China's new K-visa program, designed to attract foreign STEM professionals, has triggered domestic backlash amid soaring youth unemployment. Critics argue the policy, which allows overseas talent to work in China without employer sponsorship, risks sidelining local graduates struggling to find jobs in an already challenging labor market, according to Yonhap News and Sing Tao.
In October, China implemented the K-visa policy in response to rising H-1B visa fees in the US. The K-visa targets foreign nationals with bachelor's degrees or higher in STEM from top universities, allowing longer stays without employer sponsorship for work in education, technology, culture, entrepreneurship, and business. However, the policy has sparked debate domestically amid concerns over youth unemployment.
China's youth unemployment rate soared to 18.9% as of August 2025, according to coverage by South Korea's Herald, far exceeding the national average. Critics argue that prioritizing overseas STEM graduates for these visas, while local university graduates struggle to find jobs and often pursue further education, creates an uneven playing field. The policy's relaxed application process and lack of rigorous local vetting have also prompted calls for stricter scrutiny.
Alfred Wu of Singapore National University's Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy linked domestic criticism partially to the opaque nature of China's policy announcements. Wu suggested that more transparency and the public release of detailed data could help ease public skepticism about the initiative.
Reports from Yonhap and Sing Tao indicate significant foreign interest since the K-Visa's rollout. Seoul News cited a Shanghai-based consulting firm, noting a more than 30% surge in inquiries from prospective applicants hailing from India, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the US. This international enthusiasm suggests the visa could become a competitive alternative to US immigration programs, despite domestic concerns within China.
Article edited by Jack Wu
