Entry, Work and Residence Permits

1. Foreign Nationals Certificate (Alien Card) Application

Registration of foreign nationals is governed by the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011 part VII (56) 2 laws of Kenya. The law requires that all foreigners resident within Kenya for a period exceeding 90 days be registered.

2. Re-Entry Pass

Registration of Re-entry pass is governed by the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011 part VII (56) 2 laws of Kenya. Re-entry passes are only issued to holders of dependant passes.

3. Extension of Visitor's Pass

This pass is issued to person(s) with a visitor's pass (stay duration entered on your passport/travel document by an immigration officer at an official port of entry when you enter Kenya on a visa) and seeking to extend the duration of stay in the country.

4. Residence Permit Class A: Prospecting and mining

This permit is issued to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, in prospecting for minerals or mining in Kenya.

5. Residence Permit Class B: Agriculture and animal husbandry

This permit is issued to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, in the business of agriculture or animal husbandry in Kenya.

6. Residence Permit Class C: Prescribed profession

This permit is issued to a person who is a member of a prescribed profession who intends to practice that profession, whether alone or in partnership, in Kenya.

7. Residence Permit Class D: Employment

This permit is issued to a person who is offered specific employment by a specific employer, the government of Kenya or any other person or authority under the control of the Government or an approved technical aid scheme under the United Nations Organization or some other approved Agency (not being an exempted person under section 34 (3), who is in possession of skills or qualifications that are not available in Kenya and whose engagement in that employment will be of benefit to Kenya.

8. Residence Permit Class F: Specific manufacturing

This permit is issued to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, in a specific manufacture in Kenya.

9. Residence Permit Class G: Specific trade, business or consultancy

This permit is issued to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, in a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession (other than a prescribed profession) in Kenya.

10. Residence Permit Class I: Approved religious or charitable activities

This permit is issued to a person who is a member of an institution registered under the Society's Act who is engaged as a missionary, Member of a company limited by guarantee, Member of a trust registered under the Trustees Act and is approved by the Government of Kenya, and whose presence in Kenya will be of benefit to Kenya.

11. Residence Permit Class K: Ordinary residents 

This permit is issued to a person who Is not less that thirty-five years of age; and has in his own right and at his full and free disposition an assured annual income of not less than the prescribed amount that is derived from sources other than any such employment, occupation, trade, business or profession as is referred to in the description of any of the classes specified in this Schedule.

12. Residence Permit Class M: Refugees

This permit is issued to a person who has been granted refugee status in Kenya in accordance with the refugee law of Kenya and any spouse of such a refugee who intends to take up employment or engage in a specific occupation, trade, business or profession.

13. Special Pass

This is a document issued under Regulation 34 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012, to person(s) who wishes to enter or remain in Kenya for a limited period for purposes of temporarily conducting a business, trade or profession.

14. Dependant Pass

This is a document issued to a person whose spouse, parent or guardian is lawfully entitled to enter Kenya in accordance to the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012 section 27 (1).

15. Student/Internship/Research Pass Application (also for FSJ)

This is a document issued to applicants (foreign students) (section 30(1) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations 2012, who wish to purse their education in Kenya's Education or Training Institutions where they have been accepted or admitted. The applicant (foreign student) must be accepted as a student by an approved Educational or Training Establishment.

 

Film Permit

The Department of Film Services (DFS) of Kenya licenses all local and foreign crews undertaking filming in the country. In order to obtain a license, one copy of the script and a story synopsis must be sent to the Film Licensing officer. For documentaries the licenses are issued within minutes of application and for feature films and dramas within two days of application.

All applications for licenses to film in Kenya should be addressed to:

The Film Licensing Officer
Department of Film Services,
Ministry of Information and Communications,
P. O. Box 74934 - 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: 254-20-650501/650120/1/2/3,
Fax: 254-20-553003/553849
E-mail: licensing@filmservices.go.ke

Local Filming Agents

1) Private production companies or individuals are requested to submit their applications through a local agent registered with the Ministry. This requirement is mandatory for all applications to make feature films or documentaries.

2) Government agencies may submit their applications through the local agents or through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Immigration
There are no restrictions in Kenya on how many expatriate crew members or artists can arrive per production. Advance notice is more of a courtesy than a requirement. Crew members and artists may arrive in Kenya on a visitor's pass prior to the film work permit being processed.

Film License Form
The Ministry would like to inform all foreign production companies that Kenya has a considerable number of experienced technical staff in filming techniques. We therefore recommend that producers should reserve as many places as possible for local crew.

For further information, please visit this link: www.kenyafilmcommission.com

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What does one need if they wish to work in Kenya?
A. The employer in Kenya should apply on your behalf for an Entry & Work Permit to the Director of Immigration Services

Q. What if I want to reside in Kenya without engaging in employment or any work paid or unpaid?
A. Apply for a class K permit directly to the Director of Immigration Services


Q. How do I get the entry permit form?

A. You can get it from https://fns.immigration.go.ke/infopack/permits/