Brunei APEC cardholders get 90-day visa-free Hong Kong stays from 1 November

Hong Kong's Immigration Department (ImmD) announced on 30 October 2026 that the visa-free period of stay for APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders will rise from 60 days to 90 days with effect from 1 November. The change applies to cardholders who have obtained pre-clearance from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Key facts

• Effective date: 1 November, in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland
• What changes: visa-free stay extended from 60 days to 90 days
• Who qualifies: ABTC holders with pre-clearance from Hong Kong
• Other economies adopting 90 days: the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore
• Scheme size: 19 participating economies

What is changing?

The ImmD said the APEC Business Mobility Group recently announced that five participating economies of the ABTC Scheme — the People's Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; the Philippines; and Singapore — will extend the maximum stay for visiting ABTC holders to 90 days to enhance the card's effectiveness. Each of the five economies will set its own implementation timeline.

The Mainland will roll out the new arrangement on 1 November, and the Hong Kong SAR is applying the extension at the same time to align with the Mainland's schedule.

Who is affected?

The scheme covers 19 economies: Australia; Brunei Darussalam; Chile; the People's Republic of China; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; the Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico; New Zealand; Papua New Guinea; Peru; the Philippines; Russia; Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; and Vietnam. ABTC holders with pre-clearance from these participating economies are entitled to a visa-free stay of no less than 60 days.

What do cardholders need?

To use the visa-free stay in Hong Kong, cardholders must have obtained pre-clearance from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The source does not state any fee, application procedure or processing time for that pre-clearance.

What this means for travellers

Business travellers holding an ABTC and planning a trip to Hong Kong from 1 November can stay up to 90 days without a visa, provided their pre-clearance from Hong Kong is in place. Cardholders heading to the Mainland should note the same date applies there. Travellers relying on the arrangement should check that their pre-clearance has been granted before travel.

The announcement sets the timing only for the Mainland and Hong Kong. The other economies named in the group decision have not had their implementation dates specified.