A process for the preparation of 3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethyl-cyclo- hexylamine from 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethyl-cyclohexanone, wherein the fol- lowing stages are carried out in discrete reaction chambers: a) the 3-cyano-3,5,5-trimethyl-cyclohexanone is reacted in a first reaction chamber with excess ammonia over an acidic metal oxide catalyst at a temperature of from 20.degree. to 150.degree.C and a pressure of from 15 to 500 bar, and b) in a second reaction chamber, the reaction product from stage a) is hydrogenated with hydrogen at a temperature of from 60.degree. to 150.degree.C and a pressure of from 50 to 300 bar in the presence of excess ammonia over a catalyst containing cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, and/or some other noble metal, which catalyst optionally contains a basic component or is supported by neutral or basic supporting material.