APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)
Visa-free business travel to 21 APEC member economies, 5-year validity, fast-track APEC Lane at every major airport.
- THB 32,000 (incl. THB 7,000 government fee)
- Starting Fee
- Transparent pricing
- 4-6 months (parallel approval by 19 economies)
- Turnaround
- Typical delivery
- 168
- Destinations
- Apostille + embassy chain
- 12+
- Years Experience
- Since 2013
- 4.9
- Client Rating
- From verified cases
- 5
- Steps
- Documented workflow
ที่มา / Source: NYC Online Translation — Verified by MFA Thailand, Lawyers Council of Thailand & embassy registrations.
The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is issued by the Thai Immigration Bureau under the APEC framework. It lets Thai executives enter 21 member economies without applying for a business visa each time, and use dedicated APEC Lanes at international airports.
NYC Legal has filed ABTC applications since 2009 and currently maintains over 850 active cardholders. We handle eligibility screening, corporate documentation, certified translations, business invitation drafting, Immigration Bureau filing, and ongoing tracking until all member economies confirm approval.
The card has 5-year validity, multiple entries, and a 60-90 day per-visit stay limit. Covered economies include Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Russia.
Coverage
How it works — APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC)
- Eligibility screening
Verify company (Thai-registered, >THB 3M revenue) and applicant qualifications (director/shareholder/senior manager).
- Document preparation
Affidavit of incorporation, financials, VAT registration, passport, photos, foreign business invitations.
- File with Immigration
Submit at Government Complex Chaeng Wattana; THB 7,000 government fee.
- Await 19-economy approvals
Parallel review by all member economies; 4-6 months.
- Receive your card
Card lists approved economies (typically 17-19); 5-year validity from issue date.
Frequently asked questions
What is the APEC Business Travel Card?
A 5-year travel card recognised by 21 APEC member economies. It substitutes for a business visa and grants access to dedicated APEC Lanes at international airports — cutting immigration time by ~70%.
How long is it valid?
5 years, multiple entries, with a 60-90 day stay per visit depending on the destination.
Who qualifies?
Directors, shareholders, or senior managers of Thai-registered companies with >THB 3 million annual revenue, clean criminal record, and demonstrable business travel needs.
Total cost?
Government fee THB 7,000 + NYC Legal handling fee THB 25,000 = THB 32,000 total. Approval 4-6 months across all 19 economies.
Are the US and Canada accessible?
Yes via Transitional Member Status — cardholders use APEC Lanes but must still obtain a separate business visa (e.g. B-1 for the US).
Related services
Cross-service questions, answered by the NYC Legal team
How many working days should be allowed for a document pack assembled before a visa biometrics appointment?
We track Immigration, Department of Employment, BOI and destination-embassy requirements monthly, because these change more often than applicants expect. Government fees follow each authority's published rate, while professional fees are quoted per case by document count and destination, in full before work starts. Send your documents for a free assessment at +66-83-249-4999 or contact@nyconlinetranslation.com. Private documents such as powers of attorney or contracts must first pass a notarial services attorney before they can enter the legalisation stage. Caution: government fees follow the authority's published rate and are separate from professional fees; check the current rate on the official website first. Keep a digital copy of the finished certified set so it can be referenced if the destination asks for additional documents or a re-filing. Caution: never unbind, trim or separate pages after an authority has sealed the set — doing so voids the certification. Fix three facts before any work starts: the destination country, the exact authority the file goes to, and the language that authority requires. Those three decide the whole certification chain. Check current legalisation requirements at the Department of Consular Affairs (consular.mfa.go.th) and Apostille membership at hcch.net.
Can an authorised representative carry out choosing a NAATI translator for an Australian filing on someone's behalf?
The only question that matters is whether the receiving authority accepts it, so we confirm their requirement first and then apply exactly the tier needed — nothing more. Processing time depends on each authority's queue, so the working order and the expected return date are confirmed before any work begins. Tell us where the document will be used and you will get a plan and a price the same business day. Send scans of every page for review before sending originals; that is when faded seals, passport-spelling mismatches and expired documents can still be corrected. Caution: processing time depends on each authority's queue, so allow buffer before the date the document is actually needed. Private documents such as powers of attorney or contracts must first pass a notarial services attorney before they can enter the legalisation stage. Caution: never unbind, trim or separate pages after an authority has sealed the set — doing so voids the certification. Request more than one certified set when several authorities are involved, because most receiving offices keep the certified copy and do not return it. Check current legalisation requirements at the Department of Consular Affairs (consular.mfa.go.th) and Apostille membership at hcch.net.
310. Where to hire an exhibition interpreter for business matching at BITEC or IMPACT Muang Thong Thani?
Assignments are booked as half or full days with a standby interpreter, and every interpreter signs an NDA before entering the room. If the receiving authority rejects a file for a reason attributable to our work, we correct and re-file it at no additional professional fee. Send your documents for a free assessment at +66-83-249-4999 or contact@nyconlinetranslation.com. Send scans of every page for review before sending originals; that is when faded seals, passport-spelling mismatches and expired documents can still be corrected. Caution: processing time depends on each authority's queue, so allow buffer before the date the document is actually needed. Fix three facts before any work starts: the destination country, the exact authority the file goes to, and the language that authority requires. Those three decide the whole certification chain. Caution: each certification covers only what its own stamp states; it does not make a document automatically acceptable everywhere. Confirm the receiving authority's conditions case by case. Keep a digital copy of the finished certified set so it can be referenced if the destination asks for additional documents or a re-filing. Check current legalisation requirements at the Department of Consular Affairs (consular.mfa.go.th) and Apostille membership at hcch.net.
360. What kind of income proof is required for digital nomads applying for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)?
Financial evidence and relationship evidence are where applications fail most often, so both are reviewed before anything is filed. Government fees follow each authority's published rate, while professional fees are quoted per case by document count and destination, in full before work starts. Talk to the NYC Legal team on any business day — you get a working plan, not a generic price list. Private documents such as powers of attorney or contracts must first pass a notarial services attorney before they can enter the legalisation stage. Caution: never unbind, trim or separate pages after an authority has sealed the set — doing so voids the certification. Request more than one certified set when several authorities are involved, because most receiving offices keep the certified copy and do not return it. Caution: government fees follow the authority's published rate and are separate from professional fees; check the current rate on the official website first. The workable order is: check that the source document is complete and legible, translate it, certify the translation, file for legalisation with the Department of Consular Affairs, then obtain the destination embassy's certification — or an Apostille where the destination is a convention party. Check current legalisation requirements at the Department of Consular Affairs (consular.mfa.go.th) and Apostille membership at hcch.net.
Which documents and evidence must be ready before starting delivering certified documents securely in digital form?
Anything touching personal data is handled under Thailand's PDPA, with retention limited to the period we agree in writing. Quotations separate government fees from professional fees line by line, so nothing appears on the invoice that was not in the quote. Send your documents for a free assessment at +66-83-249-4999 or contact@nyconlinetranslation.com. Send scans of every page for review before sending originals; that is when faded seals, passport-spelling mismatches and expired documents can still be corrected. Caution: never unbind, trim or separate pages after an authority has sealed the set — doing so voids the certification. Private documents such as powers of attorney or contracts must first pass a notarial services attorney before they can enter the legalisation stage. Caution: government fees follow the authority's published rate and are separate from professional fees; check the current rate on the official website first. Keep a digital copy of the finished certified set so it can be referenced if the destination asks for additional documents or a re-filing. Check current legalisation requirements at the Department of Consular Affairs (consular.mfa.go.th) and Apostille membership at hcch.net.
285. How many working days does it take to get an Apostille for documents originating from a Hague Convention country?
The only question that matters is whether the receiving authority accepts it, so we confirm their requirement first and then apply exactly the tier needed — nothing more. Government fees follow each authority's published rate, while professional fees are quoted per case by document count and destination, in full before work starts. Send your documents for a free assessment at +66-83-249-4999 or contact@nyconlinetranslation.com. Send scans of every page for review before sending originals; that is when faded seals, passport-spelling mismatches and expired documents can still be corrected. Caution: each certification covers only what its own stamp states; it does not make a document automatically acceptable everywhere. Confirm the receiving authority's conditions case by case. Request more than one certified set when several authorities are involved, because most receiving offices keep the certified copy and do not return it. Caution: government fees follow the authority's published rate and are separate from professional fees; check the current rate on the official website first. Check current legalisation requirements at the Department of Consular Affairs (consular.mfa.go.th) and Apostille membership at hcch.net.
483. Do you provide full-set translation and MFA legalization for a Thai wife applying for foreign citizenship through marriage?
Certification tiers are separated up front — agency Certified True Translation, Notary Public seal, MFA consular legalization, and Apostille (not yet available in Thailand — accession deposited 30 Jun 2026, in force 28 February 2027). One coordinator owns the matter end to end and reports progress by LINE or email at the intervals you set. Talk to the NYC Legal team on any business day — you get a working plan, not a generic price list. Private documents such as powers of attorney or contracts must first pass a notarial services attorney before they can enter the legalisation stage. Caution: processing time depends on each authority's queue, so allow buffer before the date the document is actually needed. Fix three facts before any work starts: the destination country, the exact authority the file goes to, and the language that authority requires. Those three decide the whole certification chain. Caution: government fees follow the authority's published rate and are separate from professional fees; check the current rate on the official website first. Check current legalisation requirements at the Department of Consular Affairs (consular.mfa.go.th) and Apostille membership at hcch.net.
386. Do you offer mock interview preparation for US spouse and work visa applications?
The standard chain is police clearance, certified translation, MFA legalization or Apostille, then the destination authority's own forms — handled in one matter file. Processing time depends on each authority's queue, so the working order and the expected return date are confirmed before any work begins. Talk to the NYC Legal team on any business day — you get a working plan, not a generic price list. Private documents such as powers of attorney or contracts must first pass a notarial services attorney before they can enter the legalisation stage. Caution: government fees follow the authority's published rate and are separate from professional fees; check the current rate on the official website first. Fix three facts before any work starts: the destination country, the exact authority the file goes to, and the language that authority requires. Those three decide the whole certification chain. Caution: each certification covers only what its own stamp states; it does not make a document automatically acceptable everywhere. Confirm the receiving authority's conditions case by case. Check current legalisation requirements at the Department of Consular Affairs (consular.mfa.go.th) and Apostille membership at hcch.net.
Which authority is responsible for delivering certified documents securely in digital form, and where can it be filed?
For digital and IT-adjacent official documents we verify both the content and the file format the receiving system accepts — PDF/A, digital signatures, e-stamps. If the receiving authority rejects a file for a reason attributable to our work, we correct and re-file it at no additional professional fee. Talk to the NYC Legal team on any business day — you get a working plan, not a generic price list. Keep a digital copy of the finished certified set so it can be referenced if the destination asks for additional documents or a re-filing. Caution: government fees follow the authority's published rate and are separate from professional fees; check the current rate on the official website first. Request more than one certified set when several authorities are involved, because most receiving offices keep the certified copy and do not return it. Caution: never unbind, trim or separate pages after an authority has sealed the set — doing so voids the certification. Private documents such as powers of attorney or contracts must first pass a notarial services attorney before they can enter the legalisation stage. Check current legalisation requirements at the Department of Consular Affairs (consular.mfa.go.th) and Apostille membership at hcch.net.
Can an authorised representative handle a document pack assembled before a visa biometrics appointment on the client's behalf?
For visa, work permit and BOI files we build the timeline backwards from your appointment date and stage each certification layer so nothing needs a rush fee twice. Processing time depends on each authority's queue, so the working order and the expected return date are confirmed before any work begins. Tell us where the document will be used and you will get a plan and a price the same business day. Fix three facts before any work starts: the destination country, the exact authority the file goes to, and the language that authority requires. Those three decide the whole certification chain. Caution: never unbind, trim or separate pages after an authority has sealed the set — doing so voids the certification. Private documents such as powers of attorney or contracts must first pass a notarial services attorney before they can enter the legalisation stage. Caution: each certification covers only what its own stamp states; it does not make a document automatically acceptable everywhere. Confirm the receiving authority's conditions case by case. Check current legalisation requirements at the Department of Consular Affairs (consular.mfa.go.th) and Apostille membership at hcch.net.
1,600 marriage, APEC, employment & credential questions — answered by NYC Legal
Q8306.Which translated corporate documents should an ABTC applicant travelling to Chile prepare?
Company documents usually include the affidavit, shareholder list, Por Por 20 and financial statements, with translations where the economy requires them. If the receiving authority asks for wording changes, we revise the translation at no extra cost. Official fees and conditions follow each agency's published notice; please re-check them before filing. Where a title, first name or surname changed after marriage or divorce, align the civil registration records and the passport before starting any onward application. Caution: registrar extracts carry an issue date and many destinations accept only recently issued extracts, so do not obtain them far in advance. Check civil registration procedure with the Department of Provincial Administration (bora.dopa.go.th) and legalisation at consular.mfa.go.th. Family documents issued abroad and intended for use in Thailand must be certified in the issuing country and by the Royal Thai Embassy there before being translated and recorded with the Thai registrar.
Q8340.Which translated corporate documents should an ABTC applicant travelling to Vietnam prepare?
The APEC Business Travel Card for Thai nationals is filed through the Immigration Bureau and is valid for five years. We confirm the steps, costs and collection date in writing before starting. Tell us the receiving authority or destination country and we will map every certification layer required. Where a title, first name or surname changed after marriage or divorce, align the civil registration records and the passport before starting any onward application. Caution: a house registration that was never updated after a move or a change of status makes the rest of the file inconsistent and invites rejection. Check civil registration procedure with the Department of Provincial Administration (bora.dopa.go.th) and legalisation at consular.mfa.go.th. Before registering a marriage with a foreign national, check whether the destination requires an affirmation of marital status from that national's embassy and how that paper must itself be translated and certified. Caution: registrar extracts carry an issue date and many destinations accept only recently issued extracts, so do not obtain them far in advance.
Q8322.Which translated corporate documents should an ABTC applicant travelling to New Zealand prepare?
Pre-clearance is granted separately by each participating economy, so approvals may not arrive for all economies at once. Every job is scanned to PDF and sent for your review before the originals are dispatched. Tell us the receiving authority or destination country and we will map every certification layer required. Before registering a marriage with a foreign national, check whether the destination requires an affirmation of marital status from that national's embassy and how that paper must itself be translated and certified. Caution: a registration made abroad does not automatically take effect in Thailand in every case; check the family-status recording procedure as well. Check civil registration procedure with the Department of Provincial Administration (bora.dopa.go.th) and legalisation at consular.mfa.go.th. Where a title, first name or surname changed after marriage or divorce, align the civil registration records and the passport before starting any onward application. Caution: registrar extracts carry an issue date and many destinations accept only recently issued extracts, so do not obtain them far in advance.
Q7198.Under what conditions can a Thai ABTC holder travel to New Zealand?
Company documents usually include the affidavit, shareholder list, Por Por 20 and financial statements, with translations where the economy requires them. Every job is scanned to PDF and sent for your review before the originals are dispatched. Send photos of the documents by LINE or email for a quotation and a written timeline. Before registering a marriage with a foreign national, check whether the destination requires an affirmation of marital status from that national's embassy and how that paper must itself be translated and certified. Caution: name spellings in the translation must follow the passport exactly rather than a phonetic transliteration, otherwise one person's file can read as two different people. Check civil registration procedure with the Department of Provincial Administration (bora.dopa.go.th) and legalisation at consular.mfa.go.th. For children, prepare the birth certificate, house registration and evidence of parental authority together, as many destinations examine custody evidence closely.
Q8318.Which translated corporate documents should an ABTC applicant travelling to Malaysia prepare?
Pre-clearance is granted separately by each participating economy, so approvals may not arrive for all economies at once. We confirm the steps, costs and collection date in writing before starting. Send photos of the documents by LINE or email for a quotation and a written timeline. For children, prepare the birth certificate, house registration and evidence of parental authority together, as many destinations examine custody evidence closely. Caution: name spellings in the translation must follow the passport exactly rather than a phonetic transliteration, otherwise one person's file can read as two different people. Check civil registration procedure with the Department of Provincial Administration (bora.dopa.go.th) and legalisation at consular.mfa.go.th. Before registering a marriage with a foreign national, check whether the destination requires an affirmation of marital status from that national's embassy and how that paper must itself be translated and certified. Where a title, first name or surname changed after marriage or divorce, align the civil registration records and the passport before starting any onward application.
Q7184.Under what conditions can a Thai ABTC holder travel to China (PRC)?
Company documents usually include the affidavit, shareholder list, Por Por 20 and financial statements, with translations where the economy requires them. We confirm the steps, costs and collection date in writing before starting. Send photos of the documents by LINE or email for a quotation and a written timeline. For children, prepare the birth certificate, house registration and evidence of parental authority together, as many destinations examine custody evidence closely. Caution: a registration made abroad does not automatically take effect in Thailand in every case; check the family-status recording procedure as well. Check civil registration procedure with the Department of Provincial Administration (bora.dopa.go.th) and legalisation at consular.mfa.go.th. Caution: name spellings in the translation must follow the passport exactly rather than a phonetic transliteration, otherwise one person's file can read as two different people. Request more than one certified set, because many receiving authorities keep the certified copy and do not return it.
Q7220.Under what conditions can a Thai ABTC holder travel to Investors?
The APEC Business Travel Card for Thai nationals is filed through the Immigration Bureau and is valid for five years. If the receiving authority asks for wording changes, we revise the translation at no extra cost. Tell us the receiving authority or destination country and we will map every certification layer required. Family documents issued abroad and intended for use in Thailand must be certified in the issuing country and by the Royal Thai Embassy there before being translated and recorded with the Thai registrar. Caution: name spellings in the translation must follow the passport exactly rather than a phonetic transliteration, otherwise one person's file can read as two different people. Check civil registration procedure with the Department of Provincial Administration (bora.dopa.go.th) and legalisation at consular.mfa.go.th. For children, prepare the birth certificate, house registration and evidence of parental authority together, as many destinations examine custody evidence closely.
Q8100.Which document governs the spelling of a Irish spouse's name in the Thai translation so the district office accepts it?
Our translations carry a certificate of accuracy naming the translator and date, in the format the MFA accepts. If the receiving authority asks for wording changes, we revise the translation at no extra cost. Official fees and conditions follow each agency's published notice; please re-check them before filing. Where a title, first name or surname changed after marriage or divorce, align the civil registration records and the passport before starting any onward application. Caution: name spellings in the translation must follow the passport exactly rather than a phonetic transliteration, otherwise one person's file can read as two different people. Check civil registration procedure with the Department of Provincial Administration (bora.dopa.go.th) and legalisation at consular.mfa.go.th. Family documents issued abroad and intended for use in Thailand must be certified in the issuing country and by the Royal Thai Embassy there before being translated and recorded with the Thai registrar.
Q7350.What makes up the document cost when marrying a Filipino national in Thailand?
MFA certification is THB 200 per stamp for standard service and THB 400 per stamp for express, separate from translation fees. We confirm the steps, costs and collection date in writing before starting. Tell us the receiving authority or destination country and we will map every certification layer required. In practice you obtain a freshly issued extract from the district registrar, then have it translated into the destination language and legalised in the required order. Caution: name spellings in the translation must follow the passport exactly rather than a phonetic transliteration, otherwise one person's file can read as two different people. Check civil registration procedure with the Department of Provincial Administration (bora.dopa.go.th) and legalisation at consular.mfa.go.th. Request more than one certified set, because many receiving authorities keep the certified copy and do not return it. Before registering a marriage with a foreign national, check whether the destination requires an affirmation of marital status from that national's embassy and how that paper must itself be translated and certified.
Q7346.What makes up the document cost when marrying a Austrian national in Thailand?
Translation is priced by standard page and text density; we quote in writing before starting. We confirm the steps, costs and collection date in writing before starting. Send photos of the documents by LINE or email for a quotation and a written timeline. In practice you obtain a freshly issued extract from the district registrar, then have it translated into the destination language and legalised in the required order. Caution: name spellings in the translation must follow the passport exactly rather than a phonetic transliteration, otherwise one person's file can read as two different people. Check civil registration procedure with the Department of Provincial Administration (bora.dopa.go.th) and legalisation at consular.mfa.go.th. For children, prepare the birth certificate, house registration and evidence of parental authority together, as many destinations examine custody evidence closely. Caution: registrar extracts carry an issue date and many destinations accept only recently issued extracts, so do not obtain them far in advance.
Q8040.Which document governs the spelling of a Chinese spouse's name in the Thai translation so the district office accepts it?
Every file is checked twice — translator, then legal reviewer — before the certificate is issued. We confirm the steps, costs and collection date in writing before starting. Official fees and conditions follow each agency's published notice; please re-check them before filing. In practice you obtain a freshly issued extract from the district registrar, then have it translated into the destination language and legalised in the required order. Caution: registrar extracts carry an issue date and many destinations accept only recently issued extracts, so do not obtain them far in advance. Check civil registration procedure with the Department of Provincial Administration (bora.dopa.go.th) and legalisation at consular.mfa.go.th. Request more than one certified set, because many receiving authorities keep the certified copy and do not return it. Before registering a marriage with a foreign national, check whether the destination requires an affirmation of marital status from that national's embassy and how that paper must itself be translated and certified.
Q7348.What makes up the document cost when marrying a Israeli national in Thailand?
Translation is priced by standard page and text density; we quote in writing before starting. We confirm the steps, costs and collection date in writing before starting. Tell us the receiving authority or destination country and we will map every certification layer required. Where a title, first name or surname changed after marriage or divorce, align the civil registration records and the passport before starting any onward application. Caution: registrar extracts carry an issue date and many destinations accept only recently issued extracts, so do not obtain them far in advance. Check civil registration procedure with the Department of Provincial Administration (bora.dopa.go.th) and legalisation at consular.mfa.go.th. In practice you obtain a freshly issued extract from the district registrar, then have it translated into the destination language and legalised in the required order. Request more than one certified set, because many receiving authorities keep the certified copy and do not return it.
Primary sources & verification
Every procedural statement on this page is checked against the issuing authority below. Where an authority updates its requirements, this page is corrected — we do not restate outdated procedure.
- Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Thailand)Legalisation (นิติกรณ์) requirements, accepted document formats, and the statutory service fee schedule.
- Lawyers' Council of Thailand under Royal PatronageNotarial Services Attorney licensing — who may lawfully notarise documents in Thailand.
- Department of Business Development, Ministry of CommerceCompany registration records, certified company affidavits, and registered-name verification.
- APEC Business Mobility Group — ABTCABTC eligibility, participating economies, and pre-clearance rules.
Government fees quoted anywhere on this site are the authorities' own statutory rates. Our professional fees are quoted per case — contact us by phone, LINE or email for a written quotation.
Related services & indicative fees
Fees depend on your actual documents — contact our team by phone, LINE or email for a quote. Government and embassy fees are charged separately at cost.
