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Australian Trusted Trader APEC business travel card

Australian Trusted Trader (ATT) is a partnership with Australian businesses to streamline legitimate trade. Become an accredited trusted trader and save your business time and money.

APEC Business Travel Card

The Asia–Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card (ABTC) offers faster and easier entry to some Asia-Pacific economies, and fast-track entry and exit lanes for ABTC holders at many international airports.

As an accredited Trusted Trader, you will automatically satisfy some criteria for the ABTC if:

you are a senior business person, relative to the structure of the nominating business, and

you undertake frequent travel for business purposes

Streamlined applications arrangements are available to these applicants, who also meet the ABTC individual identity and criminal history requirements as long as they:

note in the ABTC application that the sponsoring business is a Trusted Trader (by adding “ATT” in the Business Details section, ahead of the Legal registered name)

provide the Australian Business Number, and

are an Australian citizen employee of the Trusted Trader

If your application is successful, we issue you with an ABTC which lists your passport details and the places you can enter and stay without needing to apply for a separate visa.

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Apply for your APEC Business travellers Card today!

Apec card overview.

The APEC Business Travel Card facilitates short-term business travel within the APEC region (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) for business travellerss who meet certain requirements. Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card include:

• Visa-free travel throughout the Asia-Pacific region for qualified individuals
• Priority entry and exit through fast-track immigration queues at participating ports of entry
• Five-year validity—five years of visa free travel!

To apply, travellerss must first make a single application to the Australian Gov. Dept. of Home Affairs. Once the application has been assessed and if it meets the relevant criteria and is approved, their details are passed to other participating members/economies for consideration. The applicant is permitted to nominate up to five priority economies for APEC Business Travel Card consideration.

These economies will then separately grant pre-clearance if they feel the applicant meets the criteria. Once all economies have made a decision, the applicant receives an interim card that lists the economies they are permitted to travel without a visa on the back of the card.

Once all other APEC economies have processed the application a full ABTC card will be issued. These economies do not permit pre-clearance just permit fast-track entry and exit through APEC lanes.

CIBTvisas can help you secure your APEC Card. To start your application email [email protected] , or call 03 9673 1537 if you have any questions.

Benefits of holding an apec card.

• Multiple entries to precleared APEC economies without having to apply for a visa each time.
• Fast-track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at participating airports. These lanes can be used across all APEC economies airports regardless of which ones they have pre-clearance for.

Eligibility

• Hold a passport from an APEC economy
• Engage in regular business travel throughout the APEC region or to an APEC economy
• No criminal convictions
• The CEO, CFO or regional or country head of a registered business entity
• An owner or director of a registered business entity
• A Board member of a registered business entity
• The CEO or CFO of an Australian-based business peak body
• A Vice President, Executive, Director, Senior Manager or similar
• An employee of a registered business entity nominated by the CEO, CFO, regional head, owner or director of the organization
• A senior government official
• Your business entity or Australian-based business body is engaged in international trade or investment between APEC economies

Participating Economies

19 APEC economies are fully participating members

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• New Zealand
• Papua New Guinea
• The Philippines
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The APEC Business Travel Card

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) scheme was developed to provide the region’s business community with easier access to other economies in the Asia-Pacific region. The ABTC supports APEC goals of business development, trade and investment through the facilitation of travel between economies.

Currently of the 21 participating economies, 19 are full members which issue cards to their own citizens and provide pre-clearance approval and fast-track lane access to business travellers from other economies [1] . The United States and Canada are transitional members who participate in all aspects of the scheme except they do not issue pre-clearances in advance and instead still require ABTC holders to present at the border any visas, travel or other entry documents that are required for entry. Fully participating economies benefit from a reduced burden on at-the-border security resources because ABTC holders are screened by all economies to ensure they are low-risk travellers [2] .

The ABTC is valid for five years and permits eligible businesspeople with legitimate business travel needs to travel without the need for separate visa applications in fully participating economies and provides access to priority fast track lanes at border immigration inspection facilities in all economies. Thus, the card aims to save cardholders considerable money in terms of visa fees and considerable time in terms of border entry processing. The scheme reduces travel costs between APEC economies by 38% for cardholders [3] . Businesses pay 27% less in application fees and 52% less in immigration processing. This increases the ability of businesspeople to travel internationally [4]

Video Credit: APEC Secretariat

Photo Credit: APEC Secretariat

Context-development of the APEC Business Travel Card 

Australia, Korea, and the Philippines were the three original members of the scheme when it was first trialled in 1997. The ABTC aimed to support APEC’s objectives of regional economic integration and the facilitation of regional trade and investment by reducing the costs of cross-border trade and the movement of people across borders. It is this strong alignment with APEC’s objectives that encouraged economies to support the scheme initially.

The design of the ABTC scheme also allowed economies to signal interest and agree in principle to the scheme without needing to sign up initially. Economies with hesitations around the scheme or domestic regulation which hindered immediate participation were able to monitor the progress of the scheme and sign up when the economy was comfortable to do so. Early adopters of the scheme tended to be economies that already had high levels of visa free arrangements which meant the risk to sign up for the scheme was reduced. However, this also meant that initial participation in the scheme from those economies was lower as there was less need for a citizen to apply for a card if the economy they were travelling to already allowed visa free access. In comparison, economies which viewed the scheme as a greater threat to border security waited to observe the success of the scheme before signing up but found greater value in participation.

Some economies were able to join the scheme quicker than others. For economies like Peru, who approved its incorporation into the scheme in 2000, a coordinated effort was required between relevant domestic authorities to create regulation so that the economy would be able to participate in the scheme. It was officially implemented in 2003. Included in this regulatory change was the necessary work on how Peru would decide the criteria for a businessperson, determining who would be eligible for the scheme. The ABTC Operating Framework maintains a broad definition of a businessperson which ensures economies can offer eligibility and flexibility to a wide range of people under its own domestic laws and policies. Individual economies are responsible for further clarifying the definition which can mean some travellers are ineligible.

There were some reservations with the scheme when it first launched. The criteria that must be met to apply for the ABTC, coupled with the requirement that each economy individually approve the cardholder meant that the approved participants were low risk.

Characteristics of the ABTC Cooperation

To receive an ABTC, applicants who meet the criteria must make a single application to the economy for which they hold a passport or have permanent residence (in the case of Hong Kong, China). If this economy assesses the application as meeting the relevant criteria, the applicant’s details are provided to the other participating economies who conduct their own assessment of whether to grant pre-clearance. When all economies have made a pre-clearance decision, the applicant receives an ABTC that lists the economies to which they have permission to travel. The work is shared between economies as each is responsible for managing the processing of their own pre-clearance applications and no economy has any influence over the processing timeframes of another. The ABTC Operating Framework provides that pre-clearance processing times are expected to be kept as short as possible and that pre-clearance should be completed within 2-3 weeks of economies receiving the request. However, processing of the application can generally take much longer, 3-6 months on average. Applicants are able to receive an interim card which is sent out once the five priority economies that the applicant has self-selected have provided clearance which helped to partially reduce the long waiting times cardholders were experiencing.

Canada and the United States are transitional members. This means they participate in some, but not all aspects of the ABTC scheme. While transitional members do not participate in the preclearance portion of the scheme, they do issue ABTCs to their own citizens so that they can utilize fast-track passenger processing lanes in other economies. The United States offers foreign cardholders expedited visa appointments, when feasible, and access to specialized passenger processing lanes upon arrival.

The ABTC gives frequent business travellers fast-track entry and exit through special APEC lanes at participating airports and, for cardholders of fully participating members, multiple short-term entries to precleared APEC economies without having to make a separate visa application to fully participating members.

Benefits of the APEC Business Travel Card vary between economies

The advertised benefits of the ABTC are attractive for business travellers seeking to regularly travel within the Asia-Pacific region. ABTC holders are able to travel to economies that are full members of the scheme for business purposes without needing to pay for and take the time to submit separate visa applications each time they travel. This reduces the expense for businesses collaborating and trading within the Asia-Pacific region, particularly for those who travel frequently for business.

Separate APEC cardholder lanes at airports aim to reduce waiting times when travelling and provide a smoother experience. Peru and Chile specifically noted businesspeople appreciate the special entry lanes for the quicker transit times through the airport, which makes it easier to schedule business meetings. While quicker movement through airports is attractive for busy business travellers, this benefit is not necessarily guaranteed. At busy airports, cardholders waiting in the specific lane can spend just as long, or even longer waiting to be processed than travellers using the regular lanes. Additionally, infrequent travel by ABTC members through certain airports can result in cardholder lanes being neglected as it is less cost effective to keep the lane constantly staffed. Greater levels of communication and training for border officers has been pinpointed as an effective way to reduce these issues, particularly in smaller airports where ABTC holders are less common.

The popularity of a scheme can depend on the advantages offered to participants. Variations in the extent to which it benefits certain groups can lead to inequal participation rates between economies. In the case of the ABTC, economies which already have visa free travel schemes with a greater number of economies see less benefit from the scheme and tend to have lower rates of participants. For example, Singaporean citizens tend to already have visa free access to many economies so participants in the scheme may use the card mainly for the fast-track lanes at airports rather than for the visa component. In comparison, Peruvian citizens would ordinarily need to obtain visas to access many APEC economies, so the multi-economy visa access provides a clear and valuable benefit to Peru cardholders and the Peru economy as this reduces the need to process individual visas for each entry and exit.

Economies may have different views on the advantages of a scheme, depending on the level of effort required. ABTC preclearance application processing requires significant resourcing, even though economies may not see a reward from this work if the applicants never visit their economy. This is especially an issue for smaller economies such as Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.  In 2014, Papua New Guinea received only 500 cardholder visits and roughly 900 cardholders visited New Zealand [2] .

 Peru noted that large volumes of applications can place a burden on the workforce, especially as it can be difficult to source workers with skills in this area.

Challenges of the ABTC Scheme

A common challenge expressed by both economies and clients is the length of time it takes for cardholders to receive pre-clearance approval from all 19 economies participating in the ABTC scheme. The average length of time for this process is three months, however, longer wait times are not uncommon and in some instances, approval can take up to a year. The ABTC Operating Framework sets an expectation of pre-clearance being completed within two – three weeks of receiving a request.

Although e-Government services continue to expand rapidly across the region as the virtual ABTC is rolled out, ABTC applications remain largely paper-based, which requires economy staff to manually enter all data into the ABTC system. Manual entry increases the likelihood of application errors which will need to be followed up. The increase in the duration of the card from 3 to 5 years has eased some of the resourcing burdens on economies due to the reduced frequency of reapplications.

Other challenges for governments include providing greater application process transparency and support for applicants, safeguarding client data, improving ABTC system functionality, achieving parity in technical capabilities of economies, and clarifying acceptable uses of the card.

There is also a perception that the process of reapplication for a card after expiry is redundant. Current cardholder applicants are less likely to pose any security risks yet further time and money must be spent by cardholders and APEC economies to go through the process again after the expiry of a card. This demonstrates the disconnect between economy processing staff, who view the ABTC as a travel document similar to a passport or visa, and cardholders, who view the card as a convenience that applicants must go through a strenuous process to receive.

Lessons Learned

The Virtual ABTC will be a quicker, more efficient tool for economies and cardholders. The Virtual ABTC was launched by the APEC Business Mobility Group during the APEC Leader’s Week in November 2020. The Virtual ABTC displays a digital version of the card on a mobile application which cardholders can present to enter an APEC economy. Security measures are included in the app to prevent fraudulent duplication and misuse.

On 1 March 2021, Australia transitioned to the Virtual ABTC and now offers it to approved Australian cardholders. While the intention is for the Virtual ABTC to eventually replace the physical version, each economy will determine its own timeline for transitioning. As transitional members, Canada and the United States will not have the ability to access the virtual ABTC at this time.

The developers of the virtual card have used the lessons learned from the physical card to create a card that is more secure, efficient, convenient and user-friendly, particularly as APEC members are looking for safe and effective measures to open up borders and resume international travel.

A major inconvenience with the physical card was the lengthy wait times for using the card. The new virtual card has removed this issue and provides a quicker service. When each economy approves the application, that economy will appear on the app and cardholders will then be able to use the card to access that economy. This reduces the length of time cardholders need to wait between submitting their application and being able to use their card. Peru noted that updated real-time information on the status of the virtual card has been a major benefit.

A benefit for economies is that they will no longer need to expend resources printing and sending physical cards. For Australia, this was a major benefit for transitioning to the virtual card, particularly as Australia used to print physical cards for other economies that did not have the necessary resources. Australia’s transition to the virtual card, and subsequent decision to stop printing cards, has encouraged those economies to transition to the virtual card as well. Chile has also noted that processing times for cards are quicker since its transition to the virtual card.

The new virtual card has the same design as the physical card, to help economies and cardholders understand and feel comfortable using the virtual card. This has meant that economies would not need to spend extra time retraining staff as the process at the border works much the same. While some economies would prefer extra security measures such as QR code, the design team recognised that it would be difficult to install specialist security software across all economies. Peru noted that not all cardholders are proficient users of technology and applications, and this can cause issues in the short term.

To date, the roll out of the virtual card has been hampered due to worldwide border restrictions restricting travel between economies. However, developers are confident that the benefits of the virtual card will encourage economies to transition, and that cardholders themselves will champion this change.

  [1] APEC (n.d.), APEC Business Travel Card Goes Digital , https://www.apec.org/Press/News-Releases/2021/0304_ABTC .

[2] Tetlow, J. and C. Wood (2014), “Supporting Continued Growth in Trade and Facilitation: End to End Review of the APEC Business Travel Card”, Washington: APEC Business Mobility Group .

[3] APEC (n.d.), APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) , https://www.apec.org/Groups/Committee-on-Trade-and-Investment/Business-Mobility-Group/ABTC .

  [4] Part of the information in the case study above has come from discussions with a variety of economies including Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru, the United States and others.  

Date :  Finalised in 2022.

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Apec business travel card.

The APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is a valuable tool for Australian business travelers who frequently visit other APEC economies. The ABTC allows you to enter and exit these economies visa-free, and it also entitles you to fast-track immigration processing at participating ports of entry.

To be eligible for an ABTC, you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident who travels frequently to other APEC economies for business purposes. You must also have a valid passport and have not been convicted of a criminal offense.

The application process for an ABTC is simple and straightforward. You can apply online or by mail. Once your application is approved, you will be issued a digital ABTC that you can access through the APEC Business Travel Card app.

The ABTC is valid for five years, so you can use it to travel for business throughout the Asia-Pacific region for a long time to come.

Apply for your APEC Business Travel Card today and start enjoying the convenience and security of visa-free travel in the Asia-Pacific region.

Contact us today to APEC Business Travel Card

Contact us today to learn more about the Maritime Crew Visa (988) by bluesky and how to apply.

• Visa-free travel to participating APEC economies
• Fast-track immigration processing at participating ports of entry
• Five-year validity
• Convenient and secure way to travel for business

If you are a business traveler who frequently visits other APEC economies, I encourage you to apply for an APEC Business Travel Card. It is a valuable tool that can save you time and hassle at the border, and it can give you peace of mind knowing that you are traveling with the proper documentation

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• Trusted Traveler Programs

U.S. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Travel Card Program FAQs

General questions about the program, what is the u.s. apec business travel card program.

The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program is a voluntary program to  facilitate  travel for U.S. citizens engaged in verified business in the APEC region and U.S. government officials engaged in APEC business. Participants must also be members of a CBP trusted traveler program.  The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card will enable access to fast-track immigration lanes at airports in foreign APEC member economies. 

What is APEC and who are APEC members?

APEC, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, is an economic forum whose primary goal is to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.  The United States is one of 21 APEC member economies, which include:  Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong China, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Vietnam.

Program Benefits

What benefits does the u.s. apec business travel card afford me.

The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card will enable access to a dedicated fast-track lane for expedited immigration processing at participating foreign APEC member airports.  For a complete list of APEC Business Travel Card participating airports, visit  www.apec.org/Groups/Committee-on-Trade-and-Investment/Business-Mobility-Group/ABTC .

U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holders may also use the available Global Entry processing technology at participating airports upon their U.S. return.  View the list of  airports with Global Entry .   

Eligibility for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card

Am i eligible for the u.s. apec business travel card.

To be eligible for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program, you must meet three criteria:

• you must be a U.S. citizen;
• you must be an existing member in good standing or be approved for membership in a CBP trusted traveler program (SENTRI, NEXUS, or Global Entry) during the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application process, , meaning they will go through a thorough vetting process including a review of all relevant national security and criminal databases prior to enrollment;
• you must be either a verified business person, or a U.S. government official, who is actively engaged in APEC business.

Who is a “verified business person” engaged in APEC business?

A “verified business person” engaged in APEC business  means a person engaged in the trade of goods, the provision of services or the conduct of investment activities in the APEC region.  Professional athletes, news correspondents, entertainers, musicians, artists or persons engaged in similar occupations are not considered to be verified business travelers engaged in business in the APEC region when they are traveling in such a capacity. 

A “U.S. government official” means a U.S. government official performing U.S. government activities that support the work of APEC.

What is the fee for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card?

The application fee for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card is $70.  The fee is non-refundable.  This fee is in addition to the fee for the selected CBP Trusted Traveler Program.

For example, a new applicant applying for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card with their Global Entry application would pay an application fee of $170.  This breaks down to $70 for the APEC Business Travel Card application and $100 for the Global Entry application.

Trusted Traveler Membership

How do i apply for membership in sentri, nexus, or global entry.

Apply for a CBP trusted traveler program on the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) website,  https://ttp.dhs.gov .  You also must schedule an enrollment center interview via your TTP dashboard during the application process.  For more information about Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI go to the  Trusted Traveler Programs  page.

Applying for and Renewing the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card

How do i apply for the u.s. apec business travel card program.

You must apply on the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) website,  https://ttp.dhs.gov .  This is the same website that is used to apply for CBP’s trusted traveler programs.  Check the box in TTP for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card. Then schedule a visit to any CBP trusted traveler enrollment center for an interview (if you are not already a CBP trusted traveler) and for electronic signature collection. 

However, if you are already a CBP trusted traveler, you can visit any CBP trusted traveler enrollment center for your interview/signature collection without an appointment.

Do I have to be a member of a CBP trusted traveler program to apply for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program?

All applicants for a U.S. APEC Business Travel Card must be existing members in good standing of a CBP trusted traveler program or apply and be approved for membership in a CBP trusted traveler program during the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application process.  An applicant for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card may be a member of any of three CBP  Trusted Traveler Programs : Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI, meaning they will go through a thorough vetting process including a review of all relevant national security and criminal databases prior to enrollment.  An individual may apply either for a CBP trusted traveler program in advance or when applying for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card. 

Is it more advantageous for me to apply for a CBP trusted traveler program in advance or when I submit the application for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card?

Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. 

If you apply for the  U.S. APEC Business Travel Card program  and the  CBP Trusted Traveler Program  concurrently, then you have to visit the enrollment center only once for the CBP trusted traveler interview and for signature collection.  If you first apply for a CBP trusted traveler program, you will need two trips to an enrollment center, once for the interview and again for signature collection.

If you apply for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card and the CBP Trusted Traveler Program concurrently, you will be required to pay the applicable fees for both programs when you submit the applications.  All application fees are non-refundable.  Since membership to a CBP trusted traveler program is a prerequisite for membership in the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card program, if you are denied CBP trusted traveler program membership, you would be also be denied a U.S. APEC Business Travel Card and no refunds are available.  This could be avoided if you applied first for a CBP trusted traveler program.

How long will my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card be valid?

Prior to December 13, 2016 ABTC cards were issued with a validity of 3 years or until the expiration date of the card holder’s passport whichever occurred first.  However, U.S. issued APEC Business Travel Cards approved on or after December 13, 2016 are now valid for five years from the date of issuance, or until the expiration date of the card holder’s passport, whichever comes first. This change in validity does not apply to current U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holders, whose cards remain valid only until the date printed on their card.

How do I renew my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card?

To renew the  U.S. APEC Business Travel Card , submit a new U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application, pay the program fee, and meet all the eligibility criteria, including maintaining active membership in one of the CBP Trusted Traveler Programs (Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI).

Do I have to renew my CBP trusted traveler program membership if it is set to lapse prior to the expiration of my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card?

Yes. CBP may revoke your U.S. APEC Business Travel Card if you fail to renew or maintain your CBP trusted traveler program membership. 

If I am already a member of a CBP trusted traveler program, do I still have to visit an enrollment center to complete my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card application?

Yes, once CBP determines you are eligible to participate in the APEC program you must provide an electronic signature that will be printed on the APEC Business Travel Card. You can complete the interview/signature collection process via Enrollment on Arrival  when returning to the U.S. from an international flight or at any CBP Trusted Traveler enrollment center, no appointment necessary.   

If I am a U.S. citizen living abroad, can I complete my interview in the country in which I reside?

No. Interviews and signature collection for the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card must be done at a CBP trusted traveler enrollment center and none are located outside of the United States and Canada. See a list of all CBP enrollment centers for Global Entry , NEXUS , and SENTRI . Alternatively, you can complete the signature collection process via Enrollment on Arrival when returning to the U.S. from an international flight.

How will I know when I am accepted into the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program and how will I receive my travel card?

If you are accepted into the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card Program, CBP will update your  TTP  account to reflect the acceptance and will mail the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card to the mailing address that you provided on your application.  CBP will mail the card to U.S. or international addresses, but not to post office boxes. 

Traveling with the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card

Can the u.s. apec business travel card be used in lieu of a visa in a foreign apec member economy.

No.  Foreign APEC member economies will not recognize the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card in lieu of a visa. The U.S. is a transitional member of APEC and does not reciprocate with other economies regarding full pre-clearance benefits to applicants.  As such, no countries are listed on the back of U.S. APEC Business Travel Cards and card holders are required to present any travel or identity documentation, such as a passport and visa (where applicable), required by the foreign APEC member economy.  If a  U.S. APEC Business Travel Card  holder does not conform to the foreign economy’s visa,  passport  or entry requirements, the card holder may be directed to a non-expedited lane or refused entry.   Check the entry requirements of the destination APEC member economy before travel. 

Can I use my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card for personal travel, such as vacation?

No. The APEC Business Travel Card is for members who travel frequently on short-term visits within the APEC region to fulfill business commitments. To use the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card, you must be traveling solely for business purposes to the foreign APEC economy.  

Is my spouse or child able to access the APEC lanes if they are traveling with me?

No. The U.S. APEC Business Travel Card is not transferable and applicable only to the card holder. Access to APEC lanes will not be extended to anyone traveling with the U.S. APEC Business Travel Card holder.

Revoking or Suspending Membership

In what situations will cbp revoke or suspend a u.s. apec business travel card program membership.

A U.S. APEC Business Travel Card membership may be suspended or revoked if CBP determines that:

the individual provided false information in the application and/or during the application process;

the individual failed to follow the program’s terms, conditions and requirements;

the individual has been arrested or convicted of a crime or otherwise no longer meets the program eligibility criteria.

CBP can also revoke membership if the card holder is no longer a member of a CBP trusted traveler program.  A U.S. APEC Business Travel Card applicant or card holder who is denied, suspended, or removed will not receive an application fee refund.

If my U.S. APEC Business Travel Card expires or I am no longer eligible for a U.S. APEC Business Travel Card, does this affect my membership in a CBP trusted traveler program?

No.  You would still be considered a full participant in the CBP trusted traveler program for the remaining period of your membership.

Application or Membership Problems

Who can i contact if my u.s. apec business travel card application or membership is suspended, denied, revoked or canceled.

In the event you are denied or revoked from the Trusted Traveler Programs, you will be provided information in writing detailing the reason for this action. If you believe the decision was based upon inaccurate or incomplete information, you may request reconsideration through the Trusted Traveler Programs website.

Reconsideration Requests and attachments to the Ombudsman should be in English and must include the following details:

• Date of denial and denial reason(s) from the letter;
• Summary of information to further clarify a record or explain an incident or arrest;
• Court disposition documentation in PDF format for all arrests or convictions, even if expunged; and/or
• Other supporting documentation you feel may influence the Ombudsman's decision. Supported formats: PDF, DOCX, DOC, PNG, JPEG, and GIF.

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• Trade Barriers
• Import Tariffs
• Import Requirements and Documentation
• Labeling/Marking Requirements
• US Export Controls
• Temporary Entry
• Customs Regulations
• Prohibited & Restricted Imports
• Standards for Trade
• Trade Agreements
• Licensing Requirements for Professional Services
• Distribution and Sales Channels
• Selling Factors and Techniques
• Trade Financing
• Protecting Intellectual Property
• Selling to the Public Sector
• Business Travel
• Investment Climate Statement (ICS)

Business Customs

AnchorAnchorAnchorConducting business in Australia is relatively easy for American companies due to the similarities in language, cultural environment, business practices, and customer expectations. Australians pay attention to advance planning, promptness, follow-up, and are generally direct in their business dealings. They typically conduct business on a first-name basis and exchange business cards for information purposes, but without any special ceremony. Token gift exhange is not common; however, luncheon and breakfest meetings are common. Australians do not typically schedule business functions on weekends. Business attire is the norm for the cities, and rural areas are slightly more informal.

Travel Advisory

Please check the Australian Embassy in the U.S. for the latest information on entering Australia.  For further State Department Travel Advisory information on Australia, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s travel website . 

Website for the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, Australia is: U.S. Embassy in Australia

Visa Requirements

AnchorAnchorAmericans traveling to Australia for business and/or leisure must hold a valid U.S. passport and either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Information is available at 

https://usa.embassy.gov.au/travel-australia or immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-australia/entering-australia/can-i-go-to-australia . For the location of the nearest Australian diplomatic facility, please refer to https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-locations/missions/our-embassies-and-consulates-overseas .

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service has extended the use of SmartGate to U.S. citizens on arrival in Australia. SmartGate is a simple way for eligible travelers arriving into Australia’s international airports to self-process through passport control. Further information is available on U.S. Customs Trusted Traveller Program website.

U.S. Companies that require travel of foreign business persons to the United States are advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process. For information, visa applicants should go to the following link(s):  State Department Visa Website

Australia’s local currency is the Australian Dollar.  Credit cards are accepted throughout the country and ATM’s are readily available.  Additional currency information is availabe on the australia.com website.

Telecommunications/Electronics

Australia’s telecommunications infrastructure is well developed.  Cell phone network coverage is available across Australia, however coverage may be limited in some remote areas.  Australian telecommunications providers include: Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone. All the cell phone carriers run 4G networks. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone have started to activitate 5G networks in limited areas around the country and will continue widespread expansion.  You will need to make prior arrangements with your communications carrier or service provider to ensure you are able to use your cellular phone in Australia. Power voltage is 240 volts/50Hz.

Australia and New Zealand use power terminals that differ from those used in the United States. Adaptors can be purchased at airports or specific electronic stores.

Internet access is widely available at hotels, internet cafés and libraries. There are many Wi-Fi hotspots in the central business districts (CBDs) of the biggest cities.

Transportation

It is a 14-hour non-stop flight from the West Coast of the United States (San Francisco or Los Angeles) to the East Coast of Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane).

Several international airlines service the trans-pacific route including Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Jetstar, Qantas Airways, and United Airlines with flights departing from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York  and Honolulu to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.  Please refer to airlines’ websites for updated flight options, availability and information.

Most flights depart from the United States late in the evening and arrive in Australia early morning, with a day lost at the International Date Line. Travel to or from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South America, and South Africa from Australia is also convenient.

Australians drive on the left side of the road. Major U.S. and Australian car rental agencies operate throughout the country. Reservations are available through airports, hotels, travel agents, or directly, using a credit card and a U.S. or international driver’s license.

Public transportation is well-developed throughout urban areas. Convenient bus, rail, and air services are available between cities and country towns.

Air Travel Times Within Australia

Sydney to Melbourne - 1 hour

Sydney to Brisbane - 1 hour

Sydney to Perth - 4 hours

Sydney to Canberra - 35 minutes

Sydney to Adelaide – 2 hours

Melbourne to Brisbane - 2 hours

Melbourne to Perth - 4 hours

Brisbane to Perth - 6 hours

Australia is an English-speaking country.

AnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAnchorAustralia has no notable health risks and public tap water is safe to drink. There are active campaigns to encourage the population to protect themselves from exposure to Australia’s strong sun and to use sunscreen.  Medical and dental services, and all types of health facilities, are comparable with those in the United States. Visitors can easily receive medical attention, but may be required to pay for services immediately, either by cash or credit card.

Local Time, Business Hours & Holidays

Australia has three time zones: Eastern, Central, and Western. Not all Australian states observe daylight savings time and the dates for the switch to and from daylight savings time varies.

Office business hours are generally between 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Most shops in major city centers are open on Saturday and Sunday and at least one night a week for evening trading. Banks are open to the public from 9:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday, with 24/7 ATM service. Restaurants and convenience stores are typically open for extended hours.

Australians generally take annual vacation in December and January, combining Christmas/New Year with the school summer vacation period. Consequently, business slows down and it may be difficult to schedule business appointments during this time. Business travelers should ascertain whether their contacts are available during this period before scheduling trips to Australia.

A list of Public Holidays in Australia can be found on the Australian Government website.

Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings

Certain goods may be brought into Australia on a temporary basis for a period of up to 12 months without the payment of duty or taxes. These goods are referred to as temporary imports.  Approval for temporary imports is granted under Section 162 or Section 162A of the Customs Act 1901.

Goods that qualify as temporary imports may also be imported under carnet, where a security is lodged with a carnet issuing body overseas, or under security, where a security is lodged with the Australian Customs Service (Customs) at the time of import. The nature of the goods, what they will be used for while they are in Australia, and who is importing the goods will determine whether or not the goods will qualify.

There are conditions placed on temporary imports.  The most important condition is that you export the goods within the time limits approved.  If the goods are not exported within the time limit you will have to pay to customs an amount equal to the duty and taxes that would have been payable if when you first imported the goods, the goods had not been treated as temporary imports.

For further information, please visit https://www.abf.gov.au/importing-exporting-and-manufacturing/temporary-imports

10 Of The Best Travel Credit Cards in Australia in 2024

• Compare travel credit cards based on foreign exchange fees, travel perks and more.
• Plus get expert tips on using your credit card overseas from a veteran frequent flyer.

Featured offer: American Express® Platinum Edge Credit Card

$0 annual card fee (usually $195) in first year when you apply online and are approved. T&Cs apply, new members only. Plus, get $200 each year to spend on eligible domestic and international flights, hotels or car hire with American Express Travel.

Top travel credit cards in Australia

Bankwest Breeze Zero Platinum Mastercard

Bankwest breeze platinum mastercard, coles rewards mastercard, hsbc low rate credit card, american express platinum, bendigo bank ready credit card, latitude 28° global platinum mastercard, westpac lite card, ing orange one rewards platinum, american express platinum edge.

• International transaction fee: 0%
• Interest rate on purchases: 14.99% p.a.
• Up to 55 interest-free days
• Annual card fee: $0
• Complimentary international travel insurance: Included

What to know about the card

What’s good? By any standard, the Bankwest Breeze Zero Platinum Mastercard is a low-cost credit card that will save travellers money, with a 0% foreign transaction fee, a relatively low ongoing interest rate on purchases and no annual credit card fee . Yet it still comes with complimentary credit card travel insurance , a travel perk rarely found on low-cost cards.

What’s not so good? Despite being positioned as a ‘Platinum’ card, aside from the complimentary travel insurance, the card offers little in the way of perks and rewards.

• Interest rate on purchases: 19.99% p.a.

What’s good? Another low cost card (assuming you repay the card balance in full each statement period) with no foreign transaction fees. There are no hoops to jump through to avoid the annual fee, which is rare for a card offering complimentary travel insurance.

What’s not so good? There’s not much to dislike here if you want a low-fee card. That said, the interest rate is on the high side. For travellers covering the cost of a holiday across multiple statement periods, this could be an issue.

• International transaction fee: 0% on purchases
• Interest rate on purchases: 27.49% p.a.
• Complimentary international travel insurance: Not included

What’s good? No international transaction fees and no annual fee, plus a couple of other eye-catching travel perks: Access to global roaming data from eligible telco networks in 150 countries; and a flight delay pass which offers access to airport lounges if your flight is delayed.

What’s not so good? Even by credit card standards, Latitude’s 28° Global Platinum Mastercard has a remarkebly high interest rate, meaning carrying a balance could be extremely expensive of you have a revolving balance.

• Interest rate on purchases: 0% p.a. for 12 months, then 12.99% p.a.
• Annual card fee: $69

What’s good? Offers the same travel-friendly advantages as Bankwest’s Breeze Zero Platinum Mastercard but with a slightly lower ongoing interest rate that’s waived for the first 12 months. This could be an option for new cardholders looking to pay off an expensive trip over time with what is effectively an interest-free credit card for the first year.

What’s not so good? There’s an annual fee and also relatively few card perks (not surprising given the annual fee is fairly modest).

• Annual card fee: $99

What’s good? This is one of the 0% international purchase fee credit cards that also offers rewards points (Flybuys), with a sign-up bonus of 50,000 points if you apply by 30 June 2024 and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of approval.

What’s not so good? There’s an annual fee – it’s not massive for a rewards credit card but there are other cards out there arguably offering more travel perks (e.g complimentary travel insurance) with no annual fee.

• Interest rate on purchases: 12.99% p.a.
• Complimentary international travel insurance: Not included, but comes with domestic travel cover.

What’s good? The HSBC Low Rate Credit Card comes with no international transaction fees and a low interest rate on purchases of 12.99% p.a. It also offers domestic travel insurance, and an offer of 0% on balance transfers for 20 months.

What’s not so good? The annual fee takes some of the gloss off what is otherwise a low-cost, low-frills card. The cash advance rate is 25.99% which is very high if you need to withdraw cash using your card.

• Interest rate on purchases: 9.90% p.a.
• Up to 45 interest-free days
• Annual card fee: $108 ($9 monthly)

What’s good? The 0% fee on international transactions is the standout feature, along with the low interest rate on purchases (one of the lowest available of any card with no foreign transaction fees).

What’s not so good? For a card with a ‘Lite’ offering, the annual fee (charged monthly) is not particularly ‘Lite’. There’s also no cash advance option. Although expensive, a cash advance facility can be handy when travelling if you need cash from an ATM in an emergency.

• International transaction fee: 0% (subject to eligibility criteria)
• Interest rate on purchases: 16.99% p.a.
• Annual card fee: $149

What’s good? ING’s Orange One Rewards Platinum ticks two major boxes for travellers: No foreign transaction fees (although there’s a big asterisk on this) and complimentary travel insurance is included. There’s also a credit card cashback offer with the potential to earn cardholders up to $360 per year, comfortably enough to offset the card’s annual fee.

What’s not so good? The main caveat with this card is that the 0% international transaction fee is conditional on the cardholder also having one of ING’s Orange Everyday accounts, depositing at least $1,000 into it each month and making at least five card purchases each month. It’s not an insurmountable hurdle but it’s not ideal unless you already have ING as your main bank.

• International transaction fee: 3%
• Interest rate on purchases: 23.99% p.a.
• Annual card fee: $195 (waived in the first year)

What’s good? Amex’s Platinum Edge Credit Card also offers plenty of travel perks but with a much lower annual fee than the Platinum Card. Cardholders get complimentary travel insurance, a $200 travel credit (completely offsetting the card’s annual fee), plus 2 rewards points per $1 spent on purchases in a foreign currency (overseas and online).

What’s not so good? The 3% currency conversion fee is high compared to other cards, as is the interest rate on purchases. This is another card that could be expensive if not used strategically.

• Interest rate on purchases: n/a
• Up to 44 cash flow days
• Annual card fee: $1,450
• Plus new card members get 150,000 bonus points when they apply online by 25 June 2024, are approved and spend $5k on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of approval. T&Cs apply.

What’s good? The American Express Platinum card is certainly not a cheap option, but it arguably offers more frequent flyer travel perks than any other card in Australia: complimentary travel insurance, an annual $450 travel credit, a $400 dining credit, lounge access, up to 2.25 rewards point per $1 spent on eligible purchases, bonus sign up points subject to conditions), plus a lot more. It’s also a charge card , meaning there are no interest costs but the balance must be cleared in full each month.

What’s not so good? The $1,450 annual fee is a lot, so you really need to be taking advantage of the rewards to offset that cost. The 3% currency conversion fee on American Express credit cards is also high, meaning it’s perhaps a card best used for booking travel, and left in your wallet while spending overseas.

How to compare travel credit cards: 6 key questions to ask

What’s the foreign transaction fee.

It will be somewhere between 0% and 3% of the transaction value depending on the card. If you spend a lot overseas, it’s worth minimising this fee as much as possible.

Will the card be accepted where I’m travelling?

Mastercard and Visa are accepted almost everywhere. Amex is a bit more limited but still widely accepted in the countries Australians travel to in numbers.

What’s the interest rate?

Ideally you’ll be clearing the balance of the card within the interest-free period, but if not, a lower interest rate will help you minimise your travel costs.

What’s the annual card fee?

There are some travel credit cards with no annual fee that offer benefits for travellers, but most do come with a fee. If there is a fee, look carefully at what you’re getting in return.

Is travel insurance included?

A credit card that comes with travel insurance included could save you hundreds of dollars if it means you don’t need to purchase a separate travel insurance policy. Pay attention to what is covered by the policy and if it’s suitable for you.

Are there any other travel benefits thrown in?

Some travel credit cards offer lounge access (usually a limited number of passes per year), plus travel discounts credits you can put towards flights, accommodation and dining. These can be a nice ‘cherry on top’ if the rest of the card fits the bill.

Expert tips for using your credit card while travelling

Insider tips from Money.com.au’s credit cards expert (and frequent flyer), Brad Kelly.

Cover as many of your costs as you can before you travel

As soon as you leave Australia (or buy from an overseas retailer) you become a much more profitable customer for your bank because of the fees they charge.

Avoid foreign exchange fees by prepaying for as many expenses as you can (e.g. your accommodation) assuming you can do so in AUD.

Get clear on fees

If you’re going to be spending overseas regularly, it’s worth seriously considering a credit card with 0% foreign transaction fees . This could save you up to 3.65% on every transaction. This fee is often overlooked when people apply for a credit card .

Also be clear on what you’ll be charged for using an ATM. Chances are it will be a lot.

Make sure you ‘trigger’ your card’s travel insurance

Even if your credit card comes with travel insurance, there’s a good chance it won’t cover your trip automatically. You usually need to trigger the cover, in many cases by booking the travel/accommodation using the card itself. If you pay in full with card points (e.g. with Qantas credit card points ), that mightn’t be enough to trigger the insurance – you usually need to make an actual card purchase.

Don’t withdraw cash overseas using your credit card

Using a credit card to withdraw cash at an overseas ATM is going to be very expensive. You’ll be stung with a fee from the local ATM operator (unless it happens to be a Westpac card and the ATM is part of the Global ATM alliance), a foreign transaction fee, plus a cash advance fee. You won’t get any interest-free days, meaning you’ll immediately be paying a high rate of interest on the funds you withdrew. Basically unless it’s an emergency, don’t go near an ATM with your credit card.

Brad Kelly , Money.com.au's credit card expert

Don’t accept the “Do you want to pay in Australian Dollars” option

A lot of people get caught out by this one. When you’re making a card payment overseas, a lot of the time you’ll get the option to pay in the local currency or have the amount converted to Australian dollars.

Paying the AUD amount shown would seem like the sensible choice here, but trust me, it’s almost always a rip off. That option involves what’s called dynamic currency conversion which means the conversion rate is determined by the merchant and it’s usually a much worse rate than what your credit card provider will give you if you pay in the local currency.

Bring the physical card with you

In Australia we’re very used to paying through a phone or watch using the likes of Apple Pay and Google Pay. But that kind of payment is not as widely accepted overseas. You’ll need to use the physical card and, for a dose of nostalgia, you may even need to insert it into a card chip reader and enter a PIN.

You will also likely need to have the physical card if you’re using your card for pre-authorisation when checking into a hotel or renting a car.

Have at least one backup payment option

When it comes to travel in particular, one card does not fit all. You might like the idea of using a single card for all your spending, but there are situations when a debit card will be better. Having a card from a different financial institution can also be a life-saver if your primary bank has an outage while you’re away.

You've got to be a bit strategic about how you’ll spend money overseas. So plan ahead. The truth is, if you don’t, the potential for getting walloped with fees or being massively inconvenienced is far greater than it is when you’re using your card in Australia.

Sean Callery

Reviewed by.

Credit Cards Expert

As featured in.

• Entering, Transiting and Departing

APEC Business Travel Card

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Travel Card is a scheme designed to facilitate the movement of business travellers between APEC member economies.

Singapore citizens may apply for the card if they do not have any past criminal convictions, and are:

• A bona fide business person representing an economically active business entity; or
• A member of a professional body (for example, a doctor, lawyer or accountant); or
• A public officer representing a ministry, government department, economic agency or statutory board, travelling in official capacity.

Singapore citizens with a valid passport and the issued APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) may use the ABTC as a multiple-journey visa that enables expedited immigration clearance through designated lanes in the following participating economies:

If you travel to the US or Canada with an ABTC, you will be subjected to the standard immigration clearance processes; however, you may use ‘fast track’ immigration lanes (currently designated for airline crew) at major international airports*.

*The designated airports in Canada are:

• Calgary International Airport
• Edmonton International Airport
• Halifax Stanfield International Airport
• Montréal–Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
• Ottawa Macdonald–Cartier International Airport
• Toronto Pearson International Airport (Terminals 1 and 2)
• Vancouver International Airport
• Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.

You will need to provide original documents and official translations (for documents in languages other than English), as well as copies of the documents for ICA to retain.

ICA accepts:

• Translations provided by the embassy of the country that issued the document
• Translations produced by a notary public in Singapore or the country that issued the document
• Privately created translations attested by the embassy of the country that issued the document, or notarised by a notary public in Singapore or the country that issued the document.

ICA does not endorse any private translation companies or entities. Insufficient documentation may result in non-acceptance of your application. You may be required to provide additional documents to support your application.

You will need the following to apply for an ABTC using e-Service :

• Your recent passport-sized, digital, colour photograph taken within the last three months. Please see Photo Guidelines for information on photo requirements.
• Scanned signature image file:- in JPEG format ('jpg' extension)  - Preferred dimension of 250 x 220 pixels  - File size of less than 60 KBytes
• Scanned copy of a letter of authorisation or support from the organisation:- in JPEG format ('jpg' extension) or PDF format  - File size of less than 1 MB ( sample supporting document )- If the letter of support is self-signed, please provide a scanned copy of your ACRA Business Profile
• For members of professional bodies who are applying for the ABTC in their personal capacity, a letter  stating the reason for application, along with proof of membership from the professional body must be provided
• If you are applying as part of an overseas company, you must submit a scanned copy of the company's overseas business registration certificate written in any of the four official languages (English, Mandarin, Tamil or Malay).
• Valid Singapore passport.

Login to our e-Service  using your Singpass 2FA to complete the online application form.

If your ABTC has expired or there is a change in your passport details, you would need to submit a new application online. If your passport is expiring, or you have a pending passport application, please apply for a new ABTC after you have collected your replacement passport.

A non-refundable S$100 fee is payable.

Payment can be made using either:

• Visa or MasterCard credit/debit card
• American Express (AMEX) credit card
• Internet Direct Debit (DBS/POSB, OCBC, UOB and Standard Chartered Bank internet banking accounts in Singapore)

You may wish to save your receipt after you have made payment, as it will not be emailed to you automatically.

The processing time for an ABTC is at least three months upon the receipt of the application. In some cases, it may take up to a year to secure pre-clearance from all ABTC-participating economies.

The clearance of your ABTC is dependent on other APEC economies' processing times. As several APEC economies have just resumed normalcy after disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the issuance of your interim and/or your final card may be delayed.

You may wish to check the approval status of your application via https://www.abtc-aps.org/abtc-core/status/check.html , 3 to 4 weeks after the approval of your application. Do select "Singapore" as the Economy of Application and key in the applicant's passport number to check.

Should you have any ABTC-related enquiry, you may reach out to us via  https://go.gov.sg/abtc-enquiry .

Related Links

• Advice for Singapore Citizens
• Apply/Renew a Singapore Passport
• Photo Guidelines
• Document: Specimen Letter for ABTC application (from supporting organisation) (PDF, 262KB)
• Document: Specimen Letter for ABTC application (for members of professional bodies) (PDF, 6KB)
• e-Service: ABTC
• Payment/Refund FAQs

• Sustainability
• Small Business
• Mastercard launches mobile virtual card app to simplify travel and business expenses

HSBC and Westpac to unlock the convenience, security and efficiency of tap to pay transactions   

Mastercard announced a new mobile virtual card app that enables virtual commercial cards to be seamlessly added to digital wallets. The innovative app is designed to offer financial institutions more choice in how they deliver the secure and sustainable contactless payment solutions that companies increasingly expect.  

For over a decade, Mastercard has pioneered virtual card solutions to simplify tedious expense report and reconciliation processes for employees, contractors, recruits, and consultants who often use personal cards or cash for reimbursable business expenses. As companies navigate changing payment preferences particularly from the entry-level workforce – with over two-thirds of millennials having adopted digital wallets 1 – mobile technology is unlocking the next frontier of convenient contactless payments.   

“Businesses worldwide are seeking fast and secure payment experiences, where payments can be made with just a click or tap, and finance teams can experience automatic reconciliation,” said Chad Wallace, global head of Commercial Solutions, Mastercard. “With today’s launch, we’re providing innovative tech that digitizes business and travel expenses, while also empowering businesses with more control of and visibility into their finances.”  

The app leverages Mastercard’s innovative virtual card and tokenization platforms, enhanced data, and robust spend controls all within one easy-to-use interface. Accessing Mastercard mobile virtual cards is made seamless through the app so users can quickly experience the benefits of tap to pay. Mastercard mobile virtual cards can be used by organizations spanning a range of sizes and industries – including healthcare, insurance, fleet, higher education, and corporate travel.  

Key capabilities and benefits of Mastercard’s mobile virtual card app include:  

• Increased security : The app offers the ability to set up a biometric authentication and an added security measure using a PIN to view card details. Each virtual card is also tokenized, enabling the cardholder’s sensitive data to be replaced by a unique card number so sensitive account details are not exposed.  
• Robust spend controls: Organizations can confidently stay compliant with expense policies using Mastercard’s transaction-level controls, which limit how, where, and when a mobile virtual card can be used. 
• Flexible integrations: Financial institutions can quickly get to market through Mastercard’s user interface or flexible API-based integrations, and offer unique features such as customized card art.  
• Holistic and seamless payment experience: The app provides a single interface to check the status of card balances and view pending and completed transactions, and is bank-agnostic, enabling users to access and manage virtual commercial cards issued by multiple participating financial institutions.  
• Real-time and enhanced data: For each mobile virtual card created, custom data elements are automatically captured and matched to the transaction, providing organizations with increased insights into spending and automatic reconciliation to optimize back-office processes. 

HSBC Australia and Westpac will be the first financial institutions to offer organizations and corporate customers mobile wallet functionality through the Mastercard app.    

“We’re pleased to partner with Mastercard to bring mobile wallet virtual cards to our Australian corporate clients, providing them with a smarter, safer, and faster way to pay,” said John Scott, Head of Global Payments, HSBC Australia. “Mobile wallet usage is growing, with the Asia-Pacific region accounting for over half of the digital payment transactions globally 2 . As contactless payments continue to surge, it’s important that corporate clients have access to best-in-class payment solutions to keep their business secure and take advantage of the increased efficiency offered by the latest technologies. HSBC has a history of delivering innovative digital solutions to our corporate clients, and we’re proud to add to that legacy with the launch of mobile wallet virtual cards in Australia. We plan to launch in other markets later this year.” 

“Westpac is pleased to be one of the first domestic banks in Australia to offer the new Mastercard mobile virtual card app to our corporate and commercial customers in addition to our existing virtual card capabilities. The global payments market is at an inflection point and the mobile wallet solution, combining digital innovation, real time processing and security through robust controls is another way we’re helping our customers,” said Jeff Byrne, Managing Director of Global Transaction Services at Westpac Institutional Bank. 

The app will be available in other key markets for users with a commercial virtual card issued through an organization by a participating financial institution. Once registered for the app with an invitation code, users will find their commercial virtual cards automatically linked and ready to be added to select digital wallets for use across Mastercard’s trusted global network.  

For more information on other ways Mastercard is simplifying commercial payments, click here .  

1 PYMNTS Research: “Mobile Wallet Challenge: Replacing Physical With Digital,” (April 2023)  

2 “Global Mobile Payment Methods 2024 Report” (January 2024)  

Disclaimers:  

Mastercard In Control Pay app and features are available only for eligible virtual card accounts issued by the financial institution. Prepaid Cards and Consumer Cards are not eligible. The virtual card(s) are not issued by Mastercard and is (are) subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant issuer.  

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About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

www.mastercard.com

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Mastercard Sites

• Mastercard.com
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