“The US is closing itself off. China is opening up, albeit slowly and from a low base. But the Chinese population doesn't seem enthusiastic.
While the US is tightening visa regulations for foreign talent, China is making it easier for them to enter the country.
Starting this Wednesday, the country is introducing a new visa category specifically for foreign talent in technical and scientific disciplines. The new K visa will be issued to "young foreign scientists and technicians," according to representatives of the Ministry of Justice. Applicants must have at least a bachelor's degree from a reputable university in the fields of science, engineering, or mathematics. The crucial difference from previous visa types is that applicants do not need to have an employer or a sponsoring organization; they can look for a job once they arrive.
However, several other details are still unclear.
Even though the contrast to the Trump administration's approach is stark, China is currently hardly a serious competitor in the race for foreign talent. America is historically a country of immigration; China, throughout its history, has repeatedly been isolated or closed off. Today, hardly any other country in the world has as few foreigners as the People's Republic. Tens of millions of Chinese people have never met a foreigner. Outside the major metropolises, even in large cities with millions of inhabitants, one can spend days without encountering a foreigner. In the most recent census from 2020, the government counted a total of only around 850,000 foreigners in all of China, which corresponds to a share of 0.06 percent. For comparison: That means there are fewer foreigners in all of China than in Berlin. More recent data is not yet available.
Almost half of these foreigners are people from Myanmar and Vietnam, wrote Shanghai-based recruitment consultant Miriam Wickertsheim in a report last year. They primarily settle in the southern Chinese province of Yunnan and are less likely to work in tech companies and more likely to be employed in agriculture. The number of students from Europe and the USA in China has decreased. The number of German students in China, however, has barely recovered from the pandemic slump. According to data from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), only around 3,400 Germans were studying in China recently, compared to around 8,000 before the pandemic.
Since the end of the pandemic, Beijing has been trying to attract more foreigners to the country. "China's development requires the participation of talent from all over the world," representatives of the Ministry of Justice explained when presenting the K visa.
Almost two years ago, China began allowing citizens of many countries visa-free entry for what is now 30 days. The regulation now applies to more than three dozen countries, including Germany and many other European states.
China's tech companies have made apps like WeChat and Alipay, without which daily life in the People's Republic is practically impossible, more accessible.
"China knows that highly qualified foreigners bring many advantages: tax revenue, know-how, but also consumer spending," says Wickertsheim. "And they bring a lot of soft power, meaning they can promote China in their home countries."
Wickertsheim believes the new visa has a good chance of success. "I've recently received many messages from Indians and their parents," she says. "I've never received anything like that before." They had originally wanted to go to the USA, but are now uncertain. "China's initiatives are primarily aimed at the Global South." In addition, many ethnic Chinese people coming from Germany or America would take advantage of the offer. "They come and try to find a job on the spot."
Nevertheless, the hurdles for foreigners remain high. "The country is not geared towards foreigners in everyday life. You simply can't do many things if you don't speak Chinese," says the German scientist Roland Eils, who specializes in artificial intelligence in medicine and is currently setting up a new institute in Shanghai in addition to his work at the Charité hospital in Berlin. "The leadership is strongly advocating for international talent to come." But this hasn't yet been fully implemented everywhere within the authorities," Eils explains, describing his own experiences. "China needs to get to the point where this international openness is actually practiced. America – before Trump – always benefited from offering an open environment for everyone."
How far the country still has to go became evident in recent days on Chinese social media. There, the new visa type was one of the dominant topics and topped the list of most discussed topics on platforms like Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of X (formerly Twitter), and Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. The vast majority of Chinese people seem to have little enthusiasm for the plan. Weibo analyzes user sentiment among widely discussed posts. Under each of these posts, the percentage of negative comments was overwhelming. Only five percent or less of the comments supported the K visa.
Instead, concerns about the job market and resentment towards immigrants predominated. Youth unemployment in cities rose to 18.9 percent in August, almost reaching the level of two years ago, when the government temporarily stopped publishing the figures, allegedly to change the methodology. Increased competition from foreigners could further exacerbate the situation for young Chinese people. Many users also expressed concerns that foreigners might bring diseases such as HIV or that they could be spies. "I have nothing against the K visa," one wrote. "But I do have something against Indians coming here. Don't let them in; they can go to Canada or the USA." Around 7,000 people agreed with him. [1]
1. China umgarnt Tech-Talente. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung; Frankfurt. 01 Oct 2025: 20. Von Gustav Theile
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