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China → Belgium

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
China
To
Belgium
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
1,627
Change since 2018
+10.6%
Share of all arrivals in Belgium, 2023
1.07%
Inflow 20231,627OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<BECHINA<BELGIUM<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
CN3<BE9<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Migration from China to Belgium

Inflows of nationals of China recorded by Belgium; stock of nationals of China living there; and acquisitions of Belgium's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

1,0632,125200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,0632,1252000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000815
20011,272
20022,125
20031,575
20041,393
20051,222
20061,469
20071,171
20081,270
20091,344
20101,360
20111,707
20121,483
20131,583
20141,182
20151,236
20161,351
20171,211
20181,471
20191,697
2020935
20211,456
20221,457
20231,627
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—14,388—
20231,62713,993280
20221,45713,478201
20211,45613,260166
202093513,599258
20191,69712,856324
20181,47112,308246
20171,21112,058310
20161,35111,736274
20151,23611,430270
20141,18211,241190
20131,583—320
20121,48310,400314
20111,7079,891280
20101,3608,670370
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

12k24k19901995200020052010201520202024
12k24k19902000201020202024
Data table
19903,477
19954,750
20006,489
200511,250
201016,331
201519,235
202021,781
202423,856
Estimate, 2024
23,856
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.0%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
21
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

Belgium's consulates in China

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at Belgium's consulates located in China.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202419,70018,9294462.3%
202319,88518,1691,7168.6%
20222,7752,513853.1%
20211,7881,744150.8%
20202,6802,538421.6%
201939,65937,8781,1042.8%
201839,57538,1161,1943.0%
201743,06941,7979012.1%
201642,67641,0491,0882.5%
201541,55739,8966711.6%
201417,22816,4716523.8%
201317,19916,0687464.3%
201217,59316,1101,0706.1%
201116,52315,3361,1877.2%
201013,20111,9861,2309.3%
200912,04210,9221,1249.3%

Applications by year

22k43k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
22k43k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200912,042
201013,201
201116,523
201217,593
201317,199
201417,228
201541,557
201642,676
201743,069
201839,575
201939,659
20202,680
20211,788
20222,775
202319,885
202419,700
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Belgium

First residence permits issued by Belgium to citizens of China (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Education1,185
  2. Work421
  3. Family279
  4. Other reasons167
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20252,0521100
20242,13773961,157
20231,89572801,376
20221,75372011,233
20211,58941661,044
20201,2034258917
20192,1008324557
20181,7151246340
20171,8462310607
20161,7643274562
20151,7570270604
20141,7410190688
20131,6510320511
20121,74003140
20111,78402800
20101,74903700
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities153
  2. Researchers130
  3. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)128
  4. EU Blue Card10
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
13,969
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
620
Changed status into work, 2025
143
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
2
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

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

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyBeijingchina.diplomatie.belgium.be
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Belgium, 2023; China ranks 24.

Inflows to Belgium, 2023
  1. Romania12,889
  2. Ukraine11,972
  3. France11,830
  4. Netherlands7,385
  5. Spain6,420
  6. Morocco6,155
  7. Türkiye6,119
  8. Italy5,642
  9. Syria5,496
  10. Portugal4,398
  11. Palestine4,001
  12. Afghanistan3,934
Other destinations for people from China, 2023
  1. South Korea132,855
  2. Japan106,717
  3. United States57,240
  4. Canada39,350
  5. Australia36,349
  6. New Zealand26,214
  7. Germany20,866
  8. Spain20,471
  9. Italy8,062
  10. Netherlands7,991
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