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China → Germany

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
China
To
Germany
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
20,866
Change since 2018
-19.4%
Share of all arrivals in Germany, 2023
1.23%
Inflow 202320,866OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<DECHINA<GERMANY<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
CN3<DE3<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Migration from China to Germany

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

Inflows by year

13k27k200020032006200920122015201820212023
13k27k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200014,676
200119,109
200218,463
200316,059
200413,067
200512,034
200612,941
200713,573
200814,293
200915,369
201016,248
201118,276
201219,740
201322,350
201423,163
201525,511
201626,632
201726,590
201825,902
201925,593
202011,368
202115,749
202215,265
202320,866
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—157,440—
202320,866150,830670
202215,265147,395510
202115,749146,340590
202011,368149,895690
201925,593143,775840
201825,902136,910870
201726,590129,465871
201626,632119,759988
201525,511110,3311,099
201423,163101,0771,241
201322,350—1,271
201219,74086,4351,355
201118,27681,3311,332
201016,24879,8701,300
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

84k168k19901995200020052010201520202024
84k168k19902000201020202024
Data table
199011,932
199528,893
200043,411
200570,885
201080,683
2015117,274
2020152,761
2024168,314
Estimate, 2024
168,314
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

Germany's consulates in China

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
2024263,088253,5058,0503.1%
2023160,479155,9503,7842.4%
202212,91711,7674803.7%
20214,9733,99065313.1%
202040,43537,7552,6806.6%
2019431,817411,07820,7024.8%
2018437,462418,64418,7764.3%
2017406,962393,51213,4133.3%
2016395,241383,26411,9453.0%
2015362,132349,32612,7093.5%
2014316,197302,53713,5684.3%
2013290,023268,40421,5437.4%
2012247,278236,25811,0204.5%
2011217,220208,2878,9334.1%
2010194,514184,37410,1515.2%
2009150,419138,77111,6707.8%

Applications by year

219k437k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
219k437k200920122015201820212024
Data table
2009150,419
2010194,514
2011217,220
2012247,278
2013290,023
2014316,197
2015362,132
2016395,241
2017406,962
2018437,462
2019431,817
202040,435
20214,973
202212,917
2023160,479
2024263,088
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Germany

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

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Education7,750
  2. Work5,041
  3. Family3,251
  4. Other reasons706
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
202516,7484,03400
202412,4693,8111,12036,655
202315,6293,37967537,221
202215,5993,12751038,486
202115,2983,80759538,386
202012,5343,13569539,281
201917,4083,7528500
201819,4442,1468750
201715,7741,9778720
201614,0311,5489950
20158,1641,1821,1080
201414,6039351,2510
201313,6549341,2790
201212,6332541,3630
20118,47201,3440
20109,94001,3060
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Researchers1,923
  2. EU Blue Card1,401
  3. Other paid activities1,269
  4. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)448
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
120,144
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
5,879
Changed status into work, 2025
1,399
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
657
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 Germany in China, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyBeijingchina.diplo.de
Consulate-generalChengduchengdu.diplo.de
Consulate-generalHong Konghongkong.diplo.de
Consulate-generalShanghaishanghai.diplo.de
Consulate-generalShenyangshenyang.diplo.de
Consulate-generalTianhe Districtchina.diplo.de
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Residence status in Germany

Citizens of China living in Germany on 31 December, by residence status in the Central Register of Foreigners (Destatis).

31 DecAllEU free movementPermanent residence titleEmploymentEducation and trainingFamily reasonsInternational law, humanitarian or political reasonsTolerated stay (Duldung)Permission to reside during the asylum procedure
2025168,6601,70552,75021,84527,96518,5502,3801,1251,420
2024163,0001,71050,07521,40530,54518,8452,2809501,355
2023155,9551,67547,39020,14032,86018,8002,3001,125760

Residents in Germany (31 Dec)

84k169k201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
84k169k2014201620182020202220242025
Data table
2014110,284
2015119,590
2016129,150
2017136,460
2018143,135
2019149,195
2020145,610
2021146,450
2022149,550
2023155,955
2024163,000
2025168,660
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Germany, 2023; China ranks 17.

Inflows to Germany, 2023
  1. Ukraine283,631
  2. Romania202,039
  3. Syria128,742
  4. Türkiye115,937
  5. Poland97,945
  6. Bulgaria65,871
  7. Afghanistan58,482
  8. India54,123
  9. Italy38,460
  10. Hungary34,003
  11. Russia26,720
  12. Serbia24,155
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. Spain20,471
  8. Italy8,062
  9. 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