diff --git a/paimon-python/pypaimon/common/options/core_options.py b/paimon-python/pypaimon/common/options/core_options.py
index 7d9a227e4a9d..384e24138969 100644
--- a/paimon-python/pypaimon/common/options/core_options.py
+++ b/paimon-python/pypaimon/common/options/core_options.py
@@ -56,6 +56,22 @@ class MergeEngine(str, Enum):
     FIRST_ROW = "first-row"
 
 
+class StartupMode(str, Enum):
+    """
+    Startup mode for scan operations.
+    """
+    DEFAULT = "default"
+    LATEST_FULL = "latest-full"
+    LATEST = "latest"
+    COMPACTED_FULL = "compacted-full"
+    FROM_TIMESTAMP = "from-timestamp"
+    FROM_SNAPSHOT = "from-snapshot"
+    FROM_SNAPSHOT_FULL = "from-snapshot-full"
+    FROM_CREATION_TIMESTAMP = "from-creation-timestamp"
+    FROM_FILE_CREATION_TIME = "from-file-creation-time"
+    INCREMENTAL = "incremental"
+
+
 class CoreOptions:
     """Core options for Paimon tables."""
     # File format constants
@@ -240,6 +256,21 @@ class CoreOptions:
         .with_description("Specify the file name prefix of data files.")
     )
     # Scan options
+    SCAN_MODE: ConfigOption[StartupMode] = (
+        ConfigOptions.key("scan.mode")
+        .enum_type(StartupMode)
+        .default_value(StartupMode.DEFAULT)
+        .with_description(
+            "Scan startup mode for the table. "
+            "'default' resolves the actual mode from other scan options. "
+            "'latest-full' reads the latest snapshot then streams changes. "
+            "'latest' only streams changes without an initial snapshot. "
+            "'from-timestamp' reads from a specific timestamp. "
+            "'from-snapshot' reads from a specific snapshot. "
+            "'incremental' reads incremental changes between two snapshots/tags."
+        )
+    )
+
     SCAN_FALLBACK_BRANCH: ConfigOption[str] = (
         ConfigOptions.key("scan.fallback-branch")
         .string_type()
@@ -613,6 +644,9 @@ def blob_target_file_size(self, default=None):
     def data_file_prefix(self, default=None):
         return self.options.get(CoreOptions.DATA_FILE_PREFIX, default)
 
+    def scan_mode(self, default=None):
+        return self.options.get(CoreOptions.SCAN_MODE, default)
+
     def scan_fallback_branch(self, default=None):
         return self.options.get(CoreOptions.SCAN_FALLBACK_BRANCH, default)