Function and Company Profile to be typed on company letterhead
6 One (1) copy of Malaysian passport biodata page with validity of more than three (3) years (passport validity with less than three (3) years will be rejected)
7 One (1) copy of Malaysian Identity Card (IC)
8 One (1) copy of Company SSM (sample of Company SSM)
9 Copies of passport stamps showing at least five (5) visits to APEC countries from June 2022 to the present as proof that the applicant is a frequent traveller to APEC countries
10 ABTC cardholders are not permitted to submit a new ABTC application after renewing their passport if the existing ABTC card still has more than 6 months of remaining validity. In such cases, the cardholder must update the new passport number with the Immigration Department and may continue using the existing ABTC card until its expiry date. A fee of RM100 applies for each passport update.
11 Letter from Company to FMM to be typed on company’s official letterhead.
12 Payment slip of RM35 per application for the processing fee.
Step 2: Verifying Process & Issuance of Supporting Letter
Upon receiving the ABTC application and supporting documents via email, FMM will require at least 2 working days to review and verify the submitted documents. Once the documents have been verified, FMM will prepare and issue the ABTC supporting letter to the applicant.
Step 3: Payment for Processing Fee to FMM
The processing fee to FMM is RM35 per application. The fee is non-refundable and may be paid via the following method:
Online Payment (GIRO Transfer only)
  • FMM Bank Account No.: 5142 0833 0768 (Maybank)
  • “Instant Transfer” is not accepted
Invoice & Receipt
An official invoice and receipt will be issued to the company upon receipt of payment and once the application has been successfully processed.
Step 4: Collection or Delivery of the FMM Supporting Letter to the Applicant
FMM will enquire whether the applicant prefers to collect the FMM supporting letter from FMM Head Office or to have the letter couriered to a designated address prior to its submission to the APEC Unit, Immigration Department of Malaysia, Putrajaya.
Step 5: Submission of Completed APEC Card Application & Payment to APEC Unit, Immigration Department of Malaysia in Putrajaya
If you appoint a representative to submit the application, please provide:
  • Authorisation letter (surat wakil) from the company
  • Copy of the representative’s identity card (IC)
  • Application fee: RM100
  • The application fee includes the printing of the APEC card upon successful application and is non-refundable if the application is unsuccessful
  • Payment can be made via debit card or credit card only
  • Cash payments are NOT accepted at the counter
Step 6: Acknowledgement of ABTC Application Documents (Akaun Penerimaan Dokumen Permohonan ABTC) Issued by the APEC Unit, Immigration Department of Malaysia
Upon payment at the APEC Unit counter, you will be issued an “Akaun Penerimaan Dokumen Permohonan ABTC” (ABTC Application Documents Acknowledgement), which contains the application tracking number.
Please share your application tracking number with FMM so that we can advise you on the next steps, including how to track your ABTC application status using your tracking number.
Please note that FMM does not monitor or follow up on the status of applications on behalf of applicants.
Step 7: Application Review and Approval Timeline Across the 19 Economies
If you are assessed as an eligible applicant by the Immigration Department of Malaysia, your application will be forwarded to all 19 participating APEC economies for approval. Each economy may assess your application against its own immigration requirements to determine your eligibility for entry clearance.
The approval timeline for the 19 economies may vary significantly and is not controlled by FMM or the Immigration Department of Malaysia. Approval is estimated to take approximately 2–4 months or longer.
Step 8: How to Access Your Online ABTC and Estimated Approval Times Across the 19 Economies
After receiving your application tracking number, you will receive a system-generated email from “E9 – ABTC Core Application” sent by the ABTC Project Overseer in Australia. This email will contain instructions on how to download the mobile app to access your virtual ABTC.
Please search for “ABTC” in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Download the app to your Apple or Android device, then use your tracking number together with your personal details to register, log in, and access your virtual ABTC.
Below is a sample of the system-generated email from APEC for your reference:
https://www.fmm.org.my/upload/ABTC System Generated Email from APEC.pdf
The system-generated email will be sent to the address provided in the “Immigration Dept Application Form” submitted with your FMM application. Please also check your junk or spam folder.
If you did not receive the system-generated email from the APEC Unit, you are required to email apec@imi.gov.my to request a resend. Please include the applicant’s name, passport number, tracking number, and email address in your request.
You will not be able to download the app for virtual ABTC use until you have received this email from the APEC Unit.
Once you have downloaded the ABTC app, the app will display the list of countries that have approved your application, allowing you to use the visa immediately.
The time required for approval by the 19 economies may vary significantly and is not controlled by FMM or the Immigration Department of Malaysia. Approval is estimated to take approximately 2–4 months, or potentially longer.

How to Collect Physical APEC Business Travel Card

Please note that the APEC card can only be printed at the Immigration Department of Malaysia in Putrajaya. FMM will not collect the APEC card on behalf of the applicant.

You may choose one of the following options to print your APEC card:

Additional Information

FMM Contact Person

Ms Ida Tan
ABTC Unit @ International Business Division

  • 03-6286 7200
  • abtc@fmm.org.my
Immigration Department of Malaysia – Official Website

For the latest updates on the ABTC application, you can also visit the Immigration Department of Malaysia’s website here.

Last updated on February 1, 2026
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