The award of honorary citizenship is the most important distinction that a municipality or city can bestow on personalities. The following people are currently honorary citizens of the city of Lingen (Ems):

• Ursula Ramelow, former First and Second Mayor, former Lord Mayor
• Karl-Heinz Vehring, former City Director
• Bernard Grünberg, Jewish fellow citizen 
• Bishop Dr. Martin Kruse

Honorary citizenship expires with death. The following people who have already died are former honorary citizens of the city of Lingen (Ems):

• Ruth Foster, Jewish fellow citizen (+2014)
• Schwester M. Firminia, Sister of the Franciscan Sisters St. Mauritz and active in the St. Bonifatius Hospital (+1979)
• Dr. Engelbert Lindgen, pediatrician and initiator for the establishment of Kinderhilfe Lingen e.V. (today's Christophorus-Werk) (+1983)
• Robert Koop, former Mayor (+1981)
• Bishop Wilhelm Berning (+1955)
• Konstantin Freiherr von Quadt, Landdrost (+1881)