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China → Portugal

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
China
To
Portugal
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
1,454
Change since 2018
-37.7%
Share of all arrivals in Portugal, 2023
0.47%
Inflow 20231,454OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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CN3<PT2<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

Migration from China to Portugal

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

Inflows by year

1,9633,925200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,9633,9252000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000409
20013,925
20021,036
2003578
2004787
2005315
2006531
2007962
20082,046
20091,947
20101,653
20111,507
20121,362
20131,863
20143,728
20152,576
20162,839
20172,600
20182,335
20192,164
20201,378
20211,356
20221,115
20231,454
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—28,123—
20231,45422,22689
20221,11522,974134
20211,35626,227129
20201,37827,905150
20192,16425,420108
20182,33523,245117
20172,60022,555102
20162,83921,376173
20152,57621,453147
20143,72818,681147
20131,863—157
20121,36216,795154
20111,50715,714114
20101,65314,41278
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

6,75014k19901995200020052010201520202024
6,75014k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990673
19951,452
20002,291
20056,280
20109,227
201510,461
202012,000
202413,500
Estimate, 2024
13,500
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.2%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
17
Counted by
country of birth
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Portugal's consulates in China

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202417,11915,8279865.8%
202313,42611,8981,52811.4%
20222,3201,97434514.9%
20215675056210.9%
20202,5082,2962128.5%
201936,77631,9244,84713.2%
201827,73126,3881,3214.8%
201729,12827,8411,2644.3%
201616,63815,5211,0966.6%
201516,04515,2248165.1%
201414,24114,0192221.6%
20139,7409,670690.7%
20124,8414,771701.4%
20113,5931,7841,80950.3%
20103,3613,278541.6%
20092,2672,136683.0%

Applications by year

18k37k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
18k37k200920122015201820212024
Data table
20092,267
20103,361
20113,593
20124,841
20139,740
201414,241
201516,045
201616,638
201729,128
201827,731
201936,776
20202,508
2021567
20222,320
202313,426
202417,119
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Portugal

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

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Other reasons858
  2. Family792
  3. Work695
  4. Education212
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20252,557000
20241,59701851,302
20231,431089952
20221,1750134941
20211,4781129776
20201,4140150777
20192,1750108686
20182,3350117599
20172,6020102488
20162,8410173473
20153,4590147284
20144,7110147148
20132,2331156247
20121,68701540
20111,72801140
20101,7670780
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities650
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)34
  3. Researchers11
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
24,598
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
11
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 Portugal in China, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyBeijingpequim.embaixadaportugal.mne.pt
Consulate-generalMacaucgportugal.org
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Portugal, 2023; China ranks 20.

Inflows to Portugal, 2023
  1. Brazil147,264
  2. Angola24,374
  3. Cape Verde14,623
  4. São Tomé and Príncipe14,504
  5. India12,185
  6. Guinea-Bissau10,320
  7. Bangladesh10,077
  8. Italy8,801
  9. United Kingdom7,365
  10. Pakistan6,869
  11. Germany5,483
  12. France5,138
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