The invention is directed to a process for the preparation of a cyclic carbamate starting with o-aminobenzyl alcohol and/or a suitable salt thereof, which is reacted with a cyclization agent selected from phosgene, diphosgene, triphosgene and mixtures thereof, and in that the reaction carried out in the presence of an aqueous base, and a water-immiscible organic solvent, said organic solvent mainly comprising at least one compound selected from C2-5-alkyl C2-5-carboxylates and mixtures of at least one C2-5-alkyl C2-5-carboxylate with at least one C5-8-alkane.