Apply for a Kenya work permit (foreigners, Class D employment and other classes)
Directorate of Immigration Services · sources read 30 Sep 2026
A foreigner who wants to work in Kenya applies online on the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke) under the right permit class, for example Class D for a job offer or Class G for business. Once it is issued, print it from eFNS and take it to an immigration office for endorsement.
- Fee
- KSh 20,000Processing fee, Class D or G (non-refundable)KSh 500,000Class D (Employment) permit, per yearKSh 250,000Class G (Trade, business or consultancy) permit, per year
- How long
- About 21 working days for a new permit
- Where
- Online on the eFNS portal (Directorate of Immigration Services), then endorsement at an immigration office such as Nyayo House, Nairobi
What you need
- Filled and signed application Form 25
- Signed cover letter from the employer or company to the Director General of Immigration Services
- Copy of your passport bio-data page
- Valid KRA Tax Compliance Certificate for the company (for renewals, for the company and the individual)
- Class D: certified copies of your academic and professional certificates
- Class D: the name and ID card of a Kenyan understudy who will learn the job from you
Steps
- Check which class fits you. If a Kenyan employer has offered you a specific job that needs skills not available in Kenya, it is Class D (Employment).
- Apply online on the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke), upload all the required documents and pay the processing fee.
- Once the permit is issued, print it from eFNS and take it to an immigration office for endorsement.
Watch out
- For Class D, the employer must show it tried and failed to fill the job from the Kenyan labour market, with evidence of competitive recruitment.
- The KSh 20,000 processing fee is not refunded, even if the permit is refused.
- Citizens of East African Community member states pay nothing for Class D or G.
Who can apply
- Class D (Employment): someone offered a specific job by a specific employer, with skills not available in Kenya.
- Class G: someone who will run a specific trade, business or consultancy in Kenya, alone or in partnership.
Official sources (5)
- Work Permits and Passes immigration.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Class D: (Employment) immigration.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Class G: (Specific trade, business or consultancy) immigration.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Directorate of Immigration Services Delivery Charter 2025 immigration.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026
- Kenya Foreign Nationals Service Portal fns.immigration.go.ke · read 30 Sep 2026