China has recently updated regulations concerning the entry and exit of foreign nationals, introducing a new ‘K Visa’ category. This visa, launching on October 1, 2025, aims to draw young, highly skilled professionals from around the world, with a specific focus on STEM fields. The K Visa is designed to offer holders greater flexibility in managing their activities, drawing comparisons to the US H1-B visa, albeit potentially less restrictive and costly.
This initiative emerges in a context where the US, under the Trump administration, imposed a substantial USD 100,000 annual application fee for H-1B visas, impacting numerous skilled foreign workers, particularly those from India. China’s new visa policy is seen as an opportunity for South Asian talent considering the shifting landscape of opportunities in the United States.
