Posted by Yesterday, China announced that it will add a K-visa to its ordinary visa categories, available to eligible young science and technology professionals.
K-visa is not tied to one employer (as the Z visa does), you could start a business, or explore other opportunities as you wish.
With its significant advantages, the K-visa is poised to become the preferred choice for foreign professionals seeking to work in China. Our team is committed to closely monitoring all relevant policy changes to provide our clients and readers with timely, insightful analysis.
– August 15th, 2025
China’s newly announced K-visa policy could transform the landscape of how foreign nationals enter and work in the country.
For years, obtaining a Chinese work visa (Z visa) relied heavily on employer eligibility and has been time-consuming. Traditionally, job-hunting foreigners needed a Chinese employer to offer a work permit before they could even enter China. If you are holding a tourist or business visa (L-visa), the length of your stay in China may not be sufficient to complete the interview or set up your business (it also does not quite meet the requirements for a business visa as the purpose of entry). This also meant a several-month-long process full of paperwork and uncertainties. The K-visa offers a more flexible approach bypassing the employer — and a rare golden opportunity for those who act early.
1. What is a K-visa
K-visa stands for Ke-Ji (meaning “Science and Technology” in Chinese), and is meant to provide more flexibility to “foreign science and technology talents” hoping to work in China.
K-visa holders can engage in education, science & technology, cultural exchange, entrepreneurship, and business activities. Since the visa is not tied to one employer (as the Z visa does), you could start a business, or explore other opportunities as you wish.
There will be requirements over qualifications of age (e.g., perhaps under 35 or 40), recognized universities or STEM majors, or specific work experience in a related field.
China has yet to issue the specific details of how the new visa type will apply, but lawyers and experts at expat2china.com made our best guesses based on our expriences.
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- K-visa will be open for application starting October 1st. The Chinese embassy websites will post the requirements before that.
- The government hopes to see “fruits” from the new visa policy as early as possible, so early applicants face less competition and a more lenient evaluation. As the authorities get more experienced and application numbers go higher, it can be much more difficult.
2. How we can help
Feel free to contact us, and our experts will be helping you to:
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- Assess your eligibility under the upcoming K-visa framework
- Prepare and optimize your application materials for maximum approval chances
- Navigate country-specific rules at your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate
- Plan next steps for work, business, or entrepreneurship in China after arrival
The K-visa could be your fastest route to living and working in China without traditional employer restrictions — but only if you prepare early.
Yu
Yu is professional expert in China policy and government affairs, and has been working in the field for a decade. Yu has experience consulting multinational companies in navigating business in China. Yu graduated from the University of Michigan and holds a master’s degree. Yu possesses PRC Bar Admission, and has massive experience in resolving cases in China immigration and foreign employment area.
Yu is native in Chinese and can speak very fluent English. Yu can also speak elementary-level Spanish, and she is a big fan of Mexican food and culture.