Foreign businesspeople holding an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) may enter Vietnam without a visa and are granted a 90-day temporary residence certification for each entry at international border gates. These are the two core benefits under Decision 28/2026/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister (issued 29 May 2026, effective 1 July 2026) — which replaced Decision 09/2023/QD-TTg.
What the ABTC is and why it carries a visa exemption
The ABTC is a card issued by competent authorities to businesspeople of APEC member economies for business travel within the region. When a foreign businessperson holds an ABTC listing Vietnam as an economy consenting to entry — and the person has been vetted by the Immigration Department (Ministry of Public Security) — they may enter Vietnam without applying for a visa and are exempt from related immigration fees (Article 20 of Decision 28/2026/QD-TTg).
Two directions of use must be distinguished:
- Inbound: foreign businesspeople using the ABTC to enter Vietnam — visa-free entry with a 90-day temporary residence certification per entry under Article 21.
- Outbound: Vietnamese businesspeople using the ABTC to travel to APEC member economies — entry conditions and stay periods follow the laws of each destination economy.
An important note: the ABTC does not replace a passport. Cardholders must still present a valid passport at immigration, and the card is only valid for the economies that have consented to entry (specifically listed on the card) — it is not a “travel anywhere visa-free” pass. The United States and Canada do not fully participate in the ABTC scheme.
Stay duration per entry: 90 days
Under Article 21 of Decision 28/2026/QD-TTg, foreign businesspeople entering Vietnam with an ABTC are issued a 90-day temporary residence certification for each entry by the immigration control unit at the international border gate, provided the certification is at least 30 days shorter than the passport’s remaining validity. If the ABTC has less than 90 days of validity remaining, the certification is issued for exactly the card’s remaining validity.
It must be stressed: the “60 days” figure circulating from old practice is no longer correct since Decision 28/2026 took effect (1 July 2026). Any materials citing Decision 09/2023/QD-TTg are outdated and must not be relied upon.
The scope of the “visa exemption” should also be understood correctly: the ABTC allows multiple visa-free entries, but each stay is limited to 90 days. Cardholders wishing to stay longer must complete other procedures under Vietnam’s laws on entry, exit and residence of foreigners.
Five-year card validity — no renewal on expiry
An ABTC is valid for 05 years from the date of approval by APEC member economies, not exceeding the validity of the passport. This article states the Decision’s wording as written, without interpreting how that milestone is determined in practice.
A key point: an expired ABTC cannot be renewed — the holder must go through the new-issuance procedure if they still need the card. As to form, Decision 28/2026 recognises two formats with equal legal value: the traditional hard card and the electronic card (Virtual ABTC).
Transitional provision (Article 27): ABTCs issued before 1 July 2026 remain usable until the end of the validity stated on the card.
Conditions for new issuance to Vietnamese businesspeople (tightened from 1 July 2026)
Under Article 8 of Decision 28/2026/QD-TTg, the conditions for new ABTC issuance to Vietnamese businesspeople have been tightened:
- On the enterprise: continuous operation for at least 24 months; good compliance with tax, customs, labour and social insurance laws.
- On the businessperson: at least 18 years old; permanent residence registered in Vietnam; employed by the requesting unit for at least 12 months; social insurance contributions at the requesting unit for at least 06 months (except those not subject to mandatory social insurance); holding a position of Deputy Head of Department or equivalent and above; not subject to exit suspension.
ABTC issuance fees
Under Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC (effective 1 April 2026): the fee for new issuance is VND 840,000 per issuance, and for re-issuance VND 700,000 per issuance. Note: some older materials cite “Circular 81/2026” — that reference number is wrong; the correct one is Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC.
The information in this article is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice. It cites Decision 28/2026/QD-TTg (effective 1 July 2026); please verify the text in force at the time of application.
Contact FLAT Law Firm for assistance with ABTC procedures and immigration and residence matters for foreigners in Vietnam.
For reference only, not legal advice. Content quality-checked by the AI Legal Council; not yet reviewed by a human lawyer.