If you’re considering immigrating to Kenya or obtaining a work permit to hire international talent for your business, you’ve come to the right place.
I’m here to walk you through everything you need to know.
At Chepchieng and Company Advocates, our law firm specializes in guiding clients through Kenya immigration requirements, from applying for a Kenya work permit to handling work permits in Kenya.
We make the process smooth so you can focus on growing your business. Kenya is an excellent spot for business expansion.
With a population of about 58 million in 2026 and a steady growth rate of around 2% per year, the country offers a large market and a skilled workforce.
Immigration to Kenya has increased, especially for investors and experienced workers. For example, tourism arrivals exceeded 2.3 million in 2024, demonstrating Kenya’s openness to visitors and potential residents.
If you’re looking to hire internationally, understanding the Kenya work visa and work permit for Kenya is key.
What Are Work Permits in Kenya?
Work permits are official documents that allow foreign nationals to work legally in Kenya.
If you want to take a job here or bring in employees from abroad, a Kenyan work permit is required. Without it, you can’t work or stay long-term for employment.
Work permits in Kenya help the government control who enters the job market and ensure local skills are prioritized.
Think of a work permit in Kenya as your ticket to contribute to the economy. For business owners like you, this means you can hire experts from other countries when needed.
Immigration to Kenya often starts with a Kenya visa, but for work, you need a specific Kenya work visa or permit.
Kenya immigration requirements include proving that your skills aren’t readily available locally.
Kenya has issued thousands of work permits, supporting sectors like technology and agriculture. This keeps the economy growing, with net migration showing some outflows but inflows for skilled roles.
How Do Work Permits Work?
Work permits grant you permission to live and work in Kenya for a set period. You apply through the Directorate of Immigration Services using an online portal called eFNS.
First, you get a Kenya visa or an ETA to enter, then apply for the work permit in Kenya. The process checks if your job benefits Kenya.
Your employer must show they’ve tried to hire locals first. Once approved, the Kenyan work permit lets you start working. Renewals are possible, usually for one or two years.
For investors, this ties into business expansion. If you’re a landowner hiring foreign managers, a work permit for Kenya is required for compliance.
Work permits in Kenya protect both you and the worker. Kenya’s immigration requirements emphasize skills transfer, where foreigners train Kenyans.
In practice, obtaining a work permit in Kenya starts with gathering the required documents.
We’ll cover that later. A special pass in Kenya can bridge the gap while waiting, allowing short-term work for up to 3 months.
What are the different types of work permits in Kenya?
Class A Work Permit for Kenya: Prospecting and Mining
This type of work permit in Kenya is for individuals or partners who want to prospect for minerals or engage in mining activities.
To qualify, you need to show prospecting or mining rights, licenses, and proof of at least USD 100,000 in funds. It’s ideal for investors in the mining sector looking at immigration to Kenya.
Class B Work Permit for Kenya: Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
If your focus is farming or raising animals, this work permit for Kenya suits you. It requires proof of land ownership or lease, relevant licenses, and a minimum investment of USD 100,000.
This class supports agricultural business expansion and is part of the work permit process in Kenya for hands-on rural work.
Class C Work Permit for Kenya: Prescribed Professions
This work permit for Kenya is for professionals like doctors, lawyers, or engineers who plan to practice in Kenya.
You must provide proof of qualifications, registration with Kenyan professional bodies, and show how your skills benefit the country. It’s a key Kenyan work visa for regulated fields under the Kenyan immigration requirements.
Class D Work Permit for Kenya: General Employment
The most common work permit in Kenya, Class D, is for those with a specific job offer from a Kenyan employer for which local skills are unavailable. It involves a skills-transfer plan for a Kenyan understudy.
A Class D work permit in Kenya is ideal for hiring international experts, and it’s how most handle obtaining a work permit for skilled roles.
Class F Work Permit for Kenya: Specific Manufacturing
This work permit for Kenya is intended for manufacturing businesses and requires proof of investment (at least USD 100,000), factory plans, and registrations.
It’s for those setting up or running production facilities, aligning with Kenya’s investor permit goals for industrial growth.
Class G Work Permit for Kenya: Investor or Specific Trade/Business
This Kenya investor permit, a type of work permit for Kenya, is for starting a trade, business, or consultancy with at least USD 100,000 in invested capital.
You need business registrations and proof of economic benefit. It’s great for investors seeking to immigrate to Kenya through entrepreneurship.
Class I Work Permit for Kenya: Missionaries and Charitable Organizations
For members of religious or charitable groups, this work permit for Kenya allows work in approved organizations.
Requirements include endorsement letters and proof of non-profit status. It’s often used as a Kenyan work visa for volunteers or missionaries under work permits in Kenya.
Class K Residency Permit for Kenya: Retirees or Independent Income
Not strictly a work permit for Kenya, but a Kenya residency permit for those with income from abroad (at least USD 24,000 yearly) who won’t work locally.
It’s for retirees or financially independent people, offering long-term stay without employment rights.
Class M Work Permit for Kenya: Refugees
This specialized work permit for Kenya is for recognized refugees and allows limited work. It follows international conventions and Kenya immigration requirements for protected persons.
Class N Work Permit for Kenya: Digital Nomads
The digital nomad visa in Kenya, or Class N, is a newer work permit for remote workers earning from outside Kenya (minimum around USD 55,000 annually, according to recent guides).
You must show employment or business ties abroad. The digital nomad visa in Kenya has seen a surge in applications in recent years, making it popular among those seeking flexible lifestyles.
Class R Work Permit for Kenya: East African Community Nationals
Exclusive to EAC citizens, this free work permit for Kenya streamlines issuance for regional neighbors.
It allows employment, business, or residence without fees, promoting East African integration.
If you’re an investor, the Kenya investor permit (like a Class G) can align with your plans, while options like the digital nomad visa Kenya suit remote setups.
Kenya residency permit options, including the dependent pass for families, add flexibility. A Class D work permit in Kenya is still the go-to for most international hires.
What documents do I need to get a work permit for Kenya?
To get a work permit for Kenya, you need specific documents to meet Kenya’s immigration requirements. Start with:
- A completed Form 25 from the eFNS portal.
- You’ll need a signed cover letter from your employer addressed to the Director General of Immigration Services.
- Include a copy of your national passport biodata page with at least 6 months’ validity.
- Two recent colored passport-size photos are required.
- If you’re already in Kenya, show your current immigration status, such as a Kenya visa or an ETA application stamp.
- Provide certified copies of your academic and professional certificates, plus your CV.
- For a Class D work permit in Kenya, include details of a Kenyan understudy for skills transfer, like their CV and contract.
- The employer needs a valid tax compliance certificate.
- For the Kenya investor permit, add proof of investment.
- The digital nomad visa for Kenya requires proof of income.
- A police clearance certificate for good character.
For renewals:
- Include both company and individual tax certificates.
- If documents are in a foreign language, get them translated and certified.
Getting a work permit in Kenya involves uploading these online. Special pass Kenya needs similar documents, but it is faster.
Dependent pass Kenya requires marriage or birth certificates for the family.
How much will it cost to get a work permit for Kenya?
- Kenya work permit fees start with a non-refundable processing fee of KSH 20,000 (about USD 155) for most work permit classes.
- For the Class D work permit in Kenya, the annual issuance fee is KSH 500,000 (about USD 3,877). However, East African Community members can obtain a free work permit for Kenya under Class R.
- The Class G Kenya investor permit comes with a KSH 100,000 issuance fee (about USD 775).
- The digital nomad visa for Kenya costs USD 1,000 annually (about KSH 129,000).
- Special pass Kenya fees are KSH 15,000 per month (about USD 116) and are valid for up to 3 months.
- The dependent pass for Kenya costs KSH 5,000 per year (about USD 39).
Beyond these, Kenya work permit fees may include a security bond, often KSH 100,000 (about USD 775), which is refundable later.
Don’t forget to add extra costs for things like document translations or certifications if needed.
When planning business expansion, always factor in Kenya’s work permit fees when hiring from abroad.
Work permits in Kenya can be renewed, and the fees are similar to those for the initial permit. Kenya immigration requirements require all payments to be made online through the eCitizen platform.
How long does it take to get a work permit for Kenya?
Processing a work permit for Kenya can take up to 3 months. It starts after submitting your application and fees.
The Directorate reviews documents, checks local skill availability, and may request additional information. For the Class D work permit in Kenya, this includes input from the Ministry of Labor.
If approved, you will receive a notification to pay the issuance fees. Then, collect your Kenya work permit.
Delays can happen if documents are incomplete. Use a special pass to Kenya to work while waiting.
Digital nomad visa processing in Kenya is faster, often in weeks. Kenya ETA application for entry is quick, within 72 hours.
How to get a work permit in Kenya faster?
Prepare everything right. At Chepchieng and Company Advocates, our experience cuts down wait times.
Other aspects of a work permit in Kenya.
For landowners, a Kenyan residency permit can help manage properties in the long term. Investors use the Kenya investor permit for business setup.
Kenya visa options include tourist, business, or transit. But for work, switch to a Kenyan work visa.
Statistics show that immigration to Kenya increased in 2025, with over 800,000 refugees and economic migrants.
Net migration was negative at -19,781 in 2024, but Kenya’s work permit system attracts talent.
For digital nomads, the digital nomad visa in Kenya allows a one-year stay, renewable. A Kenya ETA application is needed for entry.
Dependent pass Kenya allows families of permit holders, including spouses and children under 21, to access schools and healthcare services in the country.
Kenya immigration requirements sometimes include health checks, such as tuberculosis screening or other medical examinations, especially for long-term stays. Kenya’s work permit fees help fund these immigration services and maintain the system.
Work permits in Kenya support business growth by allowing companies to bring in global expertise. If you’re hiring internationally, it’s essential to know how to get a work permit in Kenya to avoid legal issues.
Immigration to Kenya offers many opportunities across sectors such as tech, agriculture, and tourism. A Kenyan visa is often your first step before applying for a work permit for Kenya.
At Chepchieng and Company Advocates, contact us for personalized help with your Kenya work permit, we can guide you through the application and answer any questions.
FAQs
1. What is the difference between a Kenya visa and a work permit in Kenya?
A Kenya visa lets you enter for tourism or short visits. A work permit in Kenya allows legal employment and longer stays.
2. Can I apply for a digital nomad visa in Kenya if I work remotely?
Yes, if you earn at least USD 24,000 yearly from abroad and meet Kenya immigration requirements, including proof of income.
3. How do I renew work permits in Kenya?
Submit a renewal application before expiry, with updated documents, proof of compliance, and Kenya work permit fees.
4. What is a special pass to Kenya?
It’s a temporary permit for short-term work, valid for up to 3 months, while your full Kenya work permit is processed.
5. Is a dependent pass to Kenya available for my family?
Yes, spouses and children can apply if you hold a valid Kenya work visa or work permit, which allows them to live with you.
