New Immigrants

Work Permit

A work permit is a document issued to enable foreign nationals to enter Kenya and engage in trade, prospecting, farming, business, professional employment, missionary activities or even reside in Kenya.

There are different classes of work permits depending on the work assignment and the nature of activities to be conducted in Kenya.

Classes of Permits

Class A: Prospecting and Mining.

This permit is granted to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, in prospecting for minerals or mining in Kenya.

Permit Regulations

• A person should obtain prospecting, mining rights, and licenses that may be necessary for the purpose
• A person should own right and at his full and free disposition sufficient capital and other resources for the purpose
• A person should ensure that the engagement in prospecting or mining will be of benefit to Kenya.

Class B: Agriculture and Animal Husbandry

This permit is granted to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, in the business of agriculture or animal husbandry in Kenya,

Permit Regulations

• A person should have acquired or received all permissions that may be necessary to acquire, an interest in land of sufficient size and suitability for the purpose.
• A person should have in his own right and at his full and free disposition sufficient capital and other resources for the purpose.
• A person should ensure that the engagement in that business will be of benefit to Kenya.

Class C: Prescribed Profession

This permit is granted to a member of a prescribed profession who intends to practice that profession, whether alone or in partnership, in Kenya,

Permit Regulations

• A person possesses the prescribed qualification.:- Medical, Dentists, Legal professionals, Surveyors, Estate Agent, Valuer, and Land Agent, Architects or Quantity Surveyors, Pharmacists, Veterinary, Surgeons, Engineers, Nursing profession, Physiotherapists, Accountants, Chartered Secretaries, Actuaries, Scientist, Information and Communication Technology experts.
• A person is registered with the professional body, association, or institute to which he belongs in his own country.
• A person should have in his own right and at his full and free disposition sufficient capital and other resources for the purpose.
• A person should ensure the practice of that profession will be of benefit to Kenya.

Class D: Employment

This permit is granted to a person who has skills or qualifications that are not available in Kenya and who is offered specific employment by a specific employer, the government of Kenya, any other person, authority under the control of the Government, or an approved technical aid scheme under the United Nations Organization or some other approved agency and whose engagement in that employment will be of benefit to Kenya.

Class F: Specific manufacturing

This permit is granted to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, with a specific manufacturer in Kenya.

Permit Regulations

• The person should obtain any licence, registration, other authority, or permission that may be necessary for the purpose.
• A person should have in his own right and at his full and free disposition sufficient capital and other resources for the purpose.
• A person should ensure the practice of that profession will be of benefit to Kenya

Class G: Specific Trade, Business, or Consultancy

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.

Permit Regulations

• The person should obtain any licence, registration, other authority, or permission that may be necessary for the purpose.
• A person should have in his own right and at his full and free disposition sufficient capital and other resources for the purpose.
• A person should ensure that engagement in trade, business, consultancy or profession will be of benefit to Kenya.

Class I: Approved Religious or Charitable Activities.

This permit is granted to a person who is:-

• A member of an institution registered under the Society’s Act who is engaged as a missionary.
• Member of a company limited by guarantee.
• Member of a trust registered under the Trustees Act and approved by the Government of Kenya,
• A member presence in Kenya will be of benefit to Kenya.

Class K: Ordinary Residents

This permit is granted to a person who is not less than 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 employment, occupation, trade, business or profession as is referred to in the description of any of the classes specified in this Schedule.

Permit Regulations

• A person’s income is derived from sources outside and will be remitted to Kenya.
• A person’s income is derived from a pension or annuity payable from sources in Kenya.
• A person undertakes not to accept employment, paid or unpaid, or engage in any income-generating activity of any kind without a permit of the relevant class.
• A person’s presence in Kenya will be of benefit to Kenya.

Class M: Refugees

A person who has been granted refugee status in Kenya by 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.

Exemption Permit

This permit is issued to 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.