Work Permit in Kenya: Classes and Requirements

Who needs a work permit in Kenya

The Act treats the presence of a non-citizen as unlawful unless they hold a valid permit or pass, and working, trading or practising a profession without authorisation is an offence. An employer must also obtain a permit or special pass before engaging a foreign national, as Oraro & Company Advocates explain. Kenyan citizens, including dual citizens, fall outside this rule.

In January 2022, six foreign nationals arrested in Nairobi’s Imara Daima area were to be charged with engaging in trade without a work permit under section 53 of the Act, and the police warned employers in the same statement, as Capital FM reported. In September 2026, reports citing the Trade Ministry repeated that visa-free entry does not give a foreigner the right to work or run a business.

For most people, then, the real question is not whether a permit is needed but which class matches the activity. That choice shapes the documents, the sponsor, the fee and the renewal route. It is the first question families and businesses raise under our diaspora and business services.

Which work permit class fits your plans

The Seventh Schedule to the 2012 Regulations lists the classes, and the Directorate of Immigration Services describes each one. The list grew on 16 December 2024, when amending Regulations added new categories that the Directorate began issuing from April 2025, according to CMS. Bowmans adds that Kenya also joined Rwanda and Uganda in waiving fees for East African Community citizens.

Start with what you will actually do

Other classes

Class A covers prospecting and mining, Class B agriculture and animal husbandry, Class C a prescribed profession, Class F specific manufacturing, Class I approved religious activity, Class Q professionals working for religious or charitable bodies and Class M refugees and their spouses.

Class D, Class G, Class K and Class N

Class D: employment

A Class D permit is employer-sponsored, so the file is really the employer’s case. Immigration expects a defined role, matching qualifications, evidence that the vacancy could not be filled locally and a Kenyan understudy who can receive the skills transfer, as Pulse Kenya summarises. The employer must be registered and tax compliant. The role, the qualifications and the recruitment record should tell one consistent story.

Class G: business and consultancy

Class G asks for documentary proof of at least USD 100,000 in capital to be invested, according to the Directorate. The checklist also lists the certificate of incorporation, the CR12, tax compliance certificates and, for new cases, a bank statement verification form. The processing fee is KES 20,000 and is non-refundable. Investors who also plan to buy property can read more under property owners and investors.

Class K and Class N: no local work

Class K needs a guaranteed annual income of at least USD 24,000 from outside Kenya, and holders may not take up employment or income-generating activity without the relevant permit. Class N applicants typically show work for a company registered outside Kenya, proof of accommodation and a police clearance, and the reported fees are USD 200 to process and USD 1,000 a year, as Afriwise reports. Neither class allows paid work for Kenyan clients. Afriwise also cautions that freelancers with several clients or a registered business name may find their activity looked at as Class G or Class K work.

Validity, renewal and employer duties

Permits are generally capped at five years, so diarise the expiry on day one. Renewal runs through the same eFNS workflow, and starting early is safer than relying on a grace period. A permit is tied to its stated conditions, so a change of employer, role or business activity may need a fresh application.

Employers carry their own duty. Before a foreign national starts, confirm that a permit or special pass is in place, keep a copy on file and track the expiry date. A short routine helps: record the class, the conditions and the expiry date when the permit arrives, and set a reminder at least three months ahead. Treating a work permit in Kenya as an employer compliance item, and not only an individual task, avoids avoidable exposure.

How to apply for a work permit in Kenya

Applications are made online through the eFNS portal on eCitizen, and the employer needs an account. The usual sequence is:

1. Confirm the class that matches the activity.
2. Create the eFNS account and complete Form 25, with Form 27 for employment cases.
3. Upload the cover letter, passport, certified qualifications, CV, company registration and tax compliance documents.
4. Pay the non-refundable processing fee and answer any queries from Immigration.
5. Pay the issuance fee once approved, then collect the permit.

A person dissatisfied with the Director’s decision may seek review by the Cabinet Secretary, a route set out in the eFNS permit pack.

Do not start work on a pending file. Only a permit or special pass authorises it.

Special passes and registration

A special pass is a temporary document that can bridge the gap while a full permit is processed, and its end date matters. In Republic v Director of Immigration Services & 2 others, Ex Parte Zarko Knezevic [2021] KEHC 7910 (KLR), the applicant held a special pass to work for a named employer from 20 November 2020 to 20 February 2021. The Director’s office said it could not extend it, and the High Court, in an interim ruling, restrained his removal from Kenya pending determination of his application. The ruling did not settle his entitlement to a permit, but it shows how little room an expiring pass leaves. The practical lesson is to file early enough that a special pass is only ever a bridge.

Foreign nationals resident for more than 90 days must also register and hold a Foreign Nationals Certificate, according to the eFNS information portal, and the Director may inspect workplaces to verify compliance.

Permanent residence and family

Permanent residence is a status, not citizenship. CM Advocates describe four categories:

The route can differ by person. A former citizen may regain citizenship instead of applying for residence, and children and spouses of citizens have their own pathways. Families with a Kenyan connection can read more under families.

Common reasons a file stalls

Check the class-specific checklist on the eFNS portal before uploading any documents, and keep current immigration status valid while a file is pending. An advocate’s review before submission can identify these gaps. Meet our advocates, reach us through the contact page, or browse more guides on the blog.