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China → Japan

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
China
To
Japan
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
106,717
Change since 2018
-8.8%
Share of all arrivals in Japan, 2023
17.24%
Inflow 2023106,717OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<JPCHINA<JAPAN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
CN3<JP8<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

Migration from China to Japan

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

Inflows by year

67k134k200020032006200920122015201820212023
67k134k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200075,281
200186,437
200288,619
200392,218
200490,300
2005105,824
2006112,532
2007125,338
2008134,178
2009121,227
2010107,930
2011100,358
2012107,841
201393,941
201499,681
2015101,908
2016104,858
2017112,056
2018117,071
2019133,936
202046,338
202115,333
202298,983
2023106,717
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—821,838—
2023106,717761,5632,651
202298,983716,6062,262
202115,333778,1122,526
202046,338813,6752,881
2019133,936764,7202,374
2018117,071730,8903,025
2017112,056695,5223,088
2016104,858665,8472,626
2015101,908654,7772,813
201499,681649,0783,060
201393,941—2,845
2012107,841674,8793,598
2011100,358687,1563,259
2010107,930680,5184,816
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

459k917k19901995200020052010201520202024
459k917k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990139,964
1995214,379
2000321,374
2005489,363
2010672,253
2015758,791
2020917,070
2024809,893
Estimate, 2024
809,893
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
23.8%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
1
Counted by
citizenship
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Residents in Japan

Citizens of China living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan).

Residents in work-related statuses

118k236k2012201420162018202220242025
118k236k2012201420162018202220242025
Data table
2012198,084
2013193,074
2014187,964
2015184,264
2016187,554
2017195,061
2018205,654
2019224,409
2022169,959
2023192,914
2024213,409
2025236,091
DecemberAll residentsWork-related statusesEngineer/Specialist in Humanities/International ServicesSpecified Skilled WorkerTechnical Intern TrainingStudentPermanent ResidentDependent
2025930,428236,091117,31422,10522,583148,151357,56593,581
2024873,286213,409103,62217,76125,960141,496343,81683,218
2023821,838192,91492,14113,46828,860134,651330,81076,131
2022761,563169,95982,5028,88828,802125,940314,35467,735
2019813,675224,40990,76610082,370144,264273,77682,382
2018764,720205,65481,736077,806132,411260,96378,417
2017730,890195,06175,010077,567124,292248,87374,962
2016695,522187,55468,274080,857115,278238,43869,784
2015665,847184,26460,504089,086108,331225,60564,492
2014654,777187,96455,4470100,093105,557215,15562,599
2013649,078193,07453,9110107,174107,435204,92761,780
2012652,595198,08454,4610111,395113,980191,95862,374
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Workers in Japan (employment reports)

Citizens of China working in Japan, as reported by employers at the end of each October (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare). China includes Hong Kong and Macao.

Workers by year (end of October)

216k432k20212022202320242025
216k432k20212022202320242025
Data table
2021397,084
2022385,848
2023397,918
2024408,805
2025431,949
By industry, October 2025
  1. Wholesale and retail trade91,409
  2. Other industries73,200
  3. Manufacturing69,880
  4. Accommodation and food services54,642
  5. Information and communications46,658
  6. Other services46,658
  7. Education20,930
  8. Construction15,694
  9. Health and welfare12,878
Workers, October 2025
431,949
Change on a year earlier
+5.7%
Via dispatch or contracting firms
10.8%
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan), reports on the employment of foreign workers, end of October 2025 (Public Data License 1.0)Data as at Oct 2025

Embassy and consulates

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

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyBeijingcn.emb-japan.go.jp
Consulate-generalChongqingchongqing.cn.emb-japan.go.jp
Consulate-generalHong Konghk.emb-japan.go.jp
Consulate-generalShanghaishanghai.cn.emb-japan.go.jp
Consulate-generalShinan Districtqingdao.cn.emb-japan.go.jp
Consulate-generalYuexiu Districtguangzhou.cn.emb-japan.go.jp
Consulate-general—shenyang.cn.emb-japan.go.jp
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Japan, 2023; China ranks 2.

Inflows to Japan, 2023
  1. Vietnam133,732
  2. China106,717
  3. Indonesia67,088
  4. Nepal39,564
  5. Philippines37,338
  6. Myanmar30,849
  7. South Korea27,566
  8. United States19,684
  9. Thailand16,777
  10. Taiwan13,603
  11. Sri Lanka11,328
  12. India10,547
Other destinations for people from China, 2023
  1. South Korea132,855
  2. United States57,240
  3. Canada39,350
  4. Australia36,349
  5. New Zealand26,214
  6. Germany20,866
  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