Permits
A Work Permit is a document issued by the Director of Immigration Services, under the provisions of section 40 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011, to enable foreign national (s) enter Kenya and engage in trade, prospecting, farming, business, professional employment, missionary activities or even reside in Kenya.
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Class A: (for prospecting and mining)
This permit is issued to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, in prospecting for minerals or mining in Kenya.
Class B: (Agriculture and Animal husbandry)
This permit is issued to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, in the business of agriculture or animal husbandry in Kenya.
Class C: (Prescribed profession)
This permit is issued to a person who is a member of a prescribed profession who intends to practice that profession, whether alone or in partnership, in Kenya
Class D:(Employment)
This permit is issued to a person who is offered specific employment by a specific employer, the government of Kenya or any other person or authority under the control of the Government or an approved technical aid scheme under the United Nations Organization or some other approved Agency (not being an exempted person under section 34 (3), who is in possession of skills or qualifications that are not available in Kenya and whose engagement in that employment will be of benefit to Kenya.
Class F:(Specific manufacturing)
This permit is issued to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, in a specific manufacture in Kenya.
Class G:(Specific trade, business or consultancy)
This permit is issued to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, in a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession (other than a prescribed profession) in Kenya.
Class I: (Approved religious activities)(NON East African Community (EAC) Nationals)
This permit is issued to a person who is a member of an institution registered under the Society’s Act and is engaged as a missionary and whose activities are directly involved in preaching or conduct of the religious worship and rituals, and whose presence in Kenya is of benefit to the country.
Class K:(Ordinary residents)
This permit is issued to a person who Is not less that thirty-five years of age; and has in his own right and at his full and free disposition an assured annual income of not less than the prescribed amount that is derived from sources other than any such employment, occupation, trade, business or profession as is referred to in the description of any of the classes specified in this Schedule.
Class M:(Refugees)
This permit is issued to a person who has been granted refugee status in Kenya in accordance with the refugee law of Kenya and any spouse of such a refugee who intends to take up employment or engage in a specific occupation, trade, business or profession.
Class N:(Digital Nomad)
This permit is issued to a person who works remotely within Kenya for a company registered outside the country.
Class P:(Staff of United Nations, Diplomatic Missions, Inter-Governmental Organizations, and International Non-Governmental Organizations)
This permit is issued to staff of the UN, Diplomatic Missions, Intergovernmental Organizations or International non-governmental organizations, accredited to neighboring hardship countries and staff based in hardship neighbouring countries of such organizations.
Class Q:(Professionals working for religious or charitable organizations)
This permit is issued to a person who is a member of prescribed professional and working for religious or charitable organizations and who is not involved in preaching or the conduct of religious worship and rituals and whose presence will be of benefit to Kenya.
Class R:(East African Community (EAC) Nationals)
This permit is issued to a person who is a citizen of a Member State of the East African Community and is not a Prohibited Immigrant and who intends to reside, engage in employment, activity, business, trade or engage in any prescribed profession and whose presence will be of benefit to Kenya.
Exemption
This permit is issued any person or class or description of persons, exempted by the cabinet secretary from provisions of obtaining a work permit by notice in the gazette. (Section 34 (3)(g) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011). Apply