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South Korea → Germany

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
South Korea
To
Germany
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
6,599
Change since 2018
-16.9%
Share of all arrivals in Germany, 2023
0.39%
Inflow 20236,599OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<DESOUTH<KOREA<GERMANY<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
KR1<DE3<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Migration from South Korea to Germany

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

Inflows by year

4,0778,154200020032006200920122015201820212023
4,0778,1542000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20002,429
20012,848
20023,015
20033,077
20042,471
20052,788
20063,140
20073,446
20083,915
20093,771
20104,096
20114,775
20124,927
20135,524
20146,261
20157,229
20167,682
20178,154
20187,938
20197,728
20203,910
20214,129
20226,144
20236,599
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—40,070—
20236,59938,545100
20226,14436,720115
20214,12936,325135
20203,91038,165195
20197,72836,230235
20187,93834,420220
20178,15432,215241
20167,68230,243178
20157,22928,463166
20146,26127,220177
20135,52425,878166
20124,92724,669123
20114,77523,704145
20104,09623,550111
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Germany's consulates in South Korea

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
2024706627679.5%
2023457435132.8%
202226925841.5%
202163511117.5%
202084632125.0%
20196445687411.5%
20187026148311.8%
201784370213415.9%
2016616581355.7%
2015626596304.8%
2014531511203.8%
2013457426316.8%
2012376339379.8%
2011418380389.1%
2010338315267.7%
20092942534314.6%

Applications by year

4228432009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
422843200920122015201820212024
Data table
2009294
2010338
2011418
2012376
2013457
2014531
2015626
2016616
2017843
2018702
2019644
202084
202163
2022269
2023457
2024706
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 South Korea (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Education2,463
  2. Work1,291
  3. Family1,276
  4. Other reasons30
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20255,06069400
20244,5576031506,356
20235,0045181006,376
20225,1485521155,620
20214,0885701405,417
20203,4725711956,352
20196,0885812350
20186,2933352150
20175,3563302410
20165,2442191780
20152,8351761660
20144,1631221780
20133,8181281660
20123,346301240
20112,26001450
20102,20401110
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities767
  2. EU Blue Card278
  3. Researchers127
  4. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)119
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
30,389
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
1,525
Changed status into work, 2025
282
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
9
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 South Korea, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyJung Districtseoul.diplo.de
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Residence status in Germany

Citizens of South Korea 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
202541,85028513,2806,1805,9457,12060105
202441,04528512,6756,3506,3207,445551010
202340,07026512,1256,1406,3607,47560155

Residents in Germany (31 Dec)

21k42k201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
21k42k2014201620182020202220242025
Data table
201428,463
201530,243
201632,215
201734,420
201836,230
201938,165
202036,325
202136,720
202238,545
202340,070
202441,045
202541,845
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; South Korea ranks 40.

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 South Korea, 2023
  1. Japan27,566
  2. United States14,240
  3. Canada5,205
  4. Australia2,740
  5. Hungary2,535
  6. New Zealand2,061
  7. Netherlands1,447
  8. Mexico579
  9. Austria490
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