China Extends Permitted Stay for APEC Business Travel Card Holders
From 1 November 2026, China will increase the maximum permitted stay for APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders from 60 to 90 days, giving eligible business travelers greater flexibility when visiting China.
The ABTC is designed to simplify frequent business travel across participating Asia-Pacific economies. Eligible cardholders can travel without obtaining an individual business visa for each trip and benefit from expedited immigration processing, including access to dedicated lanes at participating airports.
For businesses with employees travelling regularly to China, the increase provides greater flexibility when planning longer stays and could reduce some of the administrative burden associated with frequent cross-border travel.
While the change makes longer trips easier for eligible travelers, businesses should continue to consider the immigration and wider compliance requirements that may apply to each trip.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact us.