Premier Li Qiang recently signed an order of the State Council promulgating the Decision of the State Council on Amending the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (hereinafter referred to as the "Decision"), which will come into force on October 1, 2025. The Decision consists of two articles, which stipulate the following contents. It is stipulated that a new K-word visa will be added to the ordinary visa category and issued to foreign young scientific and technological talents entering the country. It is stipulated that the application for a K visa should meet the conditions and requirements of foreign young scientific and technological talents stipulated by the relevant competent departments of the Chinese government, and submit corresponding supporting materials.
What are the categories of ordinary visas?
According to the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Administration of Entry and Exit of Foreigners, ordinary visas are divided into the following categories, and the corresponding Chinese pinyin letters are marked on the visa:
(1) C visas are issued to international train crews, international aircraft crews, crew members of international ships and their accompanying family members, and automobile drivers engaged in international road transport who perform crew, aviation and shipping tasks.
(2) D visa, issued to those who enter the country for permanent residence.
(3) F visa, issued to personnel entering the country to engage in exchanges, visits, inspections and other activities.
(4) G visa, issued to persons transiting through China.
(5) J1 visa, issued to foreign resident journalists of foreign news agencies in China; J2 visa, issued to foreign journalists entering the country for short-term interviews and reports.
(6) K-shaped visa, issued to foreign young scientific and technological talents entering the country.
(7) L visa, issued to inbound tourists; Group L visas can be issued for group tourism.
(8) M-type visa, issued to persons entering the country for commercial and trade activities.
(9) Q1 visa, issued to family members of Chinese citizens who apply for entry and residence due to family reunification, family members of foreigners with permanent residence status in China, and those who apply for entry and residence due to foster care and other reasons; Q2 visas are issued to relatives of Chinese citizens living in China and relatives of foreigners with permanent residency status in China who apply for short-term family visits.
(10) R visa, issued to foreign high-level talents needed by the country and urgently needed specialized talents.
(11) S1 visa, issued to the spouses, parents, children under the age of 18, parents of spouses, and other foreigners who are residing in China for work, study and other reasons, as well as those who need to stay in China for other personal matters; The S2 visa is issued to family members of foreigners who are staying in China for work, study and other reasons who apply for short-term family visits, as well as those who need to stay in China for other personal matters.
(12) X1 visa, issued to those who apply for long-term study in China; X2 visa, issued to those who apply for short-term study in China.
(13) Z visa, issued to those who apply to work in China.
