How many Chinese citizens moved to Italy in 2025?
Italy issued 14,263 first residence permits to Chinese citizens in 2025, the main official indicator of how many moved there (Eurostat, data updated on 22 October 2026). That is 4,977 more than in 2024 (9,286), a change of +53.6%. By reason: family 5,216 (36.6%), education 4,574 (32.1%), other reasons 3,586 (25.1%), work 887 (6.2%). 10,432 of them (73.1%) were valid for 12 months or more.
Italy · Chinese citizens · 2025: 14,263 first residence permits
Italy issued 11.4% of all first permits given to Chinese citizens in the EU in 2025 (125,290). Every EU country.
Source: Eurostat, First permits by reason, length of validity and citizenship (migr_resfirst), data updated on 22 October 2026, downloaded on 28 October 2026 (definitions). First residence permits, persons. Re-use: Eurostat copyright notice (free re-use with acknowledgement, CC BY 4.0).
What this number is, and what it is not
- It is the number of Chinese citizens who received a residence permit in Italy for the first time in 2025: a permit valid for at least 3 months, for family, education, work or other reasons. A permit also counts as "first" when the person had none for the same reason in the 6 months before.
- It is not a count of moves: some people who receive a permit never move, or leave soon after.
- It leaves out Chinese citizens who also hold an EU passport (the statistics cover non-EU citizens only), stays shorter than 3 months and renewed permits.
- It is not the number of Chinese citizens living in Italy, which is much larger.
Why Chinese citizens moved to Italy in 2025: permits by reason
| Reason | 2025 | Share | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family | 5,216 | 36.6% | 3,229 | +61.5% |
| Education | 4,574 | 32.1% | 2,535 | +80.4% |
| Work | 887 | 6.2% | 962 | −7.8% |
| Other | 3,586 | 25.1% | 2,560 | +40.1% |
| All reasons | 14,263 | 100% | 9,286 | +53.6% |
Source: Eurostat, First permits by reason, length of validity and citizenship (migr_resfirst), data updated on 22 October 2026, downloaded on 28 October 2026 (definitions). First residence permits, persons. Re-use: Eurostat copyright notice (free re-use with acknowledgement, CC BY 4.0).
Family: joining or accompanying a family member. Education: study and other education. Work: paid employment (Eurostat's "employment reasons", also called remunerated activities), for example EU Blue Cards, other skilled work and seasonal work. Other: international protection and humanitarian status, permits for residence only, and other or unspecified reasons.
Chinese citizens moving to Italy, year by year (2019–2025)
| Year | All reasons | Family | Education | Work | Other | Valid 12+ months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 9,337 | 3,567 | 4,446 | 267 | 1,057 | 8,167 |
| 2020 | 4,923 | 1,922 | 2,363 | 166 | 472 | 4,190 |
| 2021 | 8,751 | 3,234 | 2,586 | 2,650 | 281 | 8,188 |
| 2022 | 10,578b | 2,851 | 4,062 | 3,343 | 322b | 10,068b |
| 2023 | 8,631 | 2,896 | 3,768 | 1,370 | 597 | 7,800 |
| 2024 | 9,286 | 3,229 | 2,535 | 962 | 2,560 | 6,502 |
| 2025 | 14,263 | 5,216 | 4,574 | 887 | 3,586 | 10,432 |
Source: Eurostat, First permits by reason, length of validity and citizenship (migr_resfirst), data updated on 22 October 2026, downloaded on 28 October 2026 (definitions). First residence permits, persons. Eurostat revises past years when countries correct their data. Re-use: Eurostat copyright notice (free re-use with acknowledgement, CC BY 4.0).
Eurostat marks a break in the time series in 2022 (b): figures before and after are not fully comparable.
Questions people ask
How many Chinese people moved to Italy in 2025?
14,263 Chinese citizens received a first residence permit in Italy in 2025 (Eurostat). That is 4,977 more than in 2024 (9,286), a change of +53.6%.
How many Chinese people moved to Italy in 2024?
9,286 Chinese citizens received a first residence permit in Italy in 2024.
Why do Chinese people move to Italy?
The most common reason in 2025 was family (5,216 permits). By reason: family 5,216 (36.6%), education 4,574 (32.1%), other reasons 3,586 (25.1%), work 887 (6.2%).
How many Chinese people moved to Europe in 2025?
The 27 EU countries issued 125,290 first residence permits to Chinese citizens in 2025; Italy issued 11.4% of them. All countries.
Is this the number of Chinese citizens living in Italy?
No. It counts only new permits issued in 2025. People who have lived there for years, renewed their permits or have an EU passport are not included.
Visas and statistics for Italy on this site
- Italy visa income requirements 2026
- Italy digital nomad visa: income requirement
- Italy Schengen visa rejection rate 2025
- Visa refusal rates for China: Schengen, UK and more
Where else Chinese citizens moved in 2025
Who else moved to Italy in 2025
How many Chinese citizens moved to Europe in 2025 · Who moved where: all nationalities · Visa income calculator