New Immigrants

A pass is issued to an applicant who meets the requirements for the respective pass upon payment of the applicable fees.

Student Pass

The parent or guardian of a person seeking to enter into and remain in Kenya for the purposes of receiving education or training at an educational or training institution recognized in Kenya, where he or she has been accepted as a student, may apply, on the person’s behalf.

A Citizen of an East African Community Partner State is exempted from the payment of any applicable fees when making an application for the student pass.

Internship or Researcher’s Pass

A person who is seeking to enter or remain in Kenya for the purpose of internship or academic research within Kenya. The person has to be accepted as a researcher or as an intern in any recognized institution by the government within Kenya.

The duration of stay in Kenya and the validity period of the pass is twelve months.

Visitor's Pass

A person who wishes to enter Kenya for the purpose of a holiday, a visitor, or for any other temporary purpose that an immigration officer may approve.

A visitor’s pass permits the holder to enter Kenya within a period not exceeding six months from the date of his entry into Kenya and to remain in Kenya for such a period.

A person can reenter Kenya at any time during the period of validity of the pass.

Transit Pass

A transit pass is issued to a person who intends to enter Kenya for the purpose of traveling to a destination that is outside Kenya. The pass is granted when the person meets the following requirements:-

• A person possesses valid travel documents as may be required to permit him to enter the country of the other destination he or she is transiting.
• A person should be qualified under the law in force in the country of destination to enter that country.
• The person remains in Kenya for the purpose of traveling to a destination outside Kenya for a period not exceeding three days.

Special Pass

A special pass is granted to a person who wishes to enter or remain in Kenya for a limited period of stay for the purpose of:-

• Applying a review of a decision denying a permit.
• Applying for a permit or pass.
• Temporarily conducting any business,, trade or profession.
• Any other purpose that a Kenyan immigration officer considers suitable.

Dependant Pass  

The applicant of a dependant pass must be a Kenyan citizen, a permanent resident, or a valid permit holder. The applicant may make an application to the Kenyan immigration officer on behalf of their spouse, child, or disabled adult living under their care (the dependant) so that the dependant is legally allowed to live with the person in the country.

Re-entry pass

The pass is granted to a holder of a dependant pass, who is lawfully in Kenya, who intends to leave Kenya temporarily or who, having left Kenya temporarily and having been at the time of his or her departure lawfully present in Kenya, failed for reasons which a Kenyan immigration officer are satisfied are good and sufficient reasons, to apply for a re-entry pass before his departure.

A re-entry pass is valid for the expected period of a holder's absence from Kenya and does not exceed two years from the date of issue.