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District · North Rhine-Westphalia

Foreign residents, 31 Dec 2025
35,815
Share of Germany
0.25%
With a residence title for employment
775
Change on 31 Dec 2024
-2.4%
Rank in the state
40 / 53
Foreign residents, 335,81531 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 movement13,130
  2. International law, humanitarian or political reasons8,615
  3. Permanent residence title5,735
  4. Family reasons2,680
  5. Application for a residence title pending1,520
  6. Permission to reside during the asylum procedure1,045
  7. Neither tolerated nor permitted860
  8. Employment775
  9. Education and training740
  10. Tolerated stay (Duldung)460
  11. Special residence rights and national visas245
  12. Exempt from the permit requirement5
Residence statusResidentsShare
EU free movement13,13036.7%
Permanent residence title5,73516.0%
Employment7752.2%
Education and training7402.1%
Family reasons2,6807.5%
International law, humanitarian or political reasons8,61524.1%
Special residence rights and national visas2450.7%
Application for a residence title pending1,5204.2%
Tolerated stay (Duldung)4601.3%
Permission to reside during the asylum procedure1,0452.9%
Neither tolerated nor permitted8602.4%
Exempt from the permit requirement50.0%
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. Ukraine4,370
  2. Syria3,265
  3. Poland2,845
  4. Türkiye2,835
  5. Italy2,425
Largest nationality
Ukraine
EU free movement
13,130
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 202436,685
First arrivals from abroad1,620
Repeat arrivals from abroad325
Births255
Moves in from elsewhere in Germany1,690
Departures abroad760
Deregistrations abroad605
Deaths155
Moves to elsewhere in Germany1,385
Net migration from abroad580
Foreign residents, 31 Dec 202535,815
First arrivals from abroad, 2025
1,620
Departures abroad, 2025
760
Net migration from abroad, 2025
580
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