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Syria → Germany

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Syria
To
Germany
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
128,742
Change since 2018
+163.0%
Share of all arrivals in Germany, 2023
7.57%
Inflow 2023128,742OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<DESYRIA<GERMANY<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
SY8<DE3<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Migration from Syria to Germany

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

Inflows by year

155k310k200020032006200920122015201820212023
155k310k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20004,079
20013,524
20023,336
20032,719
20042,236
20052,095
20061,706
20071,682
20081,969
20092,338
20102,983
20114,560
20128,530
201319,017
201469,074
2015309,699
2016179,435
201776,391
201848,951
201944,073
202031,145
202158,779
202292,291
2023128,742
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—972,460—
2023128,742923,80575,485
202292,291867,58548,385
202158,779818,46019,095
202031,145789,4656,700
201944,073745,6453,860
201848,951698,9502,880
201776,391637,8452,479
2016179,435366,5562,263
2015309,699118,1962,027
201469,07456,9011,820
201319,01740,4441,508
20128,53032,8781,321
20114,56030,1331,454
20102,98328,9211,401
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

430k861k19901995200020052010201520202024
430k861k19902000201020202024
Data table
199020,052
199527,420
200035,902
200539,393
201041,261
2015203,711
2020687,147
2024860,697
Estimate, 2024
860,697
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
5.1%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
7
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

Germany's consulates in Syria

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

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
202156724031455.4%
201288226675.0%
20113,4981,4652,03358.1%
20107,4504,9152,53934.1%
20097,6605,2632,39731.3%

Applications by year

3,8307,66020092010201120122021
3,8307,66020092010201120122021
Data table
20097,660
20107,450
20113,498
201288
2021567
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 Syria (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Other reasons35,361
  2. Family27,440
  3. Education2,063
  4. Work1,277
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
202566,1412,49500
2024107,6131,89783,19014,411
2023124,2491,79275,48515,737
2022105,2701,45548,38516,477
202159,9061,38219,10016,653
202045,9141,1526,70015,769
201956,3441,0433,8600
2018124,5757852,8800
2017140,3257352,4790
2016221,4408452,2630
201526,3836962,0280
201429,7575511,8200
201310,3015431,5060
20128,3311031,3210
20111,51401,4550
20101,54001,4010
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card640
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)370
  3. Other paid activities258
  4. Researchers9
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
723,210
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
27,569
Changed status into work, 2025
518
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 Syria, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

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

Residence status in Germany

Citizens of Syria 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
2025936,28551569,3554,9903,325101,130544,7159,31565,605
2024975,05052071,3054,0952,78597,765589,8909,15558,475
2023972,46546080,5053,1302,76096,170562,4059,03574,830

Residents in Germany (31 Dec)

488k975k201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
488k975k2014201620182020202220242025
Data table
2014118,196
2015366,556
2016637,845
2017698,950
2018745,645
2019789,465
2020818,460
2021867,585
2022923,805
2023972,460
2024975,060
2025936,285
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; Syria ranks 3.

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 Syria, 2023
  1. Netherlands19,551
  2. Austria15,246
  3. Canada9,345
  4. Belgium5,496
  5. United States4,250
  6. France3,381
  7. Türkiye3,330
  8. Norway3,116
  9. Sweden2,515
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