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Köln (city)

City · North Rhine-Westphalia

Foreign residents, 31 Dec 2025
235,320
Share of Germany
1.67%
With a residence title for employment
6,530
Change on 31 Dec 2024
-2.7%
Rank in the state
1 / 53
Foreign residents, 3235,32031 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 movement76,845
  2. Permanent residence title65,120
  3. International law, humanitarian or political reasons31,545
  4. Application for a residence title pending21,210
  5. Family reasons13,690
  6. Neither tolerated nor permitted7,370
  7. Employment6,530
  8. Tolerated stay (Duldung)3,975
  9. Education and training3,590
  10. Special residence rights and national visas2,800
  11. Permission to reside during the asylum procedure2,565
  12. Exempt from the permit requirement75
Residence statusResidentsShare
EU free movement76,84532.7%
Permanent residence title65,12027.7%
Employment6,5302.8%
Education and training3,5901.5%
Family reasons13,6905.8%
International law, humanitarian or political reasons31,54513.4%
Special residence rights and national visas2,8001.2%
Application for a residence title pending21,2109.0%
Tolerated stay (Duldung)3,9751.7%
Permission to reside during the asylum procedure2,5651.1%
Neither tolerated nor permitted7,3703.1%
Exempt from the permit requirement750.0%
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. Türkiye49,100
  2. Italy18,920
  3. Ukraine16,630
  4. Bulgaria9,725
  5. Iraq9,115
Largest nationality
Türkiye
EU free movement
76,845
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 2024241,905
First arrivals from abroad10,440
Repeat arrivals from abroad3,400
Births1,350
Moves in from elsewhere in Germany7,505
Departures abroad4,210
Deregistrations abroad6,465
Deaths1,155
Moves to elsewhere in Germany11,175
Net migration from abroad3,165
Foreign residents, 31 Dec 2025235,320
First arrivals from abroad, 2025
10,440
Departures abroad, 2025
4,210
Net migration from abroad, 2025
3,165
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