Register as a tea buyer, exporter, packer, importer, broker, warehouse operator or management agent
Tea Board of Kenya · sources read 3 Oct 2026
Apply on the Tea Board's IMIS portal (imis.teaboard.or.ke) using the form for your category, with your company papers, tax compliance certificate and directors' IDs. Buyers/exporters, importers, brokers and warehouse operators pay KSh 20,000 (packers KSh 5,000) after approval, and a new registration takes about 90 days.
- Fee
- KSh 20,000Buyer/exporter, importer, broker or warehouse operator: new registrationKSh 10,000Buyer/exporter, importer, broker or warehouse operator: renewalKSh 5,000Tea packer: new registrationKSh 2,000Tea packer: renewal
- How long
- About 90 days for a new registration
- Where
- Online on the Tea Board of Kenya IMIS portal. Offices: Tea House, Naivasha Road, Nairobi; Kericho; Mombasa
What you need
- Certificate of incorporation (packers may use business name registration)
- CR12 showing the directors, and the directors' ID cards or passports
- Valid KRA tax compliance certificate
- Buyers/exporters and importers: a business plan covering markets, value addition, premises, jobs and equipment
- Packers and warehouse operators: Food Hygiene licence; warehouses also need a NEMA licence and all-risks insurance
Steps
- Log in to IMIS (imis.teaboard.or.ke) and fill the form for your category, for example TBK\TB\J for a buyer/exporter.
- Upload your company documents, tax compliance certificate, directors' IDs and any category papers (business plan, licences, guarantee).
- Packers and warehouse operators: the Tea Board inspects your premises.
- Pay the registration fee once the Board approves you, then get your certificate of registration.
Watch out
- Brokers need a performance guarantee of at least KSh 10 million.
- Importers must also show the tea isn't available locally or at the auction, and get pre-import approval from the Board before each import.
- Directors and senior staff must pass a fit and proper test (honesty, integrity, competence and financial soundness).
Who can apply
- Businesses that buy, export, import, pack, broker or store made tea, or that manage tea factories under contract.
- Packers: anyone who blends, brands and packs tea in packs of 10 kg or less for sale.
Official sources (10)
- Registration, Licensing and Standards teaboard.or.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Tea Buyer/ Exporter Certificate of Registration teaboard.or.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Tea Packer Certificate of Registration teaboard.or.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Tea Importer Certificate of Registration teaboard.or.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Tea Broker Certificate of Registration teaboard.or.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Tea Warehouse Operator Certificate of Registration teaboard.or.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Management Agent Certificate of Registration teaboard.or.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- FAQs teaboard.or.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Citizens' Service Delivery Charter (English) teaboard.or.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
- Tea Board of Kenya IMIS imis.teaboard.or.ke · read 3 Oct 2026
