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China → Italy

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
China
To
Italy
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
8,062
Change since 2018
-19.6%
Share of all arrivals in Italy, 2023
2.15%
Inflow 20238,062OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<ITCHINA<ITALY<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
CN3<IT3<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Migration from China to Italy

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

Inflows by year

11k23k200120042007201020132016201920222023
11k23k2001200520092013201720212023
Data table
20019,906
20029,963
200314,171
200419,305
200514,732
200613,579
20079,719
200812,791
200916,843
201022,866
201120,055
201220,463
201317,592
201415,828
201514,866
201612,366
201711,253
201810,025
201910,788
20204,926
20216,158
20228,152
20238,062
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—308,984—
20238,062307,0381,254
20228,152300,2161,118
20216,158330,495833
20204,926288,923661
201910,788283,4301,460
201810,025290,6811,508
201711,253281,9721,583
201612,366271,3301,864
201514,866265,8201,896
201415,828256,8461,436
201317,592—925
201220,463197,064754
201120,055184,173696
201022,866168,048505
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

121k242k19901995200020052010201520202024
121k242k19902000201020202024
Data table
199013,193
199522,172
200035,885
200582,605
2010141,087
2015192,597
2020241,671
2024240,895
Estimate, 2024
240,895
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
3.7%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
5
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

Italy's consulates in China

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
2024227,293218,7468,4163.7%
2023143,648136,1557,3215.1%
202212,87210,6932,10116.3%
20211,9941,71028114.1%
202034,59733,4321,1543.3%
2019564,537549,00715,5292.8%
2018475,717461,82913,8822.9%
2017410,396396,59713,7873.4%
2016362,504348,82413,6743.8%
2015537,763524,92912,7942.4%
2014386,669379,2177,3911.9%
2013339,106333,7055,2731.6%
2012277,802268,3489,4543.4%
2011238,404230,1668,2383.5%
2010154,755151,5473,2182.1%
200995,39488,8076,5896.9%

Applications by year

282k565k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
282k565k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200995,394
2010154,755
2011238,404
2012277,802
2013339,106
2014386,669
2015537,763
2016362,504
2017410,396
2018475,717
2019564,537
202034,597
20211,994
202212,872
2023143,648
2024227,293
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Italy

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

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family5,216
  2. Education4,574
  3. Other reasons3,586
  4. Work887
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
202514,2636200
20249,286291,2586,909
20238,631261,2546,354
202210,578271,1185,970
20218,751238335,674
20204,9231566112,413
20199,337301,46011,965
201811,208291,50815,167
201711,792281,58314,531
201611,964281,86413,768
201514,722111,89612,581
201416,97191,43611,318
201319,96709250
201224,98617540
201126,43006960
201048,65505050
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities687
  2. Researchers138
  3. EU Blue Card62
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
340,829
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
3,337
Changed status into work, 2025
3,492
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
29
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
4
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 Italy in China, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyBeijingambpechino.esteri.it
Consulate-generalHong Kong—
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

New residence permits in Italy

New residence permits issued in Italy to citizens of China, by year and reason (Istat).

YearAllWorkFamilyStudyAsylum and protectionOther reasons
202513,4759075,0944,5882,560326
20247,9659913,1592,5571,051207
20238,3461,3902,8333,779170174
202210,5033,3482,7884,075131161
20218,6862,6543,1562,591112173
20204,7311671,9222,370115157
20198,8892743,5674,505219324
201811,3675645,6404,553249361
201712,0305186,4074,300441364
201612,1184886,3874,394480369

New permits by year

6,73813k2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
6,73813k201620182020202220242025
Data table
201612,118
201712,030
201811,367
20198,889
20204,731
20218,686
202210,503
20238,346
20247,965
202513,475
Source: Istat, residence permits of non-EU citizens: permits issued in the year and valid permits on 1 January (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Italy, 2023; China ranks 13.

Inflows to Italy, 2023
  1. Ukraine33,897
  2. Albania29,990
  3. Romania26,711
  4. Bangladesh25,969
  5. Egypt21,409
  6. Morocco20,928
  7. Pakistan20,402
  8. Argentina17,065
  9. Brazil15,000
  10. India13,691
  11. Tunisia12,609
  12. Peru11,336
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. 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