What is the primary obstacle of foreigners with Class D Permit?

The biggest challenge is getting to establish that the applicant has got rare skills not easily found in Kenya and that their presence will be of advantage to the country (economically or strategically).

Am I allowed to work on a Tourist Visa and await my application of Work Permit?

No. It is strongly illegal to conduct any type of business or work without an appropriate permit or Kenya Special Pass (short-term) that may result in fines, deportation, and prohibition of re-entry.

What if I am a remote worker?

Yes. Kenya has recently established Kenya Class N Permit (Digital Nomad Visa). This is a permit of any foreign nationals working remotely by another entity that is not based in Kenya. The applicants should demonstrate having a guaranteed source of income of at least $\text{US}$24,000 outside Kenya every year.

What Do I do with my Work Permit Renewal Kenya?

Work Permit Renewal Kenya should commence at least three months to the date of expiry. The procedure is similar to the first one, with new documentation, further rationale of the role, and new Tax Compliance Certificates. The permits are mostly granted with a 2-year duration, which can be renewed.

Kenya Job Visa Opportunities for 2025

Are you an experienced employee who wants to diversify your career to one of the most dynamic economies of Africa? Kenya also goes by the name the Gateway to the East Africa, and is witnessing a fast rate of growth especially in the IT and renewable energy industry. The most important thing is to obtain a Kenya Work Permit.

Important types of work permit of expatriates

The Work Permit (or Employment Pass) in Kenya is classified into some Clusters according to the kind of employment or investment. The Kenya Class D Permit is the general path through which most expatriate employees pass through.

Demand Sectors in Kenya where foreigners can be hired

Kenyan economy is known as the Silicon Savannah and it is quickly modernizing which provides great opportunity in the form of Skilled Worker Visa Kenya to the particular sectors. When you happen to have the skills that fit these developmental areas, you are very likely to be approved to have an Employment Pass to Kenya.

IT & Technology Sector Jobs Kenya: Fintech (solutions to mobile payments), E-commerce, and Cybersecurity dominate in this sector which is booming.
Positions: Software Engineers, Data Scientists, Cybersecurity Experts, and Cloud Computing Architects.
Renewable Energy and Sustainability: Kenya is concerned with green energy (geothermal, wind, solar). This increases the demand of specialized engineers, project managers and sustainability consultants.
Healthcare Jobs Kenya to Foreigners: There is always demand of specialized medical professionals (Surgeons, Medical Directors) and pharmaceutical Research & Development.
NGO Jobs Kenya Expat: Nairobi is a significant centre of the international NGOs and UN agencies that employ Project Managers, Finance Directors and Field Officers.
Finance & Fintech: Kenya has been leading in mobile banking making Auditors, Financial Analysts and Digital Finance Specialists are in demand.

How to The Citizen Work Permit Application Process

The whole processing of Kenya Work Permit is carried out online on the official government portal, which is the eCitizen portal (to be precise the eFNS-electronic Foreign Nationals Services).

Preparation & Vetting (Employer-Driven)

Job Opportunity: Get a sure job agreement with a Kenyan firm.
Nomination of an Understudy: The employer should nominate and put in writing a Kenyan understudy to the position.
Collection of Documents: Prepare all the Documents required in Kenya Work Permit (see section below). The employer shall also require his or her company registration and valid Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC) at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
Evidence of Local Search: The employer should be able to give evidence (e.g. job adverts, recruitment reports) that they have tried and failed to get a qualified Kenyan to perform the job.

Submission and Online Payment

Portal Login: The eCitizen / eFNS portal is logged in by the employer (or applicant, based on the class).
Application Filing: File application (Form 25) and supporting documents.
Fee Payment: Pay for the non-refundable Work Permit Processing Fee Kenya 2025 (the amount of which is currently KES 20,000 in most classes).

Approval and Issuance

Vetting: The Committee of the immigration services in Kenya approves the application.
Notification: When approved, an employer is notified and has to pay an invoice to the Permit Issuance Fee. (In the case of Class D, this is at present KES 500,000 per annum).
Issuance: The permit is issued upon payment of issuance fee. The expat can then travel to Kenya or have his or her passport endorsed in case he is already in the country.
Alien Card: You should apply to the Kenya Foreign Nationals Certificate (also referred to as the Alien Card), thereby serving as a residence permit, within 90 days of obtaining the permit.
Pro Tip: It will usually take 8 to 12 weeks to process a Work Permit Processing Time Kenya, although there are delays. Intend to apply at least 3 months prior to your start date.

Checklist of Documents Required to obtain

Although the requirements differ according to the permit type, a uniform checklist of a typical Class D Permit is as follows.

Extensive CV (Curriculum Vitae) of the applicant.
Attested copies of academic and professional certificates.
Generic Employment Contract signed completely.
Two color pictures of the passport size.
A copy of the bio-data page of the applicant valid passport.
Kenyan employer signed cover letter fully addressed to the Director of Immigration Services.
Academic/professional certificates and CV of the Kenyan Understudy, certified.
Company Registration Certificate and Tax Compliance Certificate (TCC).
Evidence of local recruiting.

FAQs

What is the primary obstacle of foreigners with Class D Permit?

The biggest challenge is getting to establish that the applicant has got rare skills not easily found in Kenya and that their presence will be of advantage to the country (economically or strategically).
Am I allowed to work on a Tourist Visa and await my application of Work Permit?

No. It is strongly illegal to conduct any type of business or work without an appropriate permit or Kenya Special Pass (short-term) that may result in fines, deportation, and prohibition of re-entry.
What if I am a remote worker?

Yes. Kenya has recently established Kenya Class N Permit (Digital Nomad Visa). This is a permit of any foreign nationals working remotely by another entity that is not based in Kenya. The applicants should demonstrate having a guaranteed source of income of at least $\text{US}$24,000 outside Kenya every year.
What Do I do with my Work Permit Renewal Kenya?

Work Permit Renewal Kenya should commence at least three months to the date of expiry. The procedure is similar to the first one, with new documentation, further rationale of the role, and new Tax Compliance Certificates. The permits are mostly granted with a 2-year duration, which can be renewed.

Disclamir

This paper is not intended to offer a legal opinion. It is encouraged that the reader checks the information on the reliable sources, including the official website of the Kenyan Department of Immigration Services or a professional immigration attorney, before deciding their visa or employment applications.