Overview

• Premier Li Qiang signed a State Council decree on Aug. 14 to amend entry rules and establish the K visa.
• The visa dispenses with any employer or invitation requirement and bases eligibility on applicants’ age, academic credentials and work experience.
• K visa holders will receive longer validity, multiple-entry privileges and the right to pursue education, research, technology projects and cultural exchanges.
• Some media outlets report an under-45 age cap and a preference for graduates of top global universities, although officials have not confirmed a specific numeric limit.
• Observers view the policy as a strategic effort to position China ahead of Western countries in the competition for elite tech talent.