Migration (Designated APEC Economy) Instrument (LIN 23/008) 2023, dated 30 January 2023, defines “designated APEC economy” in regulation 1.03 of the Migration Regulations 1994, as including each economy mentioned in Schedule 1 as a designated APEC economy.
A person who is the holder of a valid passport issued by a designated APEC economy, and who has applied to the Government of the designated APEC economy for an APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) is taken to have made a valid application for a Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa in the Business Visitor stream by operation of regulation 2.07AA of the Migration Regulations. The ABTC scheme provides accredited business people streamlined entry to participating economies.
The instrument commences retrospectively on 2 October 2022. This means that where a designated APEC economy passport holder has applied to the designated APEC economy for an ABTC on or after that date, the person will be taken to have made a valid application for a Subclass 600 (Visitor) visa in the Business Visitor stream.
The Instrument will maintain the arrangements previously in place under Migration Regulations 1994 – Specification of Designated APEC Economies – IMMI 12/078 which was repealed by sunsetting on 1 October 2022.
Schedule 1 specifies the following 19 APEC economies as Designated APEC Economies:
- Brunei Darussalam
- Canada
- Chile
- People’s Republic of China
- Hong Kong
- Indonesia
- Japan
- The Republic of Korea
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Papua New Guinea
- Peru
- The Republic of the Philippines
- The Russian Federation
- Singapore
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- The United States of America
- Vietnam
The instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on 1 February 2023 and commenced on 2 October 2022. It is currently in force.
