A business travel card that allows the person with a multiple entry visa for short time stay in Australia and other Pacific countries has extended from three years to five years.
The APEC business travel card (ABTC) was originally introduced by APEC countries in 1997 offers multiple entry short stay visa to the participant countries and give priority lane access at the major airports of APEC member countries.
In the recent years, ABTC has experienced a significant growth. As the number of active users carrying ABTC cards has increased by 15 percent to the end of June 2015 for more than 190,300 users.
The idea to extend time period is the result of meeting by the APEC mobility group in the Philippines this January, which has been agreed by the all 21 APEC economies. The five-year extension will take effect from 1st Sep 2015.
Frequent business travelers will get a facilitated entry with more convenience in Asia Pacific regions, with the ABTC extension travelers also not required to apply for the new card very frequently; this will also decrease the processing time. Said Michaelia Cash, Australia Assistant immigration minister.
This new changes does benefit not only Australian business travelers but also the entire Australian economy, added Michaelia cash.
From September 1, 2015, onwards, all successful ABTC applications will get validity for five years. But, applications that were received before August 31, 2015 would still get ABTC validity for three years.
