Get a student's pass to study in Kenya (foreign students)
Directorate of Immigration Services · sources read 1 Oct 2026
Your school or college applies with you on the eFNS portal using Form 30. It costs USD 100 a year (free for East African Community citizens) and takes about 15 working days.
- Fee
- FreeEast African Community citizens
- How long
- About 15 working days
- Where
- Online on the eFNS portal (Directorate of Immigration Services), then printouts to Immigration headquarters, Nyayo House, Nairobi
What you need
- Form 30, filled, signed and stamped by the school or college
- A cover letter from the school to the Director General of Immigration Services stating your course and how long it lasts
- A copy of your valid passport (bio-data page) and recent colour passport photos
- A commitment letter from your sponsor and a copy of the sponsor's passport; proof of funds if you pay for yourself
- A police clearance certificate (adults)
- For a child: the parents' consent letter, a copy of a parent's passport and the child's birth certificate
Steps
- Create a Government of Kenya single sign-on account and use it to log in to eFNS (fns.immigration.go.ke).
- Under "Submit Applications", choose the Student pass, fill it in and upload your documents. Print Form 30 at the end and have the school sign and stamp it.
- Once approved, an invoice appears under Dashboard > Payments. Pay it online.
- Take the application printouts to Immigration headquarters at Nyayo House, Nairobi.
Watch out
- Studying in Kenya without a pupil's or student's pass is an offence, so apply before classes start.
- A student's pass does not allow you to work or do business, paid or unpaid.
- If you're not from the East African Community, the fee is USD 100 for each year.
Who can apply
- Foreigners who have been accepted or admitted to study at a school, college or university in Kenya.
Official sources (4)
- Student's Pass immigration.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Application for a Student/Research/Internship Pass - eFNS Information Pack fns.immigration.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Directorate of Immigration Services Delivery Charter 2025 immigration.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026
- Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS) fns.immigration.go.ke · read 1 Oct 2026