China?has announced plans to launch a new visa category for young science and technology specialists in a bid to attract global talent and accelerate its ambitions to become a technological superpower.

Under changes to foreign entry regulations announced by the State Council, eligible candidates will be able to apply for the ¡°young talent¡± K visa from 1 October.

The policy, signed into law by premier Li?Qiang, marks the first major update to China¡¯s visa system in several years.

It follows prior?moves to restore student mobility, including the reopening of X1 student visa applications at Chinese embassies after long Covid-related disruptions.

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State broadcaster CCTV reported that the visa will target young foreign professionals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics who have graduated from ¡°renowned¡± domestic or overseas universities and research institutions, or who are currently engaged in related research or teaching there.

Unlike most of China¡¯s existing 12 visa categories, the K visa will not require applicants to have a domestic employer or host organisation, and the application process is expected to be more streamlined.

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It will also offer more flexible entry rights, validity periods and durations of stay.

Although the government has not specified the upper age limit for K visa holders, similar schemes?¨C such as the Talented Young Scientist Programme ¨C cap eligibility at 45 years of age, while the Outstanding Young Scientists (Overseas) Fund Project sets the limit at 40.

The move comes amid Beijing¡¯s push to achieve self-reliance in high-tech fields and to rival the US in innovation.

By 2035, China aims to be a global leader in science and technology, a goal it is pursuing through research funding, targeted recruitment drives and enhanced academic incentives.

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Top Chinese universities have offered competitive salaries and bonuses to attract researchers from abroad, particularly from Asia and Africa.

Similar strategies have been explored in higher education¡¯s wider?global AI race.

The visa rollout contrasts with developments in the US, where researchers have faced shrinking federal funding and policy uncertainty following Donald Trump¡¯s return to the White House.

Cuts to the National Science Foundation¡¯s overhead budgets have affected postdoctoral research environments, while fears over a revival of the controversial China Initiative ¨C criticised for targeting Chinese-American scientists ¨C have prompted some academics to leave the US.

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Recent shifts have already driven a rise in applications to Hong Kong universities from the mainland,?amid US-China tensions.

tash.mosheim@timeshighereducation.com