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China → Netherlands

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
China
To
Netherlands
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
7,991
Change since 2018
+17.1%
Share of all arrivals in the Netherlands, 2023
2.76%
Inflow 20237,991OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<NLCHINA<NETHERLANDS<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
CN3<NL4<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

Migration from China to the Netherlands

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

Inflows by year

3,9967,991200020032006200920122015201820212023
3,9967,9912000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20001,824
20012,816
20023,428
20033,772
20042,956
20053,030
20062,908
20073,413
20084,234
20094,346
20104,466
20115,495
20125,184
20134,744
20144,837
20155,406
20165,734
20176,450
20186,826
20197,489
20204,398
20215,984
20226,050
20237,991
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—47,369—
20237,99143,656773
20226,05040,896—
20215,98438,851366
20204,39839,352292
20197,48936,491694
20186,82633,860455
20176,45031,437289
20165,73429,746499
20155,40628,220745
20144,83727,192628
20134,744—494
20125,18423,900437
20115,49521,371—
20104,46619,758490
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

41k82k19901995200020052010201520202024
41k82k19902000201020202024
Data table
199011,645
199515,660
200022,271
200544,711
201053,844
201563,431
202073,837
202482,477
Estimate, 2024
82,477
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
2.8%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
9
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

The Netherlands' consulates in China

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202472,59570,2031,7642.4%
202350,98349,4771,0852.1%
20224,6224,3242174.7%
20212,0211,955381.9%
20206,4876,3001312.0%
201985,85983,2492,3032.7%
201874,40871,7042,2873.1%
201750,13748,5281,3472.7%
201657,52554,8392,2904.0%
201558,58355,5642,6144.5%
201447,27246,0601,0402.2%
201344,36343,2531,0872.5%
201241,99640,5361,4483.4%
201141,33139,7951,5203.7%
201030,33729,3739493.1%
200923,79722,5801,0754.5%

Applications by year

43k86k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
43k86k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200923,797
201030,337
201141,331
201241,996
201344,363
201447,272
201558,583
201657,525
201750,137
201874,408
201985,859
20206,487
20212,021
20224,622
202350,983
202472,595
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in the Netherlands

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

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Education2,423
  2. Work1,968
  3. Family1,606
  4. Other reasons403
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20256,400000
20248,524499920
20239,041407730
20226,853126200
20216,637154030
20205,148213340
20198,682208215,172
20187,467155685,089
20177,27244080
20166,32626514,863
20156,24009494,804
20145,73637384,717
20136,16105514,844
20125,99604960
20115,71203650
20104,98004900
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)718
  2. Researchers699
  3. Other paid activities517
  4. EU Blue Card34
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
55,946
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
3,105
Changed status into work, 2025
1,463
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
332
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Netherlands: national statistics office

Immigrants with the nationality of China arriving in the Netherlands, by migration motive; only nationalities from outside the EU/EFTA are covered (Statistics Netherlands).

YearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
20255,9851,8852,4951,40014065
20247,6302,6503,2701,46018565
20237,9852,5903,7101,40022065
20226,0402,0802,97078017535
20215,9702,1153,03567511530
20204,3901,5351,98071010065
20197,4802,8453,1151,210160150
20186,8102,4103,0151,20011570
20176,4302,0802,9751,2159565
20165,7201,6252,7401,18012055
20155,3901,4952,6601,04512070
20144,8301,1252,3101,22510565
20134,7201,2302,3101,01040130
20125,1851,6252,44584545225
20115,4951,9302,32590065275
20104,4701,2552,04582090260

All by year

3,9937,98520052007200920112013201520172019202120232025
3,9937,985200520092013201720212025
Data table
20053,025
20062,980
20073,440
20084,345
20094,390
20104,470
20115,495
20125,185
20134,720
20144,830
20155,390
20165,720
20176,430
20186,810
20197,480
20204,390
20215,970
20226,040
20237,985
20247,630
20255,985
Source: CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

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

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyChaoyang Districtnederlandwereldwijd.nl
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in the Netherlands, 2023; China ranks 11.

Inflows to the Netherlands, 2023
  1. Ukraine38,497
  2. Poland25,298
  3. Syria19,551
  4. Romania13,914
  5. Bulgaria12,328
  6. India12,073
  7. Türkiye11,250
  8. Italy10,603
  9. Spain10,447
  10. Germany10,429
  11. China7,991
  12. Portugal6,084
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
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