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Gelsenkirchen (city)

City · North Rhine-Westphalia

Foreign residents, 31 Dec 2025
76,535
Share of Germany
0.54%
With a residence title for employment
860
Change on 31 Dec 2024
+0.6%
Rank in the state
13 / 53
Foreign residents, 376,53531 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. EU free movement22,870
  2. Permanent residence title20,465
  3. International law, humanitarian or political reasons14,145
  4. Family reasons5,890
  5. Application for a residence title pending4,850
  6. Neither tolerated nor permitted3,630
  7. Special residence rights and national visas1,830
  8. Employment860
  9. Tolerated stay (Duldung)750
  10. Permission to reside during the asylum procedure660
  11. Education and training535
  12. Exempt from the permit requirement35
Residence statusResidentsShare
EU free movement22,87029.9%
Permanent residence title20,46526.7%
Employment8601.1%
Education and training5350.7%
Family reasons5,8907.7%
International law, humanitarian or political reasons14,14518.5%
Special residence rights and national visas1,8302.4%
Application for a residence title pending4,8506.3%
Tolerated stay (Duldung)7501.0%
Permission to reside during the asylum procedure6600.9%
Neither tolerated nor permitted3,6304.7%
Exempt from the permit requirement350.0%
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. Türkiye19,730
  2. Syria10,515
  3. Romania7,195
  4. Bulgaria4,205
  5. Ukraine4,045
Largest nationality
Türkiye
EU free movement
22,870
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 202476,100
First arrivals from abroad2,715
Repeat arrivals from abroad1,130
Births1,055
Moves in from elsewhere in Germany3,540
Departures abroad1,010
Deregistrations abroad3,155
Deaths300
Moves to elsewhere in Germany2,175
Net migration from abroad-320
Foreign residents, 31 Dec 202576,535
First arrivals from abroad, 2025
2,715
Departures abroad, 2025
1,010
Net migration from abroad, 2025
-320
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