Releasing of Visas for Foreign Government Officials based in the Philippines

Assistance to Organizations/Companies/Private individuals inquiring how foreigners can obtain a Philippine temporary visitor's visa (9(a)) i.e. tourist, business

Releasing of Visas for Foreign Government Officials based in the Philippines

Processing of APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) for Filipino Businessmen

1. Accomplished ABTC Application form
2. Copy of passport(s) including pages with visa stamps/stickers and departure/arrival stamps proving that applicant is a frequent traveler within the APEC region
3. Bureau of Immigration and National Bureau of Investigation Certificates/Clearances
4. Certificate of Membership (MBC/PCCI/PHILEXPORT)
5. Resume/Curriculum Vitae (to include a statement of the basis/justification of the request for an ABTC)
6. Employment or Company Certificate (to include current position, duties and responsibilities within the company)
7. Company Profile (to specifically include):Other pertinent information to justify issuance of an ABTC:
   1. total capitalization
   2. organizational chart
   3. name(s), address(es) and telephone(s)/fax(es) and e-mail(s) of business partner(s) in the APEC region
   4. past and current business activity in the APEC region
   5. annual volume (in peso or dollar) of past and current transactions with business partners in APEC
8. Other pertinent information to justify issuance of an ABTC:

1. Travel frequency within the APEC region at the time of application is taken to mean that the applicant regularly travels, at least three (3)
   times a year, within the territory of ABTC participating economies, for business and not purely for tourism purposes.
2. ABTC-Philippines may limit the number of ABTC issuance for officials representing one company, depending on the company size,
   capitalization or type (e.g. family-owned).
3. ABTC-Philippines reserves the right to require additional documents necessary to establish applicant's eligibility.

• Issued only to bona fide Filipino business persons, the ABTC works like a visa with a validity of three (3) years or upon the expiry date of the holder's passport. It provides each holder facilitated entry and exits through special APEC/ABTC lanes at major airports of participating economies. An ABTC holder, however, is still required to carry his or her valid passport.
• The application, together with its supporting documents, may be filed either with the PCCI, MBC or PHILEXPORT. If the application and its supporting documents are found in order, it will be endorsed by the sponsoring business organizations to ABTC-Philippines (Visa Division-DFA). A processing fee is charged by PCCI, MBC or PHILEXPORT for ABTC applications.
• Makati Business Club (MBC); Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI); Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc. (PHILEXPORT) are the three (3) business organizations which may sponsor the applications.

Releasing of APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) for Filipino Businessmen

1. Authorization letter issued by the endorsing business organization
2. Copy of valid Identification card of the liaison officer

• The length of time for the release of ABTC card depends on the approval of other participating economies