I. LEGAL BASIS

• Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens dated November 22, 2019;

• Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam dated June 16, 2014; Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam dated November 25, 2019;

• Decision No. 28/2026/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister: Prescribing the sequence, procedures, competence, issuance, and management of the APEC Business Travel Card.

II. CONDITIONS FOR ABTC ISSUANCE TO VIETNAMESE BUSINESSPEOPLE

1. Conditions for the enterprise where the businessperson is working

• The enterprise has operated continuously for 24 months or more up to the time of requesting permission to use the ABTC; strictly complies with the provisions of law on commerce, taxes, customs, labor, social insurance, and other relevant legal regulations.

• The enterprise has a need to send businesspeople on short-term travel to APEC member economies to carry out business activities.

2. Conditions for the businessperson applying for an ABTC

• Being 18 years of age or older, possessing full civil act capacity, and having registered permanent residence in Vietnam.

• Currently working and holding an actual position at the agency, organization, or enterprise for 12 months or more up to the time of requesting permission to use the ABTC.

• Having participated in social insurance at the requesting agency, organization, or enterprise under the proposed position for ABTC issuance for at least 06 months, except for those who are not subject to mandatory social insurance participation under the provisions of the law on social insurance.

• Not falling into cases of exit suspension as prescribed in Article 36 of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens.

3. Subjects considered for ABTC issuance (Applicable to enterprises where the State does not hold or holds less than 50% of the charter capital/total voting shares)

• Businesspeople working at credit institutions: Holding the position of Head of Department or equivalent or higher; Chief Accountant.

• Businesspeople working at enterprises operating in finance, securities, and insurance: Holding the position of Head of Department or equivalent or higher; Chief Accountant.

• Businesspeople working at the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI): Holding the position of Head of Department or equivalent or higher; Chief Accountant.

• Businesspeople working at cooperatives or unions of cooperatives: Holding the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors, Member of the Board of Directors, General Director, Director, Chief Accountant.

• Businesspeople working at other enterprises: Holding the position of Head of Department or equivalent or higher; Chief Accountant.

III. PROCEDURES FOR ABTC ISSUANCE

• STEP 1: Apply for written permission to use the ABTC

(For businesspeople working at enterprises legally established under Vietnamese law)

–  Competent Authority: The specialized agency of the People’s Committee of the province/centrally run city, or submitted online via the Public Service Portal of the respective People’s Committee.

–  Statutory Time Limit: 33 working days.

–  Dossier Components:

+ Electronic or original written request for permission to use the ABTC, signed by the legal representative of the enterprise who bears responsibility for personnel (Form AP02, Appendix to Decision 28/2026/QD-TTg).

+ Electronic or physical copy of the enterprise’s financial statement for the most recent year submitted to the tax authority.

+ Electronic or physical copy of commercial contracts signed by the organization, enterprise, or its member units with partners from APEC member economies, with a term not exceeding 02 years up to the date of dossier submission, accompanied by documents proving the contract’s ongoing or completed execution. Foreign language documents must be notarized or certified translations into Vietnamese. If no commercial contract exists, there must be documents substantiating the need to cooperate with APEC partners or develop markets in APEC member economies.

+ Certified true copy (physical or electronic) of a valid passport or documents demonstrating the need for frequent, short-term travel to sign contracts and cooperate with foreign partners. If an uncertified copy is provided, the original must be presented for verification.

+ Certified true copy (physical or electronic) of the businessperson’s appointment decision. If an uncertified copy is provided, the original must be presented for verification.

+ A report on the enterprise’s compliance with social insurance obligations in the most recent 12 months and the businessperson’s social insurance payment history up to the time of application, accompanied by supporting documents. The minimum social insurance payment period for the proposed position is 12 months. If the applicant is no longer of the age for mandatory social insurance or has completed their statutory obligations, the report must clearly state the reason and include supporting documents. If the businessperson is exempt from mandatory social insurance, a written confirmation from the enterprise must be submitted.

• STEP 2: Apply for ABTC Issuance

–  Competent Authority: Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security.

–  Statutory Time Limit: 27 working days.

–  Dossier Components:

+ Electronic or original application form for ABTC issuance (Form AP05 in the Appendix), with an overlapping stamp on the photo and certification from the leader of the agency/organization, the enterprise’s legal representative, an authorized person, or the leader of the personnel department of relevant economic sectors/specialized state management agencies.

+ 02 recent photos (taken within the last 06 months, 3cm x 4cm, bareheaded, facing forward, no tinted glasses, white background).

+ Electronic or original written request for ABTC issuance, signed by the leader of the agency/organization, the enterprise’s legal representative, or their authorized representative (Form AP03 in the Appendix).

+ The original written permission to use the card issued by the competent authority (obtained in Step 1).

The above constitutes our complete article regarding the Procedures for applying for the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) for Vietnamese businesspeople, updated for 2026. Should Clients require more detailed consultation, answers, or guidance on accessing this service, please contact Lawyer Nguyen Duc Trong directly via hotline: 0912.35.65.75, or send a service request via email: lawyer@hongbanglawfirm.com.

Wishing Clients and your families good health, peace, and success!

Respectfully, Hong Bang Law Firm./.

Tags: ABTC