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Thailand → Japan

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Thailand
To
Japan
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
16,777
Change since 2018
-2.1%
Share of all arrivals in Japan, 2023
2.71%
Inflow 202316,777OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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TH4<JP8<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Migration from Thailand to Japan

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

Inflows by year

8,96918k200020032006200920122015201820212023
8,96918k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20006,593
20016,801
20025,936
20036,583
20047,147
20058,989
20068,708
20078,959
200810,484
20099,904
201010,868
201113,620
201215,362
201315,431
201414,309
201514,509
201615,448
201716,372
201817,129
201917,937
20206,362
20211,599
202213,071
202316,777
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—61,771—
202316,77756,701—
202213,07150,324—
20211,59953,379—
20206,36254,809—
201917,93752,323—
201817,12950,179—
201716,37247,647—
201615,44845,379—
201514,50943,081—
201414,30941,208—
201315,43140,130—
201215,36242,750—
201113,62041,279—
201010,86842,686—
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

42k83k19901995200020052010201520202024
42k83k19902000201020202024
Data table
19906,047
199514,769
200027,682
200535,980
201040,980
201576,083
202083,234
202461,263
Estimate, 2024
61,263
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
1.8%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
11
Counted by
citizenship
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Residents in Japan

Citizens of Thailand living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan).

Residents in work-related statuses

13k26k2012201420162018202220242025
13k26k2012201420162018202220242025
Data table
20126,374
20137,001
20148,097
20159,533
201611,251
201712,913
201814,624
201916,881
202217,237
202321,577
202424,635
202525,541
DecemberAll residentsWork-related statusesEngineer/Specialist in Humanities/International ServicesSpecified Skilled WorkerTechnical Intern TrainingStudentPermanent ResidentDependent
202567,09725,5413,5766,81711,6723,86722,207926
202465,39824,6353,3135,57112,4354,06521,957875
202361,77121,5772,8844,35911,2874,20921,738792
202256,70117,2372,5382,5809,4253,91921,459739
201954,80916,8812,5047911,3254,05320,526829
201852,32314,6242,19909,6394,35520,142785
201750,17912,9131,81008,4304,55119,719751
201647,64711,2511,56007,2794,37619,327687
201545,3799,5331,26206,0844,19018,831618
201443,0818,0971,10404,9233,81818,273625
201341,2087,0011,00803,9473,41117,815632
201240,1336,37487503,4643,21216,997649
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Workers in Japan (employment reports)

Citizens of Thailand working in Japan, as reported by employers at the end of each October (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare).

Workers by year (end of October)

21k41k20212022202320242025
21k41k20212022202320242025
Data table
202129,355
202231,998
202336,543
202439,806
202541,468
By industry, October 2025
  1. Manufacturing18,225
  2. Other industries6,341
  3. Accommodation and food services4,178
  4. Wholesale and retail trade3,869
  5. Other services3,824
  6. Construction2,044
  7. Health and welfare1,597
  8. Education770
  9. Information and communications620
Workers, October 2025
41,468
Change on a year earlier
+4.2%
Via dispatch or contracting firms
12.3%
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan), reports on the employment of foreign workers, end of October 2025 (Public Data License 1.0)Data as at Oct 2025

Embassy and consulates

Missions of Japan in Thailand, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
EmbassyBangkokth.emb-japan.go.jp
Consulate-generalMueang Chiang Maichiangmai.th.emb-japan.go.jp
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Japan, 2023; Thailand ranks 9.

Inflows to Japan, 2023
  1. Vietnam133,732
  2. China106,717
  3. Indonesia67,088
  4. Nepal39,564
  5. Philippines37,338
  6. Myanmar30,849
  7. South Korea27,566
  8. United States19,684
  9. Thailand16,777
  10. Taiwan13,603
  11. Sri Lanka11,328
  12. India10,547
Other destinations for people from Thailand, 2023
  1. South Korea34,846
  2. United States4,790
  3. Germany3,345
  4. Australia2,325
  5. New Zealand2,043
  6. France954
  7. Sweden777
  8. Netherlands768
  9. Hungary740
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