The invention relates to a process for preparing polyisocyanates by reacting primary amines with phosgene, which comprises the steps a) mixing the amine with the phosgene, b) reacting the amine with the phosgene in a residence reactor and, if desired, c) transferring the output from the reactor of step b) into a distillation column, wherein the residence reactor in step b) is configured as a tube reactor.