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Sri Lanka → Italy

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Sri Lanka
To
Italy
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
2,877
Change since 2018
-14.5%
Share of all arrivals in Italy, 2023
0.77%
Inflow 20232,877OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from Sri Lanka to Italy

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

Inflows by year

3,5697,138200020032006200920122015201820212023
3,5697,1382000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20004,154
20013,749
20022,973
20034,218
20045,199
20053,924
20063,676
20073,778
20086,610
20096,317
20107,105
20116,789
20127,138
20136,286
20145,255
20154,848
20163,968
20173,732
20183,365
20194,059
20202,265
20211,936
20222,193
20232,877
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—110,532—
20232,877109,8282,920
20222,193108,0692,688
20211,936112,0181,608
20202,265107,5981,341
20194,059104,7631,322
20183,365107,9671,044
20173,732104,9081,090
20163,968102,3161,550
20154,848100,5582,295
20145,25595,0071,287
20136,28679,530800
20127,13871,573626
20116,78965,270690
20107,10561,955695
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 Italy: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

48k95k19901995200020052010201520202024
48k95k19902000201020202024
Data table
19907,691
199512,864
200020,697
200538,991
201059,873
201580,948
202093,623
202495,118
Estimate, 2024
95,118
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.5%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
20
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 Sri Lanka

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
20244,4312,6651,76339.8%
20234,0312,2401,79144.4%
20221,24559165452.5%
20211261121411.1%
202073923050968.9%
20196,0914,8461,24520.4%
20185,8594,4761,38123.6%
20177,8306,6201,20815.4%
20166,2795,57470411.2%
20155,0224,43053210.6%
20144,3303,8383899.0%
20133,9373,6672065.2%
20123,6973,30439310.6%
20114,1533,43372017.3%
20103,9662,8991,08027.2%
20092,5722,21244917.5%

Applications by year

3,9157,8302009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
3,9157,830200920122015201820212024
Data table
20092,572
20103,966
20114,153
20123,697
20133,937
20144,330
20155,022
20166,279
20177,830
20185,859
20196,091
2020739
2021126
20221,245
20234,031
20244,431
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 Sri Lanka (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family4,911
  2. Other reasons4,265
  3. Work1,857
  4. Education319
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
202511,352100
20248,14622,648368
20234,08602,920253
20223,14112,688184
20212,82601,608141
20201,80301,34165
20194,02601,32243
20184,09301,044317
20174,01511,090283
20163,40311,550241
20154,90402,295232
20146,25201,287224
20136,11128000
20126,63506260
20118,82706900
201014,26706950
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities1,854
  2. Researchers2
  3. EU Blue Card1
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
119,666
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
2,756
Changed status into work, 2025
919
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
5,431
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 Sri Lanka, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

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

New residence permits in Italy

New residence permits issued in Italy to citizens of Sri Lanka, by year and reason (Istat).

YearAllWorkFamilyStudyAsylum and protectionOther reasons
202510,0691,9814,8442012,864179
20245,9691,1692,4191242,17384
20233,3206991,7966068085
20223,0598921,7742827293
20212,7674562,128119478
20201,679651,494125454
20193,576943,0682729988
20184,1381283,5622834575
20174,1311443,6624621762
20163,4271903,071178762

New permits by year

5,03510k2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
5,03510k201620182020202220242025
Data table
20163,427
20174,131
20184,138
20193,576
20201,679
20212,767
20223,059
20233,320
20245,969
202510,069
Source: Istat, residence permits of non-EU citizens: permits issued in the year and valid permits on 1 January (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Italy, 2023; Sri Lanka ranks 23.

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 Sri Lanka, 2023
  1. Japan11,328
  2. South Korea8,576
  3. New Zealand7,044
  4. Australia6,055
  5. Finland3,260
  6. Canada2,710
  7. United States2,280
  8. Germany2,058
  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