Gitnux/Report 2026

China Immigration Statistics

By 2023, China had issued 1,037,100 residence permits to foreigners and permanent foreign residents reached 12,000, while across borders the Chinese diaspora counted 60 million overseas and 800,000 emigrants headed to Japan in 2022. This page connects those inflows and outflows to real pressures on cities, business, visas, and talent, including the 15% jump in residence permits since 2021.
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June 18, 2026Updated
China Immigration Statistics
Elif DemirciWritten by Elif Demirci·Edited by Margot Villeneuve·Fact-checked by Rebecca Hargrove
Published ·Updated
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As of 2023, China had about 12,000 permanent foreign residents, concentrated in Shanghai and Beijing. The same dataset shows overseas Chinese emigration reached 10.6 million permanent exits in 2022, with overseas Chinese totaling 60 million in 2023. These flows affect visa demand, residence permit policy, and remittance totals such as the $50 billion sent by overseas Chinese in 2022.

Key Takeaways

  • In 2022, 10.6 million Chinese emigrated permanently
  • Overseas Chinese total 60 million in 2023, 46 million abroad-born
  • US has 5.4 million Chinese immigrants in 2022
  • Immigration remittances taxed at 20% for residents
  • Foreign workers contribute 2% to GDP via high-tech 2022
  • Chinese diaspora FDI to China: $150 billion 2018-2022
  • In 2022, China issued 1,037,100 residence permits to foreigners, marking a 15% increase from 2021
  • As of 2023, the number of permanent foreign residents in China reached 12,000, primarily in Shanghai and Beijing
  • Foreign students in China totaled 492,185 in 2018, with 58% from Asia
  • China's Exit-Entry Law enacted 2013, unifying immigration control
  • Permanent residence (green card) criteria: 5 years work + high skills
  • 2016 Overseas Talent Residence Permit introduced for top talents
  • In 2023 Q1, China issued 1.2 million visas, up 300% YoY
  • Z work visas issued: 300,000 in 2022
  • X1/X2 student visas: 250,000 in 2019

In 2022, 10.6 million Chinese emigrated permanently as global diaspora and migration policy reshaped flows.

Related reading

01 · Category

Chinese Diaspora and Emigration29 stats

01
In 2022, 10.6 million Chinese emigrated permanently
02
Overseas Chinese total 60 million in 2023, 46 million abroad-born
03
US has 5.4 million Chinese immigrants in 2022
04
Canada Chinese diaspora: 1.7 million in 2021
05
Australia: 1.4 million Chinese-born in 2023
06
Southeast Asia Chinese diaspora: 35 million
07
Chinese emigrants to Japan: 800,000 in 2022
08
South Korea Chinese residents: 1 million in 2023
09
Europe total Chinese migrants: 2.5 million 2020
10
UK Chinese population: 433,000 in 2021 census
11
Chinese students abroad: 1.02 million in 2019
12
Remittances from overseas Chinese: $50 billion in 2022
13
Chinese investment by diaspora: $100 billion FDI 2021
14
Annual Chinese emigration rate: 0.8% of population 2015-2020
15
Top destination US: 2.5 million new immigrants 2010-2020
16
EB-5 investor visas to US: 80% Chinese 2019
17
Chinese asylum seekers in US: 20,000 in 2022
18
Emigration from Fujian province: 1 million to US historically
19
Guangdong overseas: 5 million diaspora
20
Brain drain: 80% of Chinese PhDs abroad stay
21
Returnees (haigui): 2.5 million since 1978
22
Chinese in Africa: 500,000 workers 2022
23
Chinese in Latin America: 300,000 permanent 2021
24
Emigration via Canada gateway: 300,000 to US via Canada 2010s
25
Female emigration rate: 55% of total Chinese migrants
26
Student return rate: 85% in 2023 up from 20% in 2000
27
Chinese in Italy Prato: 50,000 undocumented 2022
28
New Zealand Chinese: 250,000 in 2023
29
Chinese HNWIs emigrating: 10,000 annually to Vancouver/Sydney
Interpretation

Chinese Diaspora and Emigration Interpretation

Despite decades of "brain drain" fears, China's vast and wealthy diaspora now acts as a global circulatory system, exporting its people for education and opportunity only to draw back their talent, capital, and influence like a shrewd long-term investment.

02 · Category

Economic and Social Impacts18 stats

01
Immigration remittances taxed at 20% for residents
02
Foreign workers contribute 2% to GDP via high-tech 2022
03
Chinese diaspora FDI to China: $150 billion 2018-2022
04
Immigration boosts Shanghai service sector by 5% employment
05
Overseas Chinese remittances: 4% of China's service imports 2021
06
Foreign talent patents: 15% of total filings in Shenzhen 2023
07
Emigration brain drain costs China $100 billion annually in talent
08
Returnee entrepreneurs create 1 million jobs 2020-2023
09
African immigrants in Guangzhou: $2 billion trade volume 2022
10
International students spend $5 billion yearly pre-COVID
11
Visa policy easing projected to add 1% tourism GDP 2024
12
Chinese emigrants' global wealth: $2 trillion in assets 2023
13
Social integration score for foreigners: 65/100 in urban China 2022
14
Intermarriage rate: 2% for foreign-Chinese couples 2021
15
Healthcare access for immigrants: 70% covered by insurance 2023
16
Emigration reduces urban housing pressure by 0.5%
17
Diaspora networks facilitate 30% of China's exports
18
Foreign workers wage premium: 20% higher than locals in tech
Interpretation

Economic and Social Impacts Interpretation

China's immigration landscape is a high-stakes ledger of brain drain and dynamic gain, where the diaspora's financial muscle and returning talent create immense value, yet the nation still grapples with capturing the full potential of its global citizens and visitors.

03 · Category

Inbound Migration Statistics30 stats

01
In 2022, China issued 1,037,100 residence permits to foreigners, marking a 15% increase from 2021
02
As of 2023, the number of permanent foreign residents in China reached 12,000, primarily in Shanghai and Beijing
03
Foreign students in China totaled 492,185 in 2018, with 58% from Asia
04
In 2021, 845,000 foreigners entered China for work purposes under Z visas
05
Shanghai had 193,000 foreign residents in 2022, 40% from Europe and Americas
06
Beijing's foreign population was 177,000 in 2020, down 20% due to COVID
07
Guangdong province hosted 120,000 foreigners in 2022, mostly from Southeast Asia
08
In 2019, 300,000 expatriates lived in China, with South Koreans as the largest group at 80,000
09
Foreign-born population in China was 0.07% of total population in 2020 (about 1 million)
10
In 2023, 25,000 foreigners obtained Chinese green cards cumulatively since 2004
11
Jiangsu province had 85,000 foreign residents in 2022, 30% in tech sectors
12
Zhejiang's foreign population reached 70,000 in 2021, with Japanese at 25%
13
In 2022, 15% of foreign residents were from Africa, totaling around 150,000
14
Tianjin's foreign community numbered 18,000 in 2020
15
China's foreign workforce was 950,000 in 2019
16
In 2023, Myanmar nationals in China numbered 40,000 as residents
17
Vietnam-born residents in China: 25,000 in 2022
18
US citizens residing in China: 70,000 in 2019
19
In 2021, 60,000 Russians held residence permits in China
20
Pakistani residents in China totaled 28,000 in 2022
21
In 2020, Indian nationals with residence: 45,000
22
Australian expats in China: 15,000 in 2019
23
German residents: 55,000 in 2022
24
French expats: 35,000 in China 2021
25
UK citizens residing: 30,000 in 2020
26
Canadian residents in China: 20,000 in 2019
27
Brazilian foreigners: 18,000 in 2022
28
Nigerian residents: 12,000 in Guangzhou alone 2021
29
Japanese residents peaked at 120,000 in 2019
30
South Korean residents: 833,000 visitors but 80,000 residents 2019
Interpretation

Inbound Migration Statistics Interpretation

While China's foreign resident figures are growing from a miniscule base—creating a mosaic of global talent, students, and entrepreneurs primarily clustered in its major cities—the overall community remains a remarkably thin, yet strategically integrated, slice of the world's most populous pie.

More related reading

05 · Category

Visa Issuance and Types26 stats

01
In 2023 Q1, China issued 1.2 million visas, up 300% YoY
02
Z work visas issued: 300,000 in 2022
03
X1/X2 student visas: 250,000 in 2019
04
L tourist visas: 15 million in 2019, dropped to 100,000 in 2022
05
M business visas: 4 million annually pre-COVID
06
Q family reunion visas: 50,000 in 2021
07
S private visit visas: 30,000 issued 2022
08
R high-level talent visas: 10,000 in 2023
09
J diplomatic visas: 5,000 annually
10
C crew visas for transport: 20,000 in 2019
11
F talent exchange visas: 100,000 in 2022
12
Visa-free entries for 53 countries: 240 hours transit in 2023
13
Hainan 30-day visa-free for 59 countries: 100,000 visitors 2022
14
e-Visa pilot for 3rd world countries rejected, but SIPA visas up 20%
15
Overstay visa fines: 50,000 cases in 2022
16
Visa rejection rate for US citizens: 15% in 2023
17
Group tourist visas (L): 2 million in 2019
18
Medical treatment visas (G): 15,000 in 2022
19
Press visas (J-2): 1,200 issued 2021
20
Residence permit conversion from visa: 80% success rate for Z visas
21
Digital nomad visa denied, but remote work under F visa: 5,000 cases
22
APEC business travel card holders: 50,000 entries 2023
23
Mutual visa exemption with Thailand: 1 million trips 2023
24
15-day visa-free for Singaporeans: 200,000 visits 2022
25
Korean group tours visa-free: 500,000 annually pre-2020
26
Russian far-east 8-day visa-free: 100,000 crossings 2023
Interpretation

Visa Issuance and Types Interpretation

While China’s borders swung open with a 300% visa surge in 2023, the ghost of zero-COVID still haunts the data, revealing a landscape where business and study cautiously return, tourism remains a skeleton of its former self, and the state meticulously filters who gets a red carpet and who gets a red tape.
Reference

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Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). China Immigration Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/china-immigration-statistics
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Elif Demirci. "China Immigration Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/china-immigration-statistics.
Chicago
Elif Demirci. 2026. "China Immigration Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/china-immigration-statistics.

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