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Sri Lanka → Switzerland

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Sri Lanka
To
Switzerland
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
627
Change since 2018
-21.9%
Share of all arrivals in Switzerland, 2023
0.35%
Inflow 2023627OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from Sri Lanka to Switzerland

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

Inflows by year

8301,659201020132016201920222023
8301,659201020132016201920222023
Data table
2010673
2011511
2012515
2013593
20141,659
20151,635
20161,101
2017811
2018803
2019682
2020706
2021599
2022542
2023627
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—27,192—
202362726,815407
202254226,737581
202159926,536545
202070626,193531
201968226,028657
201880325,890793
201781125,828825
20161,10125,423761
20151,63524,543768
20141,65923,660781
201359323,907—
201251524,552—
201151124,552—
2010673——
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 Switzerland: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

19k37k19901995200020052010201520202024
19k37k19902000201020202024
Data table
199017,351
199519,387
200021,773
200525,431
201028,618
201531,923
202035,903
202437,483
Estimate, 2024
37,483
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.4%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
17
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

Switzerland's consulates in Sri Lanka

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
20246,6174,2202,25534.1%
20236,2853,9802,19434.9%
20225,1533,3281,75434.0%
202189667820322.7%
20201,3501,00631123.0%
20199,6997,6761,82318.8%
20188,5036,6901,56618.4%
20177,5845,8781,46419.3%
20165,9974,7681,07818.0%
20155,0723,7431,18123.3%
20143,4092,1631,08231.7%
20132,5061,89753521.3%
20122,6271,98764024.4%
20112,5061,76773929.5%
20101,9191,7781417.3%
20092,7661,7171,04937.9%

Applications by year

4,8509,6992009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
4,8509,699200920122015201820212024
Data table
20092,766
20101,919
20112,506
20122,627
20132,506
20143,409
20155,072
20165,997
20177,584
20188,503
20199,699
20201,350
2021896
20225,153
20236,285
20246,617
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Switzerland

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

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family194
  2. Other reasons59
  3. Work55
  4. Education21
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
2025329000
2024341047146
2023386041139
2022348058146
2021287054239
20200053637
20190066840
2018413080834
2017390083126
2016432079622
2015362077021
2014371076417
2013588089015
201250701,1700
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities55
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
27,257
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
132
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 Switzerland in Sri Lanka, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyColomboeda.admin.ch
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Switzerland, 2023; Sri Lanka ranks 41.

Inflows to Switzerland, 2023
  1. Germany26,211
  2. France19,955
  3. Italy19,497
  4. Portugal12,750
  5. Spain8,964
  6. Poland7,576
  7. Romania7,520
  8. Hungary4,175
  9. Türkiye3,788
  10. China3,526
  11. India3,514
  12. Afghanistan3,466
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
  10. 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