Overview
Kenyan work permits are governed by the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act. Any foreign national intending to work in Kenya — whether as an employee, investor, missionary or specialist — needs the correct class of permit before starting work.
Working without a valid permit is an offence that can lead to fines, deportation and a bar on future entry, and it exposes the employing company to penalties. This guide walks you through selecting the right class, preparing your documents, paying the correct fees and filing through the eFNS portal.
Choosing the right permit class
Kenya issues permits under classes A through M. Choosing the wrong class is the single most common cause of delay, because the Directorate of Immigration will not convert an application from one class to another — it must be refiled.
- Class A — prospecting and mining
- Class B — agriculture and animal husbandry
- Class D — employees hired by a specific Kenyan employer (most common)
- Class F — specific manufacturing
- Class G — investors in a Kenyan trade or business
- Class I — approved missionary or religious work
- Class K — holders of assured income of at least USD 24,000 per year
- Class M — recognised refugees permitted to work
Eligibility requirements
- A specific, identifiable job or business in Kenya
- Skills, qualifications or capital that a Kenyan citizen cannot readily supply
- A Kenyan employer, company or sponsor willing to sign the required undertakings
- A clean criminal record in Kenya and in your country of residence
- For Class G, evidence of a minimum capital investment (commonly USD 100,000) in the business
Documents you'll need
- Passport valid for at least 12 months, with a clear bio-data page scan
- Two recent passport photographs
- Detailed CV and certified academic and professional certificates
- Cover letter from the employer, investor or sponsor explaining the role
- Signed employment contract or letter of appointment
- Company documents: CR12, Certificate of Incorporation, KRA PIN, valid Tax Compliance Certificate
- Police clearance (Good Conduct) from Kenya and from your country of origin
- Form 25 (application) and Form 27 (security bond) correctly completed
- Justification of why the role cannot be filled locally, plus a Kenyan understudy plan where applicable
The eFNS filing process, step by step
All applications are now lodged online through the Electronic Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS) portal at fns.immigration.go.ke.
- Step 1 — create an eFNS account for the applicant and, separately, for the employer entity
- Step 2 — select the correct permit class and complete the online application form
- Step 3 — upload every supporting document as a clear, correctly labelled PDF
- Step 4 — pay the non-refundable processing fee and submit
- Step 5 — the file is reviewed by the Directorate and may be referred to a vetting committee
- Step 6 — on approval, pay the permit issuance fee and the security bond
- Step 7 — attend endorsement so the permit is stamped into the passport
Government fees and costs
Fees are set by the Directorate of Immigration and are payable in Kenyan shillings via eCitizen. A typical Class D application attracts a non-refundable processing fee of around KES 10,000 and an annual permit fee in the region of KES 200,000 (a two-year permit is paid up front), plus a security bond.
Class G investor permits and other classes carry different fee scales. Always confirm current rates before paying, as they are revised from time to time.
Processing timelines
Expect 60–120 working days from submission to decision, depending on Directorate workload, the completeness of your file and whether the application is referred for further vetting. Applications with missing company documents or an expired Tax Compliance Certificate are the slowest.
If you need to begin work or attend to urgent business while the permit is pending, a Special Pass can bridge the gap for up to six months.
Common reasons applications are rejected
- Applying under the wrong permit class
- No credible justification for hiring a foreign national
- Expired or missing Tax Compliance Certificate or CR12
- Unsigned or inconsistent employment contracts
- Poor-quality or unreadable document scans
- Discrepancies between the passport, CV and application form
- Employer with outstanding immigration or tax non-compliance
After approval: Alien ID and renewals
Once approved and endorsed, the holder must register for a Foreign National (Alien) Certificate within 90 days of permit issuance. This document is required for banking, KRA registration, driving licences and school enrolment.
Permits are issued for one or two years. Renewal should be initiated at least 90 days before expiry, and requires up-to-date company compliance documents and proof that the role and the Kenyan understudy plan are still in place.
How Herufi Figures can help
We advise on the correct permit class, assemble and quality-check the full document pack, file and track the application on eFNS, respond to Directorate queries, and handle Special Pass cover, Alien ID registration and renewals.
Talk to our Nairobi-based immigration team for a free assessment of your case before you file.