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China → France

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
China
To
France
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
5,830
Change since 2018
+26.1%
Share of all arrivals in France, 2023
2.25%
Inflow 20235,830OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<FRCHINA<FRANCE<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
CN3<FR6<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Migration from China to France

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

Inflows by year

3,8007,600200020032006200920122015201820212023
3,8007,6002000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20001,811
20012,349
20021,866
20032,416
20042,919
20052,790
20065,953
20074,973
20085,241
20095,453
20105,720
20115,540
20126,256
20137,600
20145,269
20154,991
20165,309
20174,717
20184,625
20195,444
20203,562
20213,669
20224,639
20235,830
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
20235,830—1,608
20224,639——
20213,669101,7601,640
20203,562100,4311,087
20195,444108,1201,502
20184,625103,0681,600
20174,717102,1821,720
20165,309100,5122,057
20154,991100,6581,830
20145,269—1,835
20137,600—1,497
20126,256—1,331
20115,540—1,336
20105,72086,2071,403
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

60k121k19901995200020052010201520202024
60k121k19902000201020202024
Data table
199018,863
199527,845
200042,871
200573,324
201096,880
2015110,174
2020114,237
2024120,595
Estimate, 2024
120,595
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.3%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
17
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

France's consulates in China

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
2024458,018429,97324,4105.3%
2023271,111251,96414,0055.2%
202226,76022,5321,6456.1%
20215,1254,9361252.4%
202047,02949,9612,7985.9%
2019709,616664,72738,5565.4%
2018816,719768,74443,7935.4%
2017728,343697,09829,6244.1%
2016610,700586,34522,6633.7%
2015762,616733,32827,8493.7%
2014562,709540,15622,3814.0%
2013355,980335,96119,8175.6%
2012296,847277,09919,7486.7%
2011254,551237,67916,8726.6%
2010215,155198,89816,3097.6%
2009149,541139,25810,3616.9%

Applications by year

408k817k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
408k817k200920122015201820212024
Data table
2009149,541
2010215,155
2011254,551
2012296,847
2013355,980
2014562,709
2015762,616
2016610,700
2017728,343
2018816,719
2019709,616
202047,029
20215,125
202226,760
2023271,111
2024458,018
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in France

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

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Education7,592
  2. Other reasons4,501
  3. Work2,547
  4. Family1,259
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
202515,89911100
202414,8901431,62622,712
202314,782941,60821,745
202211,388961,60823,261
20219,762571,64023,450
20208,801561,08724,780
201915,498651,50223,524
201814,313511,60023,494
201715,145471,72024,788
201616,256512,05723,378
201515,140481,83025,297
201415,589371,83525,388
201316,466141,49725,234
201215,03641,3310
201114,53201,3360
201014,54001,4030
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities1,752
  2. Researchers669
  3. EU Blue Card111
  4. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)15
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
134,223
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
2,803
Changed status into work, 2025
1,566
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
232
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
17
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 France in China, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyBeijingcn.ambafrance.org
Consulate-generalChengduconsulfrance-chengdu.org
Consulate-generalGuangzhou—
Consulate-generalHong Kongconsulfrance-hongkong.org
Consulate-generalShanghaicn.diplomatie.gouv.fr
Consulate-generalShenyangconsulfrance-shenyang.org
Consulate-generalWuhanconsulfrance-wuhan.org
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in France, 2023; China ranks 14.

Inflows to France, 2023
  1. Algeria20,762
  2. Morocco17,703
  3. Tunisia14,656
  4. Afghanistan10,974
  5. Italy10,113
  6. Spain9,628
  7. Côte d’Ivoire7,945
  8. Belgium7,813
  9. Portugal7,426
  10. Germany7,105
  11. Türkiye6,780
  12. Romania6,667
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