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Sri Lanka → Germany

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Sri Lanka
To
Germany
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
2,058
Change since 2018
+77.0%
Share of all arrivals in Germany, 2023
0.12%
Inflow 20232,058OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from Sri Lanka to Germany

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

Inflows by year

1,2382,475200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,2382,4752000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20002,475
20011,957
20021,733
20031,358
20041,102
20051,006
2006768
20071,038
20081,090
20091,212
20101,181
20111,332
20121,248
20131,290
20141,214
20151,178
20161,065
20171,221
20181,163
20191,293
2020874
2021873
20221,391
20232,058
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—27,190—
20232,05826,260460
20221,39125,720435
202187325,825405
202087425,945580
20191,29325,805660
20181,16325,900635
20171,22125,865640
20161,06525,759640
20151,17825,788765
20141,21425,849714
20131,29026,105728
20121,24826,218864
20111,33226,6281,032
20101,18127,5051,207
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Germany's consulates in Sri Lanka

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
20245,0953,3711,64932.4%
20234,5272,7221,70237.6%
20222,4621,2711,16447.3%
202153325026149.0%
20201,5761,29827817.6%
20198,5016,8591,63519.2%
20187,9126,4781,43218.1%
20177,5126,3301,17815.7%
20167,0626,10188112.5%
20155,6974,86478013.7%
20145,1304,33672514.1%
20135,6874,4131,19221.0%
20124,6563,6331,02322.0%
20114,5213,4851,03622.9%
20104,6363,3221,32528.6%
20094,4892,8751,62736.2%

Applications by year

4,2518,5012009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
4,2518,501200920122015201820212024
Data table
20094,489
20104,636
20114,521
20124,656
20135,687
20145,130
20155,697
20167,062
20177,512
20187,912
20198,501
20201,576
2021533
20222,462
20234,527
20245,095
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 Sri Lanka (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family837
  2. Education503
  3. Other reasons320
  4. Work216
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20251,87616500
20241,414159505870
20231,747181465654
20221,452134440528
20211,28677405447
202095649580381
20191,002516650
20181,022206350
2017944216430
2016866156430
201580007660
2014959137140
2013834117330
201287338660
201155701,0380
201079001,2120
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities119
  2. EU Blue Card57
  3. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)30
  4. Researchers10
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
21,932
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
1,678
Changed status into work, 2025
75
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 Sri Lanka, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

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

Residence status in Germany

Citizens of Sri Lanka 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
202528,65023512,6659051,0904,6502,1505501,140
202427,88021512,7858658554,7302,1505951,135
202327,19520012,9306856604,6102,200740795

Residents in Germany (31 Dec)

14k29k201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
14k29k2014201620182020202220242025
Data table
201425,788
201525,759
201625,865
201725,900
201825,805
201925,945
202025,825
202125,720
202226,260
202327,190
202427,875
202528,635
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; Sri Lanka ranks 76.

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 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. France1,883
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