From October 1, 2025, China will start issuing the so-called “K visa“ — a special status for young people with education or experience in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).
The new regime aims to attract foreign talent by removing one of the most difficult conditions — the requirement for a prior employer or invitation. K visa holders will be able to reside and work more flexibly, participate in research, entrepreneurship and educational projects.
The government in Beijing describes the visa as “more flexible“ and “more open“, although the details — how long it will be valid and under what conditions The terms and conditions for the renewal have not yet been made public. Analysts see it as a continuation of China's strategy to attract young minds to the technology sector, especially after they have been flowing away to the US and the West over the past decade.
And overseas: the new H-1B fee has sparked a wave of criticism
At almost the same time, the United States introduced a new fee of $100,000 for each new H-1B visa - the program through which American companies hire foreign specialists, mainly in the IT sector.
The decision was described as a “blow to innovation“ by a number of business organizations, including the American Chamber of Commerce, which has already appealed the new measure in court.
The fee will not apply to existing visas, but will affect new applicants - and especially small companies, which can hardly afford such a cost.
Critics warn that the measure risks pushing young professionals to more accessible markets — including Asia.
The Global Brain Race
The combination of these two changes is seen as a new phase in the rivalry between the United States and China — not for goods or resources, but for human capital.
As America tightens rules and raises the cost of accessing its labor market, China is trying to show that it is more welcoming to young and ambitious professionals.
The question is how much the promises will match reality. China remains a country with limited permanent residency and citizenship options for foreigners, and the details of the K visa have yet to be tested in practice.
But symbolically, Beijing has managed to do something rare in the international competition for talent — to appear more open than Washington.