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China → Iceland

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
China
To
Iceland
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
99
Change since 2018
-6.6%
Share of all arrivals in Iceland, 2023
0.60%
Inflow 202399OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<ISCHINA<ICELAND<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
CN3<IS0<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Migration from China to Iceland

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

Inflows by year

204408200020032006200920122015201820212023
2044082000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200048
200131
200232
200350
200492
2005408
2006193
200792
200869
200964
201076
201161
201271
201353
201479
201578
201679
2017101
2018106
201980
202081
202187
202277
202399
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—369—
2023993836
2022773636
2021873506
2020813371
2019803122
20181062864
20171012526
20167925413
2015782388
2014792174
201353—5
2012712104
2011612301
2010762117
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

5641,12819901995200020052010201520202024
5641,12819902000201020202024
Data table
199058
1995118
2000177
2005335
2010483
2015582
2020747
20241,128
Estimate, 2024
1,128
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.1%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
19
Counted by
country of birth
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Iceland's consulates in China

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202418,45217,5843241.8%
202311,42310,3492772.4%
2022817622.5%
202128230—
20201,0691,804201.9%
201915,03414,9771310.9%
20187,3436,8691512.1%
20175,8325,393631.1%
20164,4864,46950.1%
20152,5822,55570.3%
20141,2841,274100.8%
20131,2031,180231.9%
20121,0881,078100.9%
20116365538313.1%
2010562549132.3%
2009448417316.9%

Applications by year

9,22618k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
9,22618k200920122015201820212024
Data table
2009448
2010562
2011636
20121,088
20131,203
20141,284
20152,582
20164,486
20175,832
20187,343
201915,034
20201,069
202128
202281
202311,423
202418,452
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Iceland

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

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Education43
  2. Family15
  3. Work9
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
202567000
2024750381
2023870651
2022570653
2021570638
2020640134
2019750236
2018900432
2017760635
20167201335
2015590847
2014680429
2013340532
201246040
201188010
2010144070
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)8
  2. Other paid activities1
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
421
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
29
Changed status into work, 2025
3
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 Iceland in China, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyBeijinggovernment.is
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Iceland, 2023; China ranks 28.

Inflows to Iceland, 2023
  1. Poland4,357
  2. Ukraine1,659
  3. Romania1,211
  4. Lithuania1,022
  5. Latvia667
  6. Spain540
  7. Czechia441
  8. Vietnam411
  9. Germany411
  10. Portugal391
  11. United States366
  12. Italy340
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