Kenya → Germany

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From: Kenya
To: Germany
Inflow, 2023 (OECD): 1,786
Change since 2018: +47.4%
Share of all arrivals in Germany, 2023: 0.11%

Inflow 20231,786OECD

Year by year

Data as at 2025

CR<DEKENYA<GERMANY<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
KE2<DE3<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Migration from Kenya to Germany

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

Inflows by year

Data table


2000	952
2001	946
2002	1,041
2003	1,007
2004	1,045
2005	1,144
2006	1,254
2007	1,235
2008	1,255
2009	1,462
2010	1,502
2011	1,030
2012	1,034
2013	876
2014	867
2015	877
2016	991
2017	1,092
2018	1,212
2019	1,273
2020	817
2021	1,046
2022	1,423
2023	1,786

Year	Inflow	Stock	Acquired nationality
2024	—	14,445	—
2023	1,786	13,395	255
2022	1,423	12,725	380
2021	1,046	12,415	420
2020	817	12,395	465
2019	1,273	11,980	445
2018	1,212	11,515	340
2017	1,092	11,170	341
2016	991	10,736	288
2015	877	10,395	228
2014	867	10,133	325
2013	876	9,845	298
2012	1,034	9,414	238
2011	1,030	9,246	308
2010	1,502	8,640	243

Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Germany's consulates in Kenya

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

Year	Applications	Issued	Not issued	Refusal rate
2024	10,011	6,924	2,873	28.7%
2023	8,228	6,102	1,891	23.0%
2022	6,119	4,814	1,141	18.6%
2021	1,430	1,111	269	18.8%
2020	1,212	1,007	203	16.7%
2019	7,131	6,002	1,065	14.9%
2018	6,142	5,136	990	16.1%
2017	5,644	4,826	788	14.0%
2016	5,788	4,667	1,033	17.8%
2015	5,303	4,213	1,083	20.4%
2014	4,795	3,626	1,167	24.3%
2013	4,992	3,464	1,528	30.6%
2012	5,293	3,404	1,889	35.7%
2011	5,125	3,984	1,141	22.3%
2010	5,489	4,496	995	18.1%
2009	5,331	4,568	763	14.3%

Applications by year

Data table


2009	5,331
2010	5,489
2011	5,125
2012	5,293
2013	4,992
2014	4,795
2015	5,303
2016	5,788
2017	5,644
2018	6,142
2019	7,131
2020	1,212
2021	1,430
2022	6,119
2023	8,228
2024	10,011

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 Kenya (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025

Education636
Family606
Work298
Other reasons134

Year	First permits	EU Blue Cards	Citizenships acquired	Students
2025	1,674	130	0	0
2024	1,064	106	595	1,130
2023	1,326	124	255	969
2022	1,274	97	380	980
2021	1,036	76	420	707
2020	794	50	465	631
2019	884	36	445	0
2018	906	27	345	0
2017	702	22	351	0
2016	760	15	298	0
2015	741	11	235	0
2014	732	15	340	0
2013	779	7	305	0
2012	825	0	253	0
2011	396	0	325	0
2010	718	0	269	0

Work permits by type, 2025

Other paid activities193
EU Blue Card59
Highly skilled workers (national schemes)29
Researchers17

Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025: 11,403
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025: 529
Changed status into work, 2025: 141

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 Kenya, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

Mission	City	Official website
Embassy	Nairobi	nairobi.diplo.de

Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Germany, 2023; Kenya ranks 83.

Inflows to Germany, 2023

Ukraine283,631
Romania202,039
Syria128,742
Türkiye115,937
Poland97,945
Bulgaria65,871
Afghanistan58,482
India54,123
Italy38,460
Hungary34,003
Russia26,720
Serbia24,155

Other destinations for people from Kenya, 2023

United States4,840
Canada1,230
Australia938
Japan520
Netherlands361
Finland359
Türkiye342
Italy238
Hungary227