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Afghanistan → Netherlands

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Afghanistan
To
Netherlands
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
1,500
Change since 2018
+57.4%
Share of all arrivals in the Netherlands, 2023
0.52%
Inflow 20231,500OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<NLAFGHANISTAN<NETHERLANDS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
AF5<NL4<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Migration from Afghanistan to the Netherlands

Inflows of nationals of Afghanistan recorded by the Netherlands; stock of nationals of Afghanistan living there; and acquisitions of the Netherlands' nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

1,6783,356200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,6783,3562000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000567
2001541
2002597
2003803
2004513
2005461
2006387
2007224
2008236
2009289
2010338
2011275
2012231
2013397
2014554
2015667
20161,879
2017785
2018953
2019741
2020643
20212,470
20223,356
20231,500
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—10,967—
20231,50010,5771,293
20223,3568,1561,215
20212,4706,4481,014
20206436,5331,253
20197416,138390
20189535,501392
20177855,033453
20161,8793,446477
20156673,144510
20145543,4491,027
20133973,8941,341
20122313,399567
20112753,323371
20103383,234402
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in Afghanistan who live in the Netherlands: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

21k43k19901995200020052010201520202024
21k43k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990779
19953,853
200022,120
200532,269
201031,418
201533,051
202036,035
202442,853
Estimate, 2024
42,853
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.4%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
20
Counted by
country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

The Netherlands' consulates in Afghanistan

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at the Netherlands' consulates located in Afghanistan.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
2021372538.1%
202073510—
20192662044918.4%
20182181610—
20171781590—
201687730—
20151188410.8%
20141671420—
201318314152.7%
201225219841.6%
201120412310.5%
201022016962.7%
2009126114107.9%

Applications by year

1332662009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
13326620092012201520182021
Data table
2009126
2010220
2011204
2012252
2013183
2014167
2015118
201687
2017178
2018218
2019266
202073
202137
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in the Netherlands

First residence permits issued by the Netherlands to citizens of Afghanistan (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Other reasons768
  2. Family628
  3. Education83
  4. Work5
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20251,484000
20241,25011,3220
20231,48411,2930
20223,38901,2150
20213,53801,0140
202080101,2530
2019950087236
20181,305081834
20171,30501,1610
20161,07301,08937
2015842095935
201492701,37120
20131,13601,62614
201298309780
20111,68203710
20101,14504020
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)3
  2. Researchers1
  3. Other paid activities1
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
12,501
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
1,001
Changed status into work, 2025
5
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Netherlands: national statistics office

Immigrants with the nationality of Afghanistan arriving in the Netherlands, by migration motive; only nationalities from outside the EU/EFTA are covered (Statistics Netherlands).

YearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
20251,40551405257305
20241,15056039568010
20231,50510254151,0505
20223,33010154352,8655
20212,4505403202,0850
202065001526036510
2019740101036033030
201896002049043020
201783051525053525
20162,1200102551,84510
20156805201954555
2014570051853755
201345501518024020
201236001014518025
201141001023015020
201045003524514525

All by year

1,6653,33020052007200920112013201520172019202120232025
1,6653,330200520092013201720212025
Data table
2005515
2006465
2007280
2008275
2009375
2010450
2011410
2012360
2013455
2014570
2015680
20162,120
2017830
2018960
2019740
2020650
20212,450
20223,330
20231,505
20241,150
20251,405
Source: CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of the Netherlands in Afghanistan, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyKabulnederlandwereldwijd.nl
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in the Netherlands, 2023; Afghanistan ranks 36.

Inflows to the Netherlands, 2023
  1. Ukraine38,497
  2. Poland25,298
  3. Syria19,551
  4. Romania13,914
  5. Bulgaria12,328
  6. India12,073
  7. Türkiye11,250
  8. Italy10,603
  9. Spain10,447
  10. Germany10,429
  11. China7,991
  12. Portugal6,084
Other destinations for people from Afghanistan, 2023
  1. Germany58,482
  2. United States35,630
  3. Canada20,180
  4. Türkiye12,732
  5. France10,974
  6. Australia4,275
  7. Belgium3,934
  8. Austria3,530
  9. Switzerland3,466
  10. Sweden3,125
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more