China introduces new K visa to attract young foreign STEM talents

The State Council of the People’s Republic of China recently revised the Regulations on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, adding a new visa category of K visa, effective 1 October 2025.

• Revision Content
  • A new K visa category has been added, specifically tailored to the needs of foreign young science and technology talents who meet certain conditions and requirements.
• Eligible Applicants
  • Foreign youth who have graduated from renowned domestic or international universities or research institutions with a bachelor’s degree or higher in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics);
  • Foreign young professionals engaged in education and research in STEM-related fields.
• Core Benefits
  • Optimising duration of stay: Compared to existing ordinary visa types, holders may enjoy more flexibility in terms of entry frequency and validity period.
  • Expanded scope of activity: Activities include exchanges and collaborations in education, science, technology, culture, entrepreneurship, and business.
  • Simplified Admission Requirements: Applications will no longer require sponsorship from a local enterprise, and will be based on age, educational background, or work experience criteria for the application.

Since China introduced the R visa for high-level talent in 2013, the addition of the K visa specifically targets foreign young talent working in the science and technology sector. This highlights China’s emphasis on attracting the next generation of scientists and researchers. The K visa will enable holders to arrange their activities in China more flexibly, effectively promoting diverse scientific and technological cultural exchanges.

Currently, details such as the specific age range for “young” individuals, the scope of specific tech industries, the exact validity period and duration of stay for K visas, and follow-up residency policies after entry remain to be further clarified.For eligible foreign young science and technology talents and domestic universities and enterprises planning to hire them, it is recommended to:

• Closely monitor the K visa application guidelines released by Chinese embassies and consulates abroad;
• Prepare relevant materials such as academic credentials, research achievements, and proof of employment or enrolment;
• Apply for the K visa and facilitate the arrival of talent according to the requirements in a compliant and efficient manner.

If you need assistance with entry and exit matters, please contact KPMG. We will share the latest developments in entry and exit policies and provide professional support.

Policy changes  at the company level primarily manifest as cost impacts and compliance requirements. Financial institutions need to take corresponding actions from these two main directions. Considering that financial institutions also engage in asset management, it is necessary to further expand and consider the impact on product and investor-side costs and compliance management. Regarding these two main directions, we provide the following high-level recommendations:

1. Assess Impact & Adjust Strategy: Comprehensively evaluate the impact of the VAT policy change on existing investment models. Adjust short-term and medium-to-long-term investment strategies to mitigate cost impacts and adapt.
2. Update Systems for Compliance & Operations: Modify and optimise existing VAT or related systems (e.g., adding issuance date fields, reviewing tax exemption flags) to ensure compliant tax treatment. At the same time, it is also necessary to synchronously renovate and update related operation, financial, and other systems to achieve integrated management of operation, finance, taxation, and invoices.
3. Closely monitor developments related to the new VAT Law and its implementing regulations, as they may introduce significant changes, including adjustments to existing preferential policies. KPMG will continue tracking and sharing insights.