How to Get a Kenyan Work Permit: Requirements, Fees and Application

Foreign nationals who want to work or run a business in Kenya need the appropriate immigration permission unless they qualify for an exemption. For employment with a specific employer, the usual route is a Class D permit. Business, professional practice, remote work and other activities have different permit classes.

Apply online through the Directorate of Immigration Services’ electronic Foreign Nationals Services portal, known as eFNS. An application, payment receipt or pending approval is not an issued work permit.

Choose the right permit class

The official eFNS information pack lists the following classes. Check the class-specific eligibility rules before applying; not every work or residence permit allows the same activities.

There is also an exemption application route. Do not assume that being an EAC national, a volunteer or an employee of a charitable organisation automatically means no application is needed. For example, eFNS publishes a dedicated Class R application and checklist for EAC nationals.

Documents for a Class D employment permit

The employer and applicant should prepare the current class-specific checklist. The Directorate lists:

• Completed and signed Form 25.
• An employer’s signed covering letter addressed to the Director General of Immigration Services.
• A copy of the applicant’s passport bio-data page.
• Evidence of current immigration status if the applicant is already in Kenya.
• A recent colour passport photograph, following the portal’s upload requirements.
• Certified academic and professional certificates and the applicant’s CV.
• The organisation’s registration certificate.
• A valid company Tax Compliance Certificate for a new application; both company and individual certificates for renewal.
• Completed and signed Form 27, the Report on Employment.
• The Kenyan understudy’s name, identity card, CV, certified qualifications and contact details.
• Evidence of competitive recruitment showing that the employer could not fill the vacancy from the local labour market.
• Clearance from relevant institutions where required.

Foreign-language documents must be translated into English by an embassy, public notary or authorised or recognised institution. Previous permits or passes and additional supporting documents may also be required by the applicable eFNS checklist.

Requirements for business owners and consultants

Class G is not the same as an employment permit. Its published requirements include proof of at least USD 100,000 in capital to be invested, company registration documents, company and personal KRA PIN certificates, CR12 shareholder information, Forms 25 and 27, a covering letter and the relevant tax-compliance documents.

For renewals, the Directorate also lists signed audited accounts for the previous two years. Check the complete Class G checklist before committing to an investment or application.

Registering a company does not itself authorise a foreign national to work in it. A person entering a regulated profession should check whether Class C and professional registration requirements apply instead.

Current work permit fees

The Directorate publishes these fees for Class D and Class G. The processing fee is separate from the issuance fee.

The Class D and G pages also state that EAC nationals are exempt from their fees. Check the dedicated Class R route and the category selected in eFNS rather than assuming a fee exemption removes the need for immigration authorisation.

Other classes have their own fees. Use the current class-specific page and eFNS invoice rather than the old fees previously published in this article. Do not treat an annual issuance fee as a promise of a particular permit duration.

How to apply through eFNS

1. Open the official eFNS portal. Sign in using the eCitizen single sign-on option or register through the official sign-up link.
2. Read the information pack for your class. Confirm that your proposed work, employer or business fits its conditions.
3. Choose Apply Now, then Submit Applications and the relevant permit issuance or renewal service. Follow the labels displayed in the current portal.
4. Complete Form 25 and the other required forms. Upload the supporting documents in the requested format.
5. Review the application carefully, submit it and follow the generated invoice and payment instructions. Pay the non-refundable processing fee where applicable; it is not payable only after approval.
6. Monitor your eFNS account and registered email for progress updates, requests for documents and the decision.
7. If approved, pay the applicable issuance fee as instructed. Follow any additional conditions in the approval notification.
8. Once issued, print the permit from eFNS. The Directorate instructs applicants to present issued permits and passes to Immigration for endorsement. Follow its instructions for your document and passport.

Keep copies of the application, payment receipts, approval and issued permit. Do not rely on an unofficial payment code or send fees to an agent’s personal account in place of an official invoice.

Special passes, student passes and dependants

A special pass is a separate authorisation for temporary business, trade or professional activity. The Directorate currently describes a period not exceeding six months and publishes a fee of USD 200 per month upon approval for non-EAC nationals; EAC nationals are listed as exempt from the fee. Its checklist uses Form 32.

Do not rely on the former three-month limit and KSh 15,000 monthly charge on this page. Read the current conditions and obtain the appropriate authorisation before undertaking the activity.

Student and dependant passes serve different purposes and are not substitutes for an employment permit. If the purpose of your stay changes, ask Immigration which permission is required rather than assuming your existing pass covers it.

Renewals and changes

Use the renewal service in eFNS and the current checklist for your class. Start preparing before the existing permission expires, including tax-compliance records and updated employer or business documents. Check your own permit’s expiry date and conditions; there is no universal two-year validity that applies to every applicant.

Because Class D is tied to specific employment with a specific employer, do not assume it remains suitable after changing employer or role. Seek instructions from Immigration about the permission required for the new activity.

Warning: Do not start work simply because you have applied, paid a processing fee or received permission to travel to Kenya. Wait until you hold the authorisation required for the activity and have fulfilled its conditions.

Tip: Use the live eFNS checklist and any instructions in your account as you prepare the application. Keep control of your own account so that you can see notifications and invoices directly.

Sources and useful links

• Directorate of Immigration Services: work permits and passes
• eFNS: permit classes
• Class D: employment requirements and fees
• Class G: business and consultancy requirements and fees
• eFNS: Class R for EAC nationals
• eFNS: Class Q for professionals in religious or charitable organisations
• Directorate: special pass
• Official eFNS portal