Every way into Kenya.

Kenya abolished tourist visas on 5 January 2024 and now requires nearly all foreign visitors to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) before travel via the official portal etakenya.go.ke. The eTA is applied for online and covers short visits for tourism, holidays and visiting family or friends. The processing fee is USD 30 (card-payment surcharges may apply); processing normally takes about three working days, so travellers are advised to apply at least three days before departure. The eTA must be used to enter within 90 days of issuance, and the Visitor's Pass granted at the border allows a stay of up to 90 days, extendable in-country for a further 90 days to a maximum of 180 days. The eTA is a visitor authorisation only and does not permit employment, enrolled study or residence. East African Community nationals are exempt, and children under 16 and several designated African nationalities are exempt or fee-free.

Government fee

$30

Processing time

3 days

Max stay

90 days

Validity

90 days

Travellers passing through Kenya en route to another country who will pass immigration control (for example to change airport, stay overnight or collect baggage) need a transit Electronic Travel Authorisation, applied for on etakenya.go.ke. The transit eTA fee is USD 30. Passengers who remain entirely within the international transit area of an airport, seaport or land border and do not pass through immigration do not need an eTA. The transit eTA is for short onward transit only and does not authorise tourism beyond the transit period, work, study or residence; travellers must hold a confirmed onward ticket and, where required, an entry document for the final destination.

Government fee

$30

Processing time

3 days

Max stay

3 days

Validity

90 days

The same Electronic Travel Authorisation, applied for through etakenya.go.ke, is used by travellers visiting Kenya for short business purposes such as meetings, negotiations, conferences and trade exhibitions. The fee is USD 30 and processing takes about three working days. The eTA must be used within 90 days of issuance and the Visitor's Pass granted on arrival permits a stay of up to 90 days. Business visitors select the business purpose during the application and provide supporting documents such as a company invitation. The eTA permits business activity but not local employment or salaried work for a Kenyan employer; engaging in gainful work requires a Work Permit.

Government fee

$30

Processing time

3 days

Max stay

90 days

Validity

90 days

Travellers coming to Kenya for medical treatment apply for the Electronic Travel Authorisation on etakenya.go.ke and select the medical purpose. The fee is USD 30 and processing takes about three working days. The eTA must be used within 90 days of issuance and the Visitor's Pass issued on arrival allows a stay of up to 90 days, which can be extended in-country if longer treatment is required. Applicants provide a letter from the treating doctor or hospital in Kenya. The eTA covers the medical visit only and does not authorise work, study or residence.

Government fee

$30

Processing time

3 days

Max stay

90 days

Validity

90 days

The Student Pass authorises foreign nationals to study, intern or conduct research in Kenya at an approved educational, training or research institution. Applications are made online on the eFNS portal using Form 30, signed by the admitting institution. The issuance fee is USD 100 per year for non-EAC nationals and gratis for East African Community member states. Passes are typically issued aligned to the course duration and are renewable. For research, a permit from the relevant national research authority is also required. The pass permits enrolled study/research only, not general employment.

• Study: Authorises enrolled study, internship or research at the approved institution.

Government fee

$100

Validity

365 days

The Class N Digital Nomad Work Permit was introduced by the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Regulations, 2024 and operationalised in 2025. It allows remote workers employed by, or providing services to, companies registered outside Kenya to live in Kenya while working remotely. Eligible applicants are employees of overseas firms, shareholders/representatives of foreign businesses, or self-employed people serving international clients, and must show an assured annual income reported at around USD 55,000 from sources outside Kenya. The processing fee is USD 200 (non-refundable) and the issuance fee is USD 1,000 per year. The permit is issued for one or two years and is renewable. Holders must not take employment or income-generating work for a company domiciled in Kenya. Applications are filed online through the eFNS portal.

• Work: Remote work for a foreign employer/clients only; no work for a Kenya-domiciled employer.
• Family: Accompanying family apply for Dependant Passes.

Government fee

$200

Validity

365 days

Min. income / month

$55,000

The Class C Work Permit is issued to members of a prescribed profession — such as medicine, law, engineering or accountancy — who intend to practise in Kenya. Applicants must hold the required qualifications, be registered with the relevant Kenyan professional body, control sufficient capital, and show their practice will benefit the country. The non-refundable processing fee is KES 20,000. Permits are normally issued for one year (renewable) and applications are filed online through the eFNS portal. The permit authorises the holder to practise the named profession.

• Work: Authorises practice of the named prescribed profession.
• Residency after 7 years
• Family: Spouse and children apply for Dependant Passes.

Government fee

KES 20,000

Validity

365 days

The Class D Work Permit is the main employee permit, issued to a person offered specific employment by a specific Kenyan employer where the applicant has skills or qualifications not available locally and the employment will benefit Kenya. The employer must justify the position, including details of a Kenyan understudy where applicable. The non-refundable processing fee is KES 20,000. Permits are normally issued for one or two years and are renewable; applications are filed online through the eFNS portal using Form 25, with an employment report on Form 27. The permit authorises the holder to work only in the specified employment with the named employer.

• Work: Authorises work only in the specified employment with the named employer.
• Residency after 7 years
• Family: Spouse and children apply for Dependant Passes linked to the permit holder.

Government fee

KES 20,000

Validity

365 days

The Special Pass is a short-term authorisation that lets a foreign national enter or remain in Kenya temporarily to conduct business, trade or a profession, to await the outcome of a permit/pass application, or to seek review of a refused permit. It is commonly used for short-term assignments before a full Work Permit is in place. Applications are made online on the eFNS portal using Form 32. The fee is USD 200 per month for non-East Africans, and gratis for EAC member states; payment must be made within 30 days of approval or the approval lapses. It is issued for short periods (commonly up to six months) and is not a long-term work authorisation.

• Work: Permits short-term business, trade or professional activity for the approved period only.

Government fee

$200

Max stay

180 days

Validity

180 days

The Class B Work Permit is for investors who intend to engage in agriculture or animal husbandry in Kenya. Applicants must have acquired (or obtained permission to acquire) an interest in land of suitable size, control sufficient capital and resources, and demonstrate the venture will benefit Kenya. The non-refundable processing fee is KES 20,000 and applicants must show proof of at least USD 100,000 in capital. Permits are normally issued for one year and are renewable, with applications filed online through the eFNS portal. The permit authorises the holder to run the agricultural or animal-husbandry enterprise.

• Work: Authorises the agricultural or animal-husbandry enterprise.
• Residency after 7 years
• Family: Spouse and children apply for Dependant Passes.

Government fee

KES 20,000

Validity

365 days

Min. investment

KES 100,000

The Class A Work Permit is issued to investors who intend to engage in prospecting for minerals or mining in Kenya. Applicants must hold the necessary prospecting or mining rights and licences, control sufficient capital and resources, and show the activity will benefit Kenya. The official non-refundable processing fee is KES 20,000, and applicants must provide documentary proof of at least USD 100,000 in capital available to invest. Permits are typically issued for one year and are renewable. Applications are filed online through the Directorate of Immigration Services eFNS portal. The permit authorises the holder to carry out the licensed prospecting or mining activity.

• Work: Authorises the licensed prospecting or mining activity.
• Residency after 7 years
• Family: Spouse and children apply for Dependant Passes linked to the permit holder.

Government fee

KES 20,000

Validity

365 days

Min. investment

KES 100,000

The Class F Work Permit is for investors who intend to engage in specific manufacturing in Kenya. Applicants must hold the necessary licences, control sufficient capital in their own right, and show the manufacturing activity will benefit Kenya. The non-refundable processing fee is KES 20,000 and applicants must provide proof of at least USD 100,000 in capital available to invest. Permits are normally issued for one year (renewable) and applications are filed online through the eFNS portal. The permit authorises the holder to run the specified manufacturing enterprise.

• Work: Authorises the specified manufacturing enterprise.
• Residency after 7 years
• Family: Spouse and children apply for Dependant Passes.

Government fee

KES 20,000

Validity

365 days

Min. investment

KES 100,000

The Class G Work Permit is the main investor permit, issued to a person intending to engage in a specific trade, business, consultancy or non-prescribed profession in Kenya. Applicants must obtain the necessary licences and registrations, control sufficient personal capital, and show the venture will benefit Kenya. The non-refundable processing fee is KES 20,000 and applicants must provide documentary proof of at least USD 100,000 in capital to be invested. Permits are normally issued for one or two years and are renewable; applications are filed online through the eFNS portal. The permit authorises the holder to run the named trade or business.

• Work: Authorises the named trade, business, consultancy or profession.
• Residency after 7 years
• Family: Spouse and children apply for Dependant Passes linked to the permit holder.

Government fee

KES 20,000

Validity

365 days

Min. investment

KES 100,000

The Class K permit is for ordinary residents of independent means — often used by retirees and people living off private income. Applicants must be at least 35 years old and demonstrate an assured annual income of not less than USD 24,000 from sources outside employment in Kenya (foreign-derived income remitted to Kenya, or a Kenyan pension or annuity). Holders must undertake not to take up employment or income-generating activity in Kenya without authorisation. The non-refundable processing fee is KES 20,000. Permits are normally issued for one year and are renewable; applications are filed online through the eFNS portal.

• Residency after 7 years
• Family: Spouse and children apply for Dependant Passes.

Government fee

KES 20,000

Validity

365 days

Min. income / month

KES 24,000

The Dependant's Pass allows the spouse, child or other dependant of a person lawfully resident in Kenya — a Kenyan citizen, work permit holder, permanent resident or exempted person — to reside in Kenya. Applications are made online on the eFNS portal using Form 28, supported by certified relationship documents and proof that the principal can support the dependant. The issuance fee is KES 20,000 for a dependant of a Kenyan citizen, KES 10,000 for a dependant of a work permit or permanent residence holder, and gratis for EAC member states. The pass is tied to the validity of the principal's status. It does not by itself authorise the holder to work, or a child to study (a Pupil's/Student Pass is needed for education).

• Residency: A spouse/dependant of a permanent resident or citizen may have a separate route to residence under the relevant category.
• Family: Issued specifically to a spouse, child or dependant of the principal.

Government fee

KES 20,000

Validity

365 days

The Class I Work Permit is issued to missionaries and members of registered religious institutions whose activities involve preaching or conducting religious worship and rituals, and whose presence will benefit Kenya. It is intended for non-EAC nationals. The processing fee is gratis (free) and the issuance fee, payable on approval, is KES 20,000 per year. Permits are normally issued for one year and are renewable; applications are filed online through the eFNS portal. The permit authorises the holder to carry out the approved religious activity for the registered institution.

• Work: Authorises approved religious work for the registered institution only.
• Residency after 7 years
• Family: Spouse and children apply for Dependant Passes.

Government fee

KES 20,000

Validity

365 days

The Class M permit is issued to a person who has been granted refugee status in Kenya under the refugee law, and to their spouse, to enable them to take up employment or engage in an occupation, trade, business or profession. A recommendation letter from the Department of Refugee Affairs is required. The official information pack does not state an application fee for this class. Applications are filed online through the eFNS portal using Form 25, with supporting documents submitted to Immigration headquarters or regional offices. The permit authorises the refugee holder to work or engage in the approved occupation.

• Work: Authorises employment or occupation for recognised refugees and their spouses.
• Family: A refugee's spouse is covered; dependants' status follows refugee law.

Validity

365 days

Permanent Residence allows a qualifying foreign national to live in Kenya indefinitely without renewing a work permit. Under the lawful-residents category, applicants must have held work permits for at least seven years and have been continuously resident in Kenya for the three years immediately preceding the application, and must show they are positioned to make a tangible contribution to Kenya's socio-economic development; an in-person interview is required. The non-refundable processing fee is KES 50,000 and the issuance fee on approval is KES 750,000 (lower fees apply to spouses of citizens, ex-Kenyans and certain children of citizens). Applications are filed online through the eFNS portal. Other routes (spouses of citizens, ex-Kenyans) exist under separate categories.

• Work: Permanent residents may live and work in Kenya without a separate work permit.
• Study: May study without a separate student pass.
• Residency: This is the permanent-residence status itself; citizenship may be pursued separately under nationality law.
• Family: Spouse and dependent children of an approved principal may apply individually.

Government fee

KES 50,000