VISA ATLASWork visas & talent mobility
From→ToFind a corridor EN
☰

South Korea → Italy

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
South Korea
To
Italy
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
323
Change since 2018
-8.0%
Share of all arrivals in Italy, 2023
0.09%
Inflow 2023323OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<ITSOUTH<KOREA<ITALY<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
KR1<IT3<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Migration from South Korea to Italy

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

Inflows by year

20140220002005200820112014201720202023
2014022000200620102014201820222023
Data table
2000272
2003281
2004235
2005311
2006262
2007247
2008251
2009282
2010264
2011315
2012315
2013292
2014315
2015364
2016287
2017342
2018351
2019402
2020218
2021239
2022246
2023323
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—3,645—
20233233,69117
20222463,55321
20212394,25516
20202183,78310
20194023,60236
20183513,6923
20173423,46719
20162873,34330
20153643,48430
20143154,14331
20132923,38618
20123153,88311
20113154,34921
20102643,95736
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

2,4574,91419901995200020052010201520202024
2,4574,91419902000201020202024
Data table
19902,254
19952,494
20002,669
20052,741
20102,921
20153,481
20204,914
20244,692
Estimate, 2024
4,692
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
0.07%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
86
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

Italy's consulates in South Korea

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
2024578560183.1%
2023406393133.2%
2022242219239.5%
20215142917.6%
202099663333.3%
20198017119011.2%
201853352850.9%
201744544140.9%
201645945451.1%
2015459439204.4%
20143063060—
20132612580—
201223423220.9%
20112992623712.4%
201037837530.8%
20091851582714.6%

Applications by year

4018012009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
401801200920122015201820212024
Data table
2009185
2010378
2011299
2012234
2013261
2014306
2015459
2016459
2017445
2018533
2019801
202099
202151
2022242
2023406
2024578
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Italy

First residence permits issued by Italy to citizens of South Korea (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Education260
  2. Family129
  3. Work89
  4. Other reasons58
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
2025536700
2024368414161
2023475817117
2022499721102
202133771684
2020273110446
20196591236560
201878783598
2017651719621
2016748330634
2015974830571
2014856531597
20139401180
20129940110
20111,4540210
20101,1120360
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities75
  2. EU Blue Card7
  3. Researchers7
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
4,442
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
49
Changed status into work, 2025
40
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
10
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
5
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 Italy in South Korea, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassySeoulambseoul.esteri.it
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Italy, 2023; South Korea ranks 78.

Inflows to Italy, 2023
  1. Ukraine33,897
  2. Albania29,990
  3. Romania26,711
  4. Bangladesh25,969
  5. Egypt21,409
  6. Morocco20,928
  7. Pakistan20,402
  8. Argentina17,065
  9. Brazil15,000
  10. India13,691
  11. Tunisia12,609
  12. Peru11,336
Other destinations for people from South Korea, 2023
  1. Japan27,566
  2. United States14,240
  3. Germany6,599
  4. Canada5,205
  5. Australia2,740
  6. Hungary2,535
  7. New Zealand2,061
  8. Netherlands1,447
  9. Mexico579
  10. 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