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China → United Kingdom

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
China
To
United Kingdom
Inflow 2023—OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from China to the United Kingdom

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

Inflows by year

41k82k2012201520182019
41k82k2012201520182019
Data table
201241,000
201349,000
201439,000
201543,000
201640,000
201766,000
201863,900
201982,000
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2023——3,330
2022——2,873
2021—124,0001,519
2020——2,027
201982,000—2,536
201863,899148,0002,675
201766,000132,0002,303
201640,000113,0003,263
201543,000122,0002,848
201439,000106,0003,927
201349,000—7,844
201241,00086,6217,944
2011—106,0006,966
2010—107,0007,580
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 United Kingdom: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

141k283k19901995200020052010201520202024
141k283k19902000201020202024
Data table
199015,269
199548,320
2000128,015
2005198,650
2010282,763
2015254,071
2020213,560
2024179,337
Estimate, 2024
179,337
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.5%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
16
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

UK visas

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of China, and students from China at UK universities.

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Visitor472,167
  2. Study89,648
  3. Other6,172
  4. Work5,774
  5. Family920

Visas issued by year

407k814k201020122014201620182020202220242025
407k814k201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010215,045
2011266,958
2012285,536
2013373,534
2014413,275
2015491,359
2016581,921
2017655,528
2018730,214
2019813,531
2020139,613
2021166,202
2022197,983
2023549,224
2024639,512
2025574,681

Students at UK universities (academic year ending)

77k154k20152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
77k154k201520172019202120232025
Data table
201589,700
201690,735
201795,530
2018107,240
2019121,135
2020142,115
2021143,795
2022151,685
2023154,260
2024149,635
2025143,145
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0; HESA, Table 28: Non-UK permanent address students (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 24 Oct 2026

Residence permits in the United Kingdom

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

YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
2019002,334122,140
2018100,54502,508107,813
201796,07902,11596,543
201687,00502,98989,318
201580,72402,58091,518
201473,87803,60886,204
201372,94907,38281,776
201268,96707,2920
201162,98207,0590
201057,07907,6910
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 the United Kingdom in China, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyChaowai Subdistrictgov.uk
Consulate-generalShanghaigov.uk
Consulate-generalTianhe Districtgov.uk
Consulate-generalWuhangov.uk
Consulate-general—gov.uk
ConsulateChongqinggov.uk
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Where else people from China move (OECD, 2023).

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