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South Africa → Netherlands

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
South Africa
To
Netherlands
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
4,201
Change since 2018
+154.8%
Share of all arrivals in the Netherlands, 2023
1.45%
Inflow 20234,201OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from South Africa to the Netherlands

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

Inflows by year

2,2464,491200020032006200920122015201820212023
2,2464,4912000200420082012201620202023
Data table
2000873
2001912
2002703
2003601
2004522
2005484
2006516
2007600
2008873
2009670
2010586
2011658
2012614
2013630
2014696
2015820
20161,110
20171,124
20181,649
20192,253
20201,848
20212,622
20224,491
20234,201
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—14,968—
20234,20112,278782
20224,4918,810432
20212,6227,024272
20201,8486,051283
20192,2534,561165
20181,6493,624158
20171,1243,210136
20161,1102,841139
20158202,692149
20146962,669204
20136302,691132
20126142,785161
20116582,742142
20105862,947171
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

16k31k19901995200020052010201520202024
16k31k19902000201020202024
Data table
19908,562
19959,458
200010,949
200512,250
201012,881
201513,669
202020,331
202431,024
Estimate, 2024
31,024
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.0%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
24
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

The Netherlands' consulates in South Africa

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202424,33322,7476902.8%
202325,55124,1477292.9%
202219,61918,6226093.1%
20212,7602,4921686.1%
20204,1753,8202646.3%
201922,41221,4647393.3%
201821,89221,2364662.1%
201718,38617,9163511.9%
201615,16214,3834763.1%
201516,48815,8724582.8%
201414,84814,6301951.3%
201315,00214,7971921.3%
201215,71615,5851260.8%
201115,53715,445880.6%
201015,75315,6321160.7%
200913,24713,1151301.0%

Applications by year

13k26k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
13k26k200920122015201820212024
Data table
200913,247
201015,753
201115,537
201215,716
201315,002
201414,848
201516,488
201615,162
201718,386
201821,892
201922,412
20204,175
20212,760
202219,619
202325,551
202424,333
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 South Africa (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family1,395
  2. Work1,218
  3. Other reasons728
  4. Education118
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20253,459000
20243,729191,0440
20234,475157820
20224,806254320
20213,083112720
20201,857232830
20192,50621165221
20181,7654162191
20171,30221420
20161,1771149150
20159491151133
20147920208120
20138810133109
201265201630
201170901420
201064501710
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)1,145
  2. Other paid activities40
  3. Researchers17
  4. EU Blue Card16
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
18,283
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
1,341
Changed status into work, 2025
131
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
6
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Netherlands: national statistics office

Immigrants with the nationality of South Africa arriving in the Netherlands, by migration motive; only nationalities from outside the EU/EFTA are covered (Statistics Netherlands).

YearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
20253,0701,2001301,1350605
20243,4151,3101501,4250530
20234,1951,6751601,8850475
20224,4751,8801851,9905415
20212,5859151751,1250370
20201,8306051057600360
20192,2307401409200430
20181,6405251455955370
20171,1103201103500330
20161,0953501203350290
2015815210902350280
2014690155751850275
2013625115951550260
2012605120601500275
2011655145801355290
2010580120751150270

All by year

2,2384,47520052007200920112013201520172019202120232025
2,2384,475200520092013201720212025
Data table
2005475
2006505
2007595
2008870
2009665
2010580
2011655
2012605
2013625
2014690
2015815
20161,095
20171,110
20181,640
20192,230
20201,830
20212,585
20224,475
20234,195
20243,415
20253,070
Source: CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of the Netherlands in South Africa, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyPretoria—
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in the Netherlands, 2023; South Africa ranks 18.

Inflows to the Netherlands, 2023
  1. Ukraine38,497
  2. Poland25,298
  3. Syria19,551
  4. Romania13,914
  5. Bulgaria12,328
  6. India12,073
  7. Türkiye11,250
  8. Italy10,603
  9. Spain10,447
  10. Germany10,429
  11. China7,991
  12. Portugal6,084
Other destinations for people from South Africa, 2023
  1. New Zealand8,667
  2. Australia5,217
  3. United States3,180
  4. Germany1,478
  5. South Korea1,468
  6. Portugal773
  7. Japan629
  8. France303
  9. Belgium302
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