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Japan → Germany

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Japan
To
Germany
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
6,091
Change since 2018
-14.7%
Share of all arrivals in Germany, 2023
0.36%
Inflow 20236,091OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<DEJAPAN<GERMANY<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
JP8<DE3<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Migration from Japan to Germany

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

Inflows by year

3,5807,159200020032006200920122015201820212023
3,5807,1592000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20005,646
20016,194
20025,954
20036,071
20045,677
20055,821
20065,444
20075,554
20085,847
20095,482
20105,567
20116,827
20126,629
20136,755
20146,747
20156,886
20167,002
20176,942
20187,137
20197,159
20203,003
20214,112
20225,587
20236,091
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—38,705—
20236,09137,18020
20225,58735,98015
20214,11235,56535
20203,00338,30520
20197,15937,49040
20187,13736,60050
20176,94235,75554
20167,00235,00436
20156,88634,38829
20146,74733,78127
20136,75532,73819
20126,62931,40317
20116,82729,32519
20105,56729,41023
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Germany's consulates in Japan

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
20241,8751,7261186.3%
20231,8081,696935.1%
20221,061982686.4%
2021244221218.6%
202044043461.4%
20192,6492,621190.7%
20182,6442,625150.6%
20172,3772,349220.9%
20162,2272,196261.2%
20152,1592,129211.0%
20141,8711,838291.5%
20131,7131,657502.9%
20121,5921,579130.8%
20111,4941,446483.2%
20101,5551,479775.0%
20091,4461,3431067.3%

Applications by year

1,3252,6492009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
1,3252,649200920122015201820212024
Data table
20091,446
20101,555
20111,494
20121,592
20131,713
20141,871
20152,159
20162,227
20172,377
20182,644
20192,649
2020440
2021244
20221,061
20231,808
20241,875
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Germany

First residence permits issued by Germany to citizens of Japan (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Work1,777
  2. Family1,729
  3. Education1,109
  4. Other reasons36
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20254,65129800
20244,473280202,228
20234,270261202,175
20224,324217151,819
20214,075293301,616
20202,750251202,282
20195,970288400
20186,477197500
20175,131159540
20165,343189360
20153,674160290
20144,668142280
20134,642202190
20124,46557170
20113,7650200
20103,5680230
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities1,427
  2. Researchers165
  3. EU Blue Card131
  4. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)54
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
26,362
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
1,430
Changed status into work, 2025
102
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
52
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 Germany in Japan, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyTokyojapan.diplo.de
Consulate-generalOsaka Prefecturejapan.diplo.de
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Residence status in Germany

Citizens of Japan living in Germany on 31 December, by residence status in the Central Register of Foreigners (Destatis).

31 DecAllEU free movementPermanent residence titleEmploymentEducation and trainingFamily reasonsInternational law, humanitarian or political reasonsTolerated stay (Duldung)Permission to reside during the asylum procedure
202538,76572012,9357,5502,4207,0602500
202438,79573512,7657,9202,4457,3704000
202338,70073512,5607,6902,4207,3303500

Residents in Germany (31 Dec)

19k39k201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
19k39k2014201620182020202220242025
Data table
201434,388
201535,004
201635,755
201736,600
201837,490
201938,305
202035,565
202135,980
202237,180
202338,705
202438,795
202538,770
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Germany, 2023; Japan ranks 43.

Inflows to Germany, 2023
  1. Ukraine283,631
  2. Romania202,039
  3. Syria128,742
  4. Türkiye115,937
  5. Poland97,945
  6. Bulgaria65,871
  7. Afghanistan58,482
  8. India54,123
  9. Italy38,460
  10. Hungary34,003
  11. Russia26,720
  12. Serbia24,155
Other destinations for people from Japan, 2023
  1. South Korea6,523
  2. United States3,690
  3. Netherlands1,840
  4. New Zealand1,497
  5. Canada1,015
  6. Australia962
  7. France848
  8. Belgium701
  9. Switzerland670
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