The invention relates to a multistage process for the continuous preparation of organic, distillable isocyanates, preferably diisocyanates, particularly preferably aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diisocyanates, by reaction of the corresponding organic amines with urea and alcohols to liberate ammonia and form low molecular weight monomeric urethanes and thermal dissociation of the latter, in which by-products formed are at least partly utilized.