Overview: Chinese nationals were the second most common nationality granted visit visas, accounting for 21% of the total (after Indian nationals at 26%)
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Total applications
There were 550,002 visas granted to Chinese nationals in 2023, 178% higher than 2022. This was primarily due to 349,045 (+535%) more grants of visitor visas, but also due to more grants for study, work, family and dependant joining or accompanying visas.
Table 1: Visas granted to China nationals by visa type in 2023.
| Visa type | YE 2022 Q4 | YE 2023 Q4 | Percentage change |
| Visitor | 65,274 | 414,319 | +535% |
| Study | 104,014 | 110,341 | +6% |
| Work | 4,705 | 6,654 | +41% |
| Family | 577 | 1,203 | +108% |
| Dep. joining or accompanying | 527 | 644 | +22% |
| Other | 22,886 | 16,841 | -26% |
| Grand Total | 197,983 | 550,002 | +178% |
Table 2: Issue rate of visas granted to China nationals by visa type in 2023.
| Visa type | Issue rate |
| Visitor | 92% |
| Study | 99% |
| Work | 97% |
| Family | 88% |
| Dep. joining or accompanying | 99% |
| Other | 95% |
| Grand Total | 93% |
Visitors
There were 414,391 visitor visas granted to Chinese nationals in 2023, over 6 times higher (+535%) than in 2022. Chinese nationals were the second most common nationality granted visit visas, accounting for 21% of the total after Indian nationals (26%). The number of visit visas granted has risen steeply since travel restrictions were lifted at the beginning of 2023, but they are still 36% lower than the peak in 2019 (642,582).
Figure 1: Visitor visas granted to China nationals between 2014 and 2023.
Sponsored study
There were 109,174 sponsored study visas granted to Chinese national main applicants in 2023, 6% higher than 2022 (103,227) and 8% lower than 2019 (119,231). Chinese nationals accounted for the second highest proportion (24%) of sponsored study visas granted to main applicants in 2023 after Indian nationals (120,110). In addition to main applicants, there were 837 sponsored study dependant visas granted to Chinese nationals in 2023.
Figure 2: Sponsored Study visas granted to China nationals between 2014 and 2023.
Work
There were 4,784 work visas granted to Chinese national main applicants in 2023, 34% higher than 2022 (3,558) and 3% higher than 2019 (4,645). In addition to main applicants, there were 1,870 work dependant visas granted to Chinese nationals in 2023.
Figure 3: Work visas granted to China nationals between 2014 and 2023.
Family
There were 1,203 family visas granted to Chinese nationals in 2023, 108% higher than 2022 (577) and 7% lower than 2019 (1,296).
Figure 4: Family-related visas by visa type granted to China nationals between 2014 and 2023.
Notes:
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