Kenya → Netherlands

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From: Kenya
To: Netherlands
Inflow, 2023 (OECD): 361
Change since 2018: +66.4%
Share of all arrivals in the Netherlands, 2023: 0.12%

Inflow 2023361OECD

Year by year

Data as at 2025

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Migration from Kenya to the Netherlands

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

Inflows by year

Data table


2000	113
2001	89
2002	119
2003	115
2004	90
2005	118
2006	145
2007	123
2008	188
2009	194
2010	180
2011	200
2012	150
2013	167
2014	153
2015	165
2016	188
2017	190
2018	217
2019	188
2020	178
2021	220
2022	301
2023	361

Year	Inflow	Stock	Acquired nationality
2024	—	1,266	—
2023	361	1,103	111
2022	301	949	74
2021	220	862	58
2020	178	832	98
2019	188	810	55
2018	217	727	37
2017	190	703	50
2016	188	690	62
2015	165	679	48
2014	153	682	74
2013	167	693	46
2012	150	721	67
2011	200	712	69
2010	180	703	44

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

The Netherlands' consulates in Kenya

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

Year	Applications	Issued	Not issued	Refusal rate
2024	5,113	3,581	1,249	24.4%
2023	5,271	4,106	935	17.7%
2022	3,832	3,023	657	17.1%
2021	1,028	1,265	432	42.0%
2020	949	755	143	15.1%
2019	4,349	3,900	340	7.8%
2018	4,406	4,045	280	6.4%
2017	3,454	3,120	297	8.6%
2016	3,285	2,596	261	7.9%
2015	3,403	3,125	197	5.8%
2014	3,851	3,596	191	5.0%
2013	3,484	3,181	195	5.6%
2012	3,521	3,254	232	6.6%
2011	3,271	2,972	226	6.9%
2010	2,711	2,393	314	11.6%
2009	2,377	1,999	389	16.4%

Applications by year

Data table


2009	2,377
2010	2,711
2011	3,271
2012	3,521
2013	3,484
2014	3,851
2015	3,403
2016	3,285
2017	3,454
2018	4,406
2019	4,349
2020	949
2021	1,028
2022	3,832
2023	5,271
2024	5,113

Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in the Netherlands

First residence permits issued by the Netherlands to citizens of Kenya (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025

Family154
Other reasons87
Education83
Work52

Year	First permits	EU Blue Cards	Citizenships acquired	Students
2025	376	0	0	0
2024	355	0	83	0
2023	402	0	111	0
2022	312	1	74	0
2021	236	0	58	0
2020	195	0	98	0
2019	222	0	71	92
2018	221	0	54	80
2017	211	0	62	0
2016	185	0	69	61
2015	199	0	78	65
2014	168	0	94	71
2013	194	0	52	56
2012	175	0	80	0
2011	207	0	69	0
2010	203	0	44	0

Work permits by type, 2025

Other paid activities23
Highly skilled workers (national schemes)19
Researchers10

Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025: 1,490
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025: 143
Changed status into work, 2025: 41

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

Mission	City	Official website
Embassy	Nairobi	—

Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in the Netherlands, 2023; Kenya ranks 73.

Inflows to the Netherlands, 2023

Ukraine38,497
Poland25,298
Syria19,551
Romania13,914
Bulgaria12,328
India12,073
Türkiye11,250
Italy10,603
Spain10,447
Germany10,429
China7,991
Portugal6,084

Other destinations for people from Kenya, 2023

United States4,840
Germany1,786
Canada1,230
Australia938
Japan520
Finland359
Türkiye342
Italy238
Hungary227