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Bielefeld (city)

City · North Rhine-Westphalia

Foreign residents, 31 Dec 2025
69,995
Share of Germany
0.50%
With a residence title for employment
1,675
Change on 31 Dec 2024
-1.0%
Rank in the state
15 / 53
Foreign residents, 369,99531 Dec 2025
Data as at 31 Dec 2025
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Residence status

Foreign residents on 31 December 2025 by residence status in the Central Register of Foreigners. Residence titles are grouped by purpose; EU citizens and their families hold rights under the Free Movement Act.

Foreign residents by residence status
  1. Permanent residence title20,635
  2. EU free movement20,350
  3. International law, humanitarian or political reasons13,090
  4. Family reasons5,785
  5. Application for a residence title pending2,445
  6. Employment1,675
  7. Permission to reside during the asylum procedure1,410
  8. Education and training1,325
  9. Neither tolerated nor permitted1,315
  10. Special residence rights and national visas1,185
  11. Tolerated stay (Duldung)695
  12. Exempt from the permit requirement85
Residence statusResidentsShare
EU free movement20,35029.1%
Permanent residence title20,63529.5%
Employment1,6752.4%
Education and training1,3251.9%
Family reasons5,7858.3%
International law, humanitarian or political reasons13,09018.7%
Special residence rights and national visas1,1851.7%
Application for a residence title pending2,4453.5%
Tolerated stay (Duldung)6951.0%
Permission to reside during the asylum procedure1,4102.0%
Neither tolerated nor permitted1,3151.9%
Exempt from the permit requirement850.1%
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), foreign population from the Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Nationalities

The five most common nationalities on 31 December 2025.

Foreign residents by nationality
  1. Türkiye11,625
  2. Iraq6,300
  3. Ukraine5,840
  4. Syria4,420
  5. Greece3,965
Largest nationality
Türkiye
EU free movement
20,350
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), foreign population from the Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Arrivals and departures in 2025

Changes recorded in the register during 2025: first and repeat arrivals from abroad, departures abroad and moves within Germany.

Measure2025
Foreign residents, 31 Dec 202470,725
First arrivals from abroad3,530
Repeat arrivals from abroad710
Births445
Moves in from elsewhere in Germany2,540
Departures abroad1,290
Deregistrations abroad1,365
Deaths265
Moves to elsewhere in Germany4,215
Net migration from abroad1,585
Foreign residents, 31 Dec 202569,995
First arrivals from abroad, 2025
3,530
Departures abroad, 2025
1,290
Net migration from abroad, 2025
1,585
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), foreign population from the Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

Districts and cities

Districts and district-free cities, 31 December 2025.

Foreign residents by district
  1. Köln (city)235,320
  2. Düsseldorf (city)190,660
  3. Dortmund (city)147,075
  4. Essen (city)136,580
  5. Duisburg (city)131,490
  6. Städteregion Aachen113,885
  7. Recklinghausen99,585
  8. Wuppertal (city)95,975
  9. Rhein-Erft-Kreis91,165
  10. Mettmann84,130
  11. Rhein-Sieg-Kreis81,270
  12. Rhein-Kreis Neuss78,475
  13. Gelsenkirchen (city)76,535
  14. Bonn (city)70,840
  15. Bielefeld (city)69,995
Source: Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis), foreign population from the Central Register of Foreigners, 31 December 2025 (reproduction permitted with source)Data as at 31 Dec 2025

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