The present invention relates to a process for direct amination of hydrocarbons to amino hydrocarbons, comprising (a) the reaction of a reactant stream E comprising at least one hydrocarbon and at least one aminating reagent to give a reaction mixture R comprising at least one amino hydrocarbon and hydrogen in a reaction zone RZ, and (b) electrochemical removal of at least a portion of the hydrogen formed in the reaction from the reaction mixture R by means of at least one gas-tight membrane electrode assembly which is in contact with the reaction zone RZ on the retentate side and which has at least one selectively proton-conducting membrane, at least a portion of the hydrogen being oxidized over an anode catalyst to protons on the retentate side of the membrane, and the protons, after passing through the membrane, being partly or fully reduced by applying a voltage over a cathode catalyst to give hydrogen on the permeate side.