Japan to join 'APEC Business Travel Card' system

Asian Political News, August 19, 2002

TOKYO, Aug. 12 Kyodo

Japan plans to participate in a system that allows businesspeople to travel in the Asia-Pacific region without obtaining visas, government sources said Monday.

Government ministries concerned, such as the Foreign Ministry, the Justice Ministry and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), will work out necessary ordinances to pave the way for Japan's entry into the system in fiscal 2003, the sources said.

The system is part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and has already been adopted by eight economies including South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and Malaysia. Five more economies, including China and Indonesia, have announced plans to join it.

Under the APEC Business Travel Card system, businesspeople can visit member economies without obtaining visas from them as long as they carry designated cards and passports issued by their own governments. They can make trips whenever necessary for up to three months per visit during the three-year validity of the card.

The system benefits frequent travelers as they can save 4,000 to 5,000 yen payable for the issuance of each visa, although applicants are required to pay about 10,000 yen for each card.

While each member government is now allowed to issue no more than about 2,000 cards in order to prevent their abuse, a METI official said the number will be increased by stages.