Work permits
For foreign nationals who want to work, trade, do business, farm, mine, practise a profession or do missionary work in Kenya, or simply live here.
13 classes
About work permits
A work permit is issued by the Director of Immigration Services under section 40 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011. It allows a foreign national to enter Kenya and engage in trade, prospecting, farming, business, professional employment or missionary activities, or to reside in Kenya.
The Director issues work and residence permits on the recommendation of the Permit Determination Committee, an inter-ministerial committee appointed by the Cabinet Secretary under section 40(1) of the Act.
Anyone aggrieved by the Director’s decision on a work or residence permit application may appeal to the Cabinet Secretary for a review, under section 22(1) of the Kenya Citizens and Foreign Nationals Management Service Act, 2011.
The permit classes are provided for under section 36(1) of the Act, as read with the Seventh Schedule to the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012.
Choose the right class
Each page sets out who can apply, the documents you need and how to apply.
- ClassA Prospecting and mining For prospecting for minerals or mining in Kenya, alone or in partnership. Requirements and how to apply
- ClassB Agriculture and animal husbandry For running an agriculture or animal husbandry business in Kenya, alone or in partnership. Requirements and how to apply
- ClassC Prescribed professions For members of a prescribed profession who will practise it in Kenya, alone or in partnership. Requirements and how to apply
- ClassD Employment For a specific job with a specific employer in Kenya, where your skills are not available locally. Requirements and how to apply
- ClassF Specific manufacturing For a specific manufacturing business in Kenya, alone or in partnership. Requirements and how to apply
- ClassG Specific trade, business or consultancy For a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession (other than a prescribed profession) in Kenya, alone or in partnership. Requirements and how to apply
- ClassI Approved religious activities For missionaries of a registered religious institution whose work involves preaching or conducting religious worship. Requirements and how to apply
- ClassK Ordinary residents For people aged 35 or over who will live in Kenya on an assured income from outside employment or business. Requirements and how to apply
- ClassM Refugees For refugees recognised in Kenya, and their spouses, who want to take up employment or a specific occupation, trade, business or profession. Requirements and how to apply
- ClassN Digital nomads For people who work remotely from Kenya for a company registered outside the country. Requirements and how to apply
- ClassP Staff of international organisations For staff of the UN, diplomatic missions, IGOs and international NGOs accredited to, or based in, neighbouring hardship countries. Requirements and how to apply
- ClassQ Professionals with religious or charitable organisations For professionals working for religious or charitable organisations who are not involved in preaching or religious worship. Requirements and how to apply
- ClassR East African Community nationals For citizens of East African Community member states who want to live, work, do business or practise a profession in Kenya. Requirements and how to apply
- Exemption For people, or classes of people, exempted by the Cabinet Secretary from needing a work permit by notice in the Gazette. Requirements and how to apply