There are different types of visas available for Kenya, depending on the length and reason for the stay, with regulations last revised in 2012.
Before you move to Kenya, you should make sure to get the appropriate visa well in advance. If you are simply planning a short-term visit of three months or less, several visa options may apply to you. In any case, you need a valid passport that has at least one blank page for the Kenyan visa stamp.
How to Know If You Need a Visa to Enter Kenya
Nationals of selected countries (The East Africa Community EAC) do not need a visa at all in order to enter Kenya for a short-term stay. They can obtain a visitor pass at the immigration counter of the airport. In contrast, citizens of certain other nations (e.g. Afghanistan or Iraq) may only apply for a Kenyan visa with a personal reference.
However, the countries on these two lists can frequently change, which is why we have not mentioned all the nations in question. Before starting your Kenyan visa application, please enquire at the nearest Kenyan mission if you can get a visitor pass on arrival or if you need a reference for the application process.
Your Essentials for a Short-Term Kenyan Visa
For all sorts of shorter visits to Kenya, there are two basic visa categories: the single-entry visa and the multiple-journey visa. As the names imply, the main difference lies in the number of times the visa allows you to enter and exit Kenya.
During the application process for a multiple-entry visa, you usually have to bring along more copies of the required documents and pay a higher fee. But no matter which visa option you choose, you should have the following documents at hand:
- official visa application form
- passport, which is valid for at least six more months
- recent passport-sized photographs
- copy of flight itinerary / confirmation of travel booking
- additional paperwork, depending on your reason for moving to Kenya (e.g. a marriage certificate if you want to visit your spouse, invitation from a Kenyan host, a work permit if you are a foreign employee, etc.)
The Right Work Permit for You
If you need a visa for a longer stay in Kenya (usually for more than three months), you must obtain a work and residence permit beforehand. The permit will be part of your visa application.
There are various classes for such permits, depending on your reason for coming to Kenya, as well as special passes for short-term assignees and international students. As it would not be possible to describe all the requirements in detail, we will briefly outline the most common options below.
Please note, the Citizenship and Immigration Regulations were revised in 2012. Therefore, you often still find outdated references to the old classes online while the new categories are actually different now:
Types of Work Permits in Kenya
Kenya organizes its work permits into different classes based on what activities a foreigner will undertake in the country. The categories include:
- Class A: For anyone entering the prospecting and mining industries.
- Class B: For individuals interested in agriculture or animal husbandry.
- Class C: For anyone who is a member of a prescribed profession who will practice it alone or in a partnership in Kenya.
- Class D: Covers “specific employment by a specific employer” in Kenya, including, the Kenyan government, expats on intra-company transfers, foreign assignees, and employees from abroad, as well as humanitarian workers employed by an officially recognized NGO or IGO. These two categories of expats used to need a class A and a class C permit, respectively, according to the old regulations. Anyone applying for a class D Kenya work permit must have skills and qualifications not available in the country.
- Class F: For people who want to engage in specific manufacturing activities.
- Class G: For anyone who wants to enter a certain trade, business, consultancy role, or profession.
- Class I: (formerly class E) is a permit for foreign missionaries wanting to work in Kenya undertaking religious or charitable activities.
- Class K: Independently wealthy foreigners wishing to settle in Kenya. They have to submit proof of sufficient income. At least 35 years old with an annual income of a certain amount from sources other than employment.
- Class M: This permit is for anyone granted refugee status in the country.
Keep in mind that all work permits are typically valid for two years with the option to renew for an extra two years. Work permits can be renewed an unlimited number of times, but they must do it at least three months before the permit expires.
Requirements to Obtain Kenya Work Permits
As the employer, you’re required to apply for work permits on behalf of employees. Each type of Kenya work permit has its own specific documentation, but they all require the following:
- Filled out and signed application form
- Cover letter from you, the employer
- Copies of the foreigner’s passport
- Two colour, passport-size photos
- Payment of the application fee
Kenya emphasizes hiring locals over foreign nationals, which is why a committee decides whether to approve or reject a work permit application based on the impact the employment will have on the country’s economy. They also look at how many jobs it will create for Kenyans and check details about the applicant’s country of origin, such as its economy, criminal statistics, and security threats.
Work permit applicants do not have to reach a minimum salary level, but every applicant must have a Kenyan understudy trained to take the position. Keep in mind, though, that the work permit categories your employees apply for can change without notice, which will also modify the requirements.
Application Process
The first step to obtaining a work permit is applying at the Department of Immigration and submitting all the required documentation above. The department then presents the application to a committee for approval, which can take from two to six months. Your employees will receive a notification of either approval or rejection.
Any foreigner planning to stay in Kenya for more than three months must register as an alien and get an alien registration card from the Department of Immigration. The alien card functions similarly to a residence permit. Keep in mind that a residence permit itself can take two to four months for approval.
Other Important Considerations
Kenya’s Citizenship and Immigration Act makes it illegal for any foreigner to enter or work in the country without a valid work permit. If you have employees come and work without the proper documentation, they will get deported. You must wait for the application to be approved, as simply applying doesn’t entitle someone to work in Kenya.
After Your Arrival in Kenya
Once you have arrived in Kenya on a valid visa, you still have to register with the Immigration Department or the local police within three months. This rule applies to all foreign residents who are older than 18 and plan on staying more than 90 days. For this procedure, you need:
- a valid travel document
- recent passport-sized pictures
- to have your fingerprints taken
- to pay the registration fee
Authored by Henry Njuguna Adv, MCIArb
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