Permits are part of immigration services in Kenya and are handled by the Department of Immigration Services located at Nyayo House Kenyatta Avenue/ Uhuru Highway.
All documents submitted must be in English / or translated to English by relevant embassies or authorised organizations. For all government contracts the following should be presented in addition to other requirements;
A valid signed contract and Letter from relevant Ministry or Government Department attaching list of applicants indicating their full names, nationality, passport number and profession.
There are various classes of permits issued to foreigners who will be deemed to benefit Kenya as described under the Seventh Schedule of the Regulations. They include:
Issued for Prospecting and Mining to individuals who intend to engage in prospecting for minerals or mining in Kenya, whether alone or in partnership.
Documents required:
Issued for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry to individuals who intend to engage in agriculture or animal husbandry in Kenya, whether alone or in partnership.
Documents required:
For a Prescribed Profession and issued to an individual who is a member of a prescribed profession and intends on practicing that specific profession in Kenya, whether alone or in partnership.
Prescribed professions are defined under the Eighth Schedule of the Regulations. These include the following professions; medical, dentists, legal profession, surveyors, estate agent, valuer, land agent, architects, quantity surveyors, pharmacists, veterinary surgeons, engineers, nurses, physiotherapists, accountants, chartered secretaries, actuaries, scientist and IT experts.
Documents required:
This is for Employment and is issued to an individual who is offered specific employment by a specific employer, the Government of Kenya and an approved technical aid scheme under the UN (not exempted). You are required to have a Kenyan understudy in the specific role.
It is worth noting that if this permit is issued to an individual who is not present in Kenya at the time it being issued, then the individual will only have ninety (90) days from the date of issue to enter Kenya before this permit expires. The permit may however be extended for a further period not exceeding ninety (90) days, upon application.
This permit is issued for a period of two years, renewable.
Where the holder of this permit stops working for the employer specified in the work permit, the employer is expected to report this information in writing, to the Immigration Director within fifteen (15) days from the date of such cessation.
Documents required:
This is for Specific Manufacturing and is issued to individuals who intend to engage in manufacturing in Kenya, whether alone or in partnership.
Documents required:
This is for Specific Trade, Business or Consultancy. It is issued to individuals who intend to engage in a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession (other than a prescribed profession) in Kenya, whether alone or in partnership.
Documents required:
This is for Approved Religious or Charitable Activities Issued to a person who will be approved by the Government of Kenya and is a Member of an institution registered under the Society’s Act as a missionary; a Member of a company limited by guarantee; or a Member of a trust registered under the Trustees Act.
Documents required:
This is for Ordinary Residents and is Issued to any individual who undertakes not to accept employment, paid or unpaid, or engage in any income generating activity of any kind without a relevant permit; Has on his/her own right an annual assured income of not less than USD 24,000 or its equivalent, per annum, at his/her full and free disposition of such income. The source of funds must not be derived from any employment, occupation, trade, business or profession. Instead, the source of income must be derived from either:
Documents required:
It is worth noting that if this permit is issued to an individual who is not present in Kenya at the time it being issued, then the individual will only have ninety (90) days from the date of issue to enter Kenya before this permit expires. The permit may however be extended for a further period not exceeding ninety (90) days, upon application.
For Refugees, it is issued to any individual who has been granted refugee status in Kenya, including their spouse, who intends to take up employment or engage in a specific occupation, trade, business or profession.
Documents required:
There needs to be a recommendation letter from the Department of Refugee Affairs.
The main legislation that provides for Immigration in Kenya:
General Requirements for all classes of permits