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China → Sweden

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
China
To
Sweden
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
2,617
Change since 2018
-9.1%
Share of all arrivals in Sweden, 2023
3.43%
Inflow 20232,617OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<SECHINA<SWEDEN<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
CN3<SE8<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Migration from China to Sweden

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

Inflows by year

1,5933,186200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,5933,1862000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000911
20011,018
20021,179
20031,390
20041,519
20051,701
20061,985
20072,386
20082,677
20093,098
20103,186
20112,619
20122,453
20132,075
20142,351
20152,326
20162,180
20172,697
20182,880
20192,763
20201,694
20211,876
20221,944
20232,617
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—23,392—
20232,61723,951589
20221,94423,195712
20211,87622,268370
20201,69421,855390
20192,76320,208458
20182,88018,601461
20172,69717,331543
20162,18016,646581
20152,32617,467502
20142,35117,132473
20132,075—452
20122,45315,494446
20112,61914,134367
20103,18611,817426
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

20k41k19901995200020052010201520202024
20k41k19902000201020202024
Data table
19903,736
19955,651
20007,864
200512,642
201022,704
201528,556
202035,677
202440,898
Estimate, 2024
40,898
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.8%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
15
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

Sweden's consulates in China

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202445,39042,6062,8946.4%
202329,78326,3262,9469.9%
20222,5952,01253320.5%
202183250431537.9%
20204,2764,0903638.5%
2019103,167100,8251,4091.4%
201887,93684,3652,4432.8%
201790,95189,9941,6451.8%
201674,14072,3759661.3%
201548,92247,9938251.7%
201436,88534,6869622.6%
201331,44028,7031,5785.0%
201231,16227,9751,8636.0%
201131,83229,6538382.6%
201024,14219,4525222.2%
200919,59018,0475472.8%

Applications by year

52k103k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
52k103k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200919,590
201024,142
201131,832
201231,162
201331,440
201436,885
201548,922
201674,140
201790,951
201887,936
2019103,167
20204,276
2021832
20222,595
202329,783
202445,390
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Sweden

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

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Education2,236
  2. Work826
  3. Family801
  4. Other reasons661
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20254,524600
20245,32432413,331
20234,87435892,818
20223,36107122,833
20213,36023702,852
20203,15913902,670
20195,13414582,534
20185,35634612,597
20175,57415432,396
20164,93805832,418
20154,58005032,337
20144,92204762,373
20134,54904552,547
20124,95804480
20114,85903700
20106,42904290
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)421
  2. Researchers304
  3. Other paid activities96
  4. EU Blue Card5
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
23,925
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
886
Changed status into work, 2025
167
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
7
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Sweden: national statistics office

Immigrations of citizens of China to Sweden, by grounds for settlement (Statistics Sweden).

YearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
20252,6066021,3525521090
20243,3637261,9256071095
20232,6176241,33654413100
20221,9444678784583138
20211,87639785745417151
20201,6943647984171996
20192,76379992685020168
20182,8808178361,05910158
20172,6977348569608139
20162,18053872277234114
20152,326628678962355
20142,3516786219701963
20132,0755735678642744
20122,4536125891,00165186
20112,6197406021,02441212
20103,1866321,53687233113

All by year

1,6823,36320052007200920112013201520172019202120232025
1,6823,363200520092013201720212025
Data table
20051,701
20061,985
20072,386
20082,677
20093,098
20103,186
20112,619
20122,453
20132,075
20142,351
20152,326
20162,180
20172,697
20182,880
20192,763
20201,694
20211,876
20221,944
20232,617
20243,363
20252,606
Source: SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0)Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

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

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyBeijingswedenabroad.com
Consulate-generalHong Kongswedenabroad.se
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Sweden, 2023; China ranks 5.

Inflows to Sweden, 2023
  1. India7,461
  2. Poland4,493
  3. Germany3,819
  4. Afghanistan3,125
  5. China2,617
  6. Syria2,515
  7. Pakistan2,383
  8. Romania2,216
  9. Iran1,944
  10. Italy1,842
  11. Denmark1,790
  12. Türkiye1,719
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