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China → Switzerland

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
China
To
Switzerland
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
3,526
Change since 2018
+14.6%
Share of all arrivals in Switzerland, 2023
1.97%
Inflow 20233,526OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<CHCHINA<SWITZERLAND<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
CN3<CH5<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

Migration from China to Switzerland

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

Inflows by year

1,7633,526201020132016201920222023
1,7633,526201020132016201920222023
Data table
20101,945
20112,136
20122,362
20132,870
20142,948
20153,265
20163,180
20173,138
20183,077
20193,344
20203,119
20213,432
20223,246
20233,526
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—20,700—
20233,52619,511197
20223,24618,247188
20213,43217,223183
20203,11916,612156
20193,34415,697239
20183,07715,088311
20173,13814,530272
20163,18013,831277
20153,26512,632235
20142,94811,556222
20132,870——
20122,3629,413—
20112,1369,413—
20101,945——
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

15k30k19901995200020052010201520202024
15k30k19902000201020202024
Data table
19902,385
19953,616
20005,517
20058,856
201013,548
201521,580
202026,848
202430,309
Estimate, 2024
30,309
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.1%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
20
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

Switzerland's consulates in China

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202495,00390,3434,6504.9%
202369,90067,3242,5753.7%
20223,1642,9022628.3%
20211,00788312412.3%
20206,1345,9401903.1%
2019105,522103,0662,4502.3%
201880,76179,8189271.1%
201774,80073,8289621.3%
201669,36868,1981,1551.7%
201579,38977,8311,5291.9%
201477,83976,2681,5482.0%
2013105,194103,7581,4181.3%
201295,96394,3471,6161.7%
201170,18068,5711,6092.3%
201044,58443,6039812.2%
200930,63428,8161,8185.9%

Applications by year

53k106k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
53k106k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200930,634
201044,584
201170,180
201295,963
2013105,194
201477,839
201579,389
201669,368
201774,800
201880,761
2019105,522
20206,134
20211,007
20223,164
202369,900
202495,003
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Switzerland

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

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Education2,201
  2. Work788
  3. Family491
  4. Other reasons65
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20253,545000
20244,01902833,958
20234,36901933,750
20223,79501873,408
20213,75201822,820
2020001522,401
2019002532,083
20183,45603291,902
20173,12502931,678
20163,23302841,506
20153,07202381,388
20141,99102211,274
20133,39501581,227
20122,7390134424
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities788
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
22,013
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
84
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 Switzerland in China, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyBeijingeda.admin.ch
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Switzerland, 2023; China ranks 10.

Inflows to Switzerland, 2023
  1. Germany26,211
  2. France19,955
  3. Italy19,497
  4. Portugal12,750
  5. Spain8,964
  6. Poland7,576
  7. Romania7,520
  8. Hungary4,175
  9. Türkiye3,788
  10. China3,526
  11. India3,514
  12. Afghanistan3,466
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