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Sri Lanka → France

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Sri Lanka
To
France
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
1,883
Change since 2018
-16.2%
Share of all arrivals in France, 2023
0.73%
Inflow 20231,883OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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LK7<FR6<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Migration from Sri Lanka to France

Inflows of nationals of Sri Lanka recorded by France; stock of nationals of Sri Lanka living there; and acquisitions of France's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

1,4252,849200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,4252,8492000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20001,349
20012,070
20021,651
20031,372
20041,550
20051,797
20061,455
20071,663
20081,937
20092,849
20102,719
20112,415
20122,452
20132,461
20142,548
20152,335
20162,545
20172,337
20182,248
20192,114
20201,639
20212,002
20221,973
20231,883
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
20231,883—963
20221,973—972
20212,00246,0491,278
20201,63945,514871
20192,11451,6121,121
20182,24846,2951,085
20172,33745,4251,096
20162,54543,0811,226
20152,33540,969969
20142,548—973
20132,461—830
20122,452—845
20112,415—1,193
20102,71931,2561,695
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in Sri Lanka who live in France: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

28k57k19901995200020052010201520202024
28k57k19902000201020202024
Data table
199011,877
199518,270
200026,856
200534,587
201041,227
201552,041
202052,623
202456,880
Estimate, 2024
56,880
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
0.62%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
35
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

France's consulates in Sri Lanka

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at France's consulates located in Sri Lanka.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
20249,5556,0493,35835.1%
20239,8045,8603,63337.1%
20228,7284,4364,11847.2%
20211,5501,12236423.5%
20202,0751,43760229.0%
201913,3489,5683,56826.7%
201813,23610,2392,81221.2%
201711,9989,4782,32919.4%
201611,1769,4561,59914.3%
20158,6937,5981,02511.8%
20146,6485,86877711.7%
20134,3403,57176217.6%
20123,9043,11479020.2%
20113,6353,18045512.5%
20102,9362,42751817.6%
20092,6302,07256521.5%

Applications by year

6,67413k2009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
6,67413k200920122015201820212024
Data table
20092,630
20102,936
20113,635
20123,904
20134,340
20146,648
20158,693
201611,176
201711,998
201813,236
201913,348
20202,075
20211,550
20228,728
20239,804
20249,555
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in France

First residence permits issued by France to citizens of Sri Lanka (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Other reasons2,023
  2. Family778
  3. Work115
  4. Education82
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20252,998100
20242,14331,029225
20231,9925963217
20222,0774972181
20212,07601,278176
20201,7100871162
20192,23311,121143
20182,30721,085108
20172,37301,096229
20162,58701,226184
20152,3670969187
20142,5810973145
20132,5190830117
20122,48608450
20112,44001,1930
20102,74301,6950
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities105
  2. Researchers9
  3. EU Blue Card1
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
54,766
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
1,690
Changed status into work, 2025
38
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 France in Sri Lanka, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyColombolk.ambafrance.org
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in France, 2023; Sri Lanka ranks 35.

Inflows to France, 2023
  1. Algeria20,762
  2. Morocco17,703
  3. Tunisia14,656
  4. Afghanistan10,974
  5. Italy10,113
  6. Spain9,628
  7. Côte d’Ivoire7,945
  8. Belgium7,813
  9. Portugal7,426
  10. Germany7,105
  11. Türkiye6,780
  12. Romania6,667
Other destinations for people from Sri Lanka, 2023
  1. Japan11,328
  2. South Korea8,576
  3. New Zealand7,044
  4. Australia6,055
  5. Finland3,260
  6. Italy2,877
  7. Canada2,710
  8. United States2,280
  9. Germany2,058
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