Get a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) licence
Special Economic Zones Authority · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Apply to SEZA through its eCitizen portal: send a letter of interest and SEZ Investment Project Proposal Form, then the formal licence application. The licence goes to a newly incorporated SEZ company after it pays the annual fee (US$1,000 for an enterprise, US$5,000 for a developer or operator).
- Fee
- A developer or operator licence costs USD 5,000 a year. An enterprise licence costs USD 1,000 a year.
- How long
- 30 working days (service charter)
- Where
- Online on SEZA's eCitizen portal; SEZA offices, Old Mutual Tower, 8th Floor, Upper Hill Road, Nairobi
What you need
- Letter of interest to SEZA with a filled SEZ Investment Project Proposal Form (enterprise)
- SEZ Enterprise License Application Form and the supporting documents it lists
- Certificate of incorporation, CR12 and KRA PIN of the new SEZ company
- A NEMA permit supported by a report
- Developers: a feasibility study report and the other project documents SEZA lists
Steps
- Send a letter of interest and the SEZ Investment Project Proposal Form, with a concept note or business plan.
- If the proposal is approved, submit the formal licence application form and supporting documents.
- If approved, SEZA sends an Approval in Principle letter listing the conditions you must meet before the licence is issued.
- SEZA gives a letter of No Objection so you can incorporate the SEZ company with the Business Registration Service.
- Pay the annual licence fee and meet the approval conditions; the licence is then issued to your new SEZ company.
Watch out
- Fees are in US dollars: US$1,000 a year for an enterprise licence and US$5,000 for a developer or operator licence.
- The licence lasts one year, so renew it and pay the fee every year to keep the incentives.
- An SEZ business service permit is different: holders do not get the SEZ Act tax incentives.
Who can apply
- Companies: an Enterprise licence for doing business in an SEZ, a Developer licence for building SEZ infrastructure, or an Operator licence for managing an SEZ.
Official sources (6)
- Enterprise License sezauthority.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Developer License sezauthority.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Operator License sezauthority.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- FAQs sezauthority.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Citizens Service Charter (image) sezauthority.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- SEZA eCitizen portal seza.ecitizen.go.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
