APEC Business Travel Card Holders Now Get 90 Days in China — New Rule Starts Today | China Travel
China extends the maximum stay for APEC Business Travel Card holders from 60 to 90 days, effective November 1, 2026 — with Hong Kong matching the move. Here's who it helps and what it means for an APEC-week trip.
Key takeaway
中国外交部领事司10月30日宣布，将APEC商务旅行卡持卡人在华最长停留期由60天延长至90天，自2026年11月1日起实施；香港同步宣布，已获预先审批的持卡人免签访港逗留期限自11月1日起延长至90天。
How the rules work
13 days to APEC. The summit hasn't even started, and Shenzhen's host-city prep just got a lot more travel-friendly: China has extended the maximum stay for APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) holders from 60 days to 90 days, effective today, November 1.
The announcement came from the Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 30, with Hong Kong confirming the same day that pre-approved cardholders get 90 days of visa-free access there too.
What changed
- China: maximum stay on the mainland extended from 60 to 90 days, effective November 1, 2026.
- Hong Kong: pre-approved ABTC holders now get a visa-free stay of up to 90 days, also from November 1.
That's the headline. The card itself hasn't changed — it's still the multi-entry travel card for business travelers from the 21 APEC member economies, letting you skip visa applications and use dedicated lanes at major airports and ports.
Who this helps
The ABTC covers business travelers from all 21 APEC economies — including Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea and the US — who've been approved through their own economy's issuing process. If you hold one, you now have a full quarter of uninterrupted working time in China per visit, instead of two months.
For context: 90 days is longer than most standard business itineraries need, which is exactly the point. The extension is aimed at executives, sourcing teams and project staff who shuttle between cities — like buyers arriving for the Canton Fair sourcing season, or delegates heading to APEC in Shenzhen on November 14.
What this means if you're planning a trip
- If you hold an ABTC: your in-China window just grew by 50%. You can now stack a sourcing trip, factory visits and the Shenzhen APEC week into a single stay.
- If you don't hold one: nothing changes for you — the ABTC is a business-person's card, issued and managed through your home economy's APEC office, not something you apply for in China. Regular travelers keep using the 240-hour transit visa-free policy or standard tourist visas.
- Don't confuse the two: the 240-hour transit-free window is for short tourism stopovers; the ABTC is a multi-entry business card. The new rule only extends the ABTC.
- Coming for APEC? The extension pairs well with Shenzhen's port upgrades — 24-hour clearance at the new Huanggang Port and APEC green lanes at major crossings.
The takeaway
The 90-day extension is the quiet kind of policy win: no spectacle, just more room for legitimate business travelers to work, source and explore across China. With APEC landing in Shenzhen in 13 days, it's also a signal that China is making the region's business travel loop easier — one rule at a time.
Holding an ABTC and building an APEC-week itinerary? Keep an eye on the official APEC Shenzhen page for event updates, or browse the Canton Fair hub if you're combining a sourcing run. ChinaPie helps with experiences and guides — we don't handle visa paperwork or card applications.
What to do next
持卡人入境时留意口岸APEC专用通道；如需在港停留，确认卡片已获香港预先审批；行程跨60天以上者可充分利用新规；普通游客不受影响，仍适用240小时过境免签或常规旅游签证
What may vary
各经济体APEC商务旅行卡审批与有效期规则由申请人所属经济体管理，具体以卡片签发经济体为准；口岸现场如遇临时管制，以现场公告为准