China rolls out new visa type for young science talent

China announced on Thursday that it will introduce a new type of visa — a K visa — for young foreign talent in science and technology.

The new visa type was unveiled after Premier Li Qiang signed a State Council decree to promulgate a decision amending the country's regulations on the administration of foreigners' entries and exits. 

The decision came as China puts a greater emphasis on building a more proactive, open and effective talent policy.

The K visa is a new addition to the ordinary visa categories and the new rules will take effect on Oct 1, according to the decision, which was drafted by the Ministry of Justice, along with the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Public Security and the National Immigration Administration.

Applicants for the K visa should be young international professionals in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics who have earned a bachelor's degree or higher from prestigious universities or research institutions. In addition, it will be available to individuals involved in educational or research activities at prestigious universities or research institutions, according to a joint statement released by the four departments on Thursday night.

K visa holders are permitted to engage in activities in fields such as education, science and technology, and cultural exchanges, according to the joint statement.

Before this addition, there were 12 visa types classified based on the purposes of visiting China, including the L visa for sightseeing and tourism, the D visa for permanent residence and the G visa for transit through the country.

Compared with other visa types, the K visa will offer holders more convenience in terms of the number of entries, validity period and duration of stay. The eligibility criteria for the K visa are set based on applicants' age, educational background and work experience, without requiring them to have an employer or inviting organization within China, according to the statement.

The application process for this visa is designed to be more convenient, streamlining the steps for eligible applicants, it added.

The Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Public Security, along with embassies and consulates abroad, will step up collaboration in management of the issuance, extension, renewal and replacement of K visas, as well as the residence and stay of K visa holders. They will provide appropriate assistance to applicants and holders of K visas in accordance with the law, the statement said.