Japan plans to join a system that allows businesspeople to travel in the Asia-Pacific region without the use of visas, government sources said Monday.

Relevant government ministries -- such as the Foreign Ministry, the Justice Ministry and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry -- will work out necessary ordinances to pave the way for Japan's entry into the system by the end of March 2004, the sources said.

Steps will also be taken to safeguard the system from criminal abuse, they added.

The system is part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and has already been adopted by eight economies, including South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and Malaysia.

Five other economies, including China and Indonesia, have also announced plans to join it.

Until now, Japan had been reluctant to join, fearing that cards used under the system might be forged.

Under the APEC Business Travel Card system, businesspeople can visit member economies without obtaining visas as long as they carry designated cards and passports issued by their own governments.

They can make trips of up to three months whenever necessary during the three-year period in which the card is valid.

The system would benefit frequent travelers, nullifying the 4 yen,000-5,000 yen cost of each travel visa issued, although applicants are required to pay around 10,000 yen for each card.

While each member government is now allowed to issue no more than 2,000 cards, a METI official said this number will be increased gradually.

Each card will carry the holder's photograph and list his or her name, address and the countries and regions he or she will visit.