A work permit is a document issued to allow a person (s) to take a job within a foreigner country. In Kenya, it’s issued by the Director of Immigration Services, under the provisions of section 40 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011, to enable foreign national (s) enter Kenya and engage in trade, prospecting, farming, business, professional employment, missionary activities or even reside in Kenya. The Director issues work/residence permits upon the recommendation of the Permit Determination Committee, an inter-ministerial Committee appointed by the Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government under section 40(1) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011.
Note: Before you proceed to apply for a work permit, you must first meet these requirements.
In the article
- Class A: (For prospecting and mining)
- Class B: (Agriculture and Animal husbandry)
- Class C: (Prescribed profession)
- Class D: (Employment)
- Class F: (Specific manufacturing)
- Class G: (Specific trade, business or consultancy)
- Class I: (Approved religious or charitable activities)
- Class K: (Ordinary residents)
- Class M: (Refugees)
- Exemption
Class A: (For 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, and who;
- Has obtained, prospecting or mining right or licence that may be necessary for the purpose;
- Has in his own right and at his full and free disposition sufficient capital and other resources for the purpose;
- Whose engagement in the prospecting or mining will be of benefit to Kenya
How to apply for a Class A work permit
To apply for a Class A work permit, you need to follow these steps.
- Create a log in account within the Government of Kenya Single Sign On portal
- Log in using the account you have created above to access eFNS portal
- Once logged in the eFNS portal, select the “Apply now” link
- Click on the “Submit Applications” tab and select the Permit Issuance/Renewal tab. If you are already logged in to eFNS, you can click here to make an application
- After completing the application form, an invoice will be generated which you can see by clicking on “Dashboard” then “Payments” Tab. If you have already logged in eFNS, you can click here to make a payment
- If unable to pay using any of the online modes, print your application form by clicking on “Dashboard” then “My Applications” Tab or click here to print your application
- Present your application with all the requirements at the Immigration headquaters (Nyayo house) for processing
- You shall receive automatic notifications via email and on your online account about the progress of your application
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, and who;
- Has acquired, or has received all permissions that may be necessary in order to acquire, an interest in land of sufficient size and suitability for the purpose;
- Has in his own right and at his full and free disposition sufficient capital and other resources for the purpose
- And whose engagement in that business will be of benefit to Kenya
How to apply for a Class B work permit
To apply for a Class B work permit, you need to follow these steps.
- Create a log in account within the Government of Kenya Single Sign On portal
- Log in using the account you have created above to access eFNS portal
- Once logged in the eFNS portal, select the “Apply now” link
- Click on the “Submit Applications” tab and select the Permit Issuance/Renewal tab. If you are already logged in to eFNS, you can click here to make an application
- After completing the application form, an invoice will be generated which you can see by clicking on “Dashboard” then “Payments” Tab. If you have already logged in eFNS, you can click here to make a payment
- If unable to pay using any of the online modes, print your application form by clicking on “Dashboard” then “My Applications” Tab. If you have already logged in eFNS, you can click here to print your application
- Present your application with all the requirements at the Immigration headquaters (Nyayo house), for payments and processing
- You shall receive automatic notifications via email and on your online account about the progress of your application
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, and who;
- Possesses the prescribed qualification (Eighth schedule of The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012)
- Has in his/her own right and at his/her full and free disposition sufficient capital and other resources
- Is registered with the professional body, association or institute to which he/she belongs in his/her own country; and
- Whose practice of that profession will be of benefit to Kenya
NOTE: The prescribed Professions, as provided for in the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012 are; Medical profession, Dentists, Legal profession, Surveyors, Estate Agent, Valuer and Land Agent, Architects or Quantity surveyors, Pharmacists, Veterinary Surgeons, Engineers, Nursing Profession, Physiotherapists, Accountants, Chartered Secretaries, Actuaries, Scientist, Information and Communication Technology Experts.
How to apply for a Class C work permit
To apply for a Class C work permit, you need to follow these steps.
- Create a log in account within the Government of Kenya Single Sign On portal
- Log in using the account you have created above to access eFNS portal
- Once logged in the eFNS portal, select the “Apply now” link
- Click on the “Submit Applications” tab and select the Permit Issuance/Renewal tab. If you are already logged in to eFNS, you can click here to make an application
- After completing the application form, an invoice will be generated which you can see by clicking on “Dashboard” then “Payments” Tab. If you have already logged in eFNS, you can click here to make a payment
- If unable to pay using any of the online modes, print your application form by clicking on “Dashboard” then “My Applications” Tab or click here to print your application
- Present your application with all the requirements at the Immigration headquaters (Nyayo house), for payments and processing
- You shall receive automatic notifications via email and on your online account about the progress of your application
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.
How to apply for a Class D work permit
To apply for a Class D work permit, you need to follow these steps.
- Create a log in account within the Government of Kenya Single Sign On portal
- Log in using the account you have created above to access eFNS portal
- Once logged in the eFNS portal, select the “Apply now” link
- Click on the “Submit Applications” tab and select the Permit Issuance/Renewal tab. If you are already logged in to eFNS, you can click here to make an application
- After completing the application form, an invoice will be generated which you can see by clicking on “Dashboard” then “Payments” Tab. If you have already logged in eFNS, you can click here to make a payment
- If unable to pay using any of the online modes, print your application form by clicking on “Dashboard” then “My Applications” Tab. If you have already logged in eFNS, you can click here to print your application
- Present your application with all the requirements at the Immigration headquaters (Nyayo house), for payments and processing
- You shall receive automatic notifications via email and on your online account about the progress of your application
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, and who;
- Has obtained any licence, registration or other authority or permission that may be necessary for the purpose;
- Has in his own right and at his full and free disposition sufficient capital and other resources for the purpose;
- Whose engagement in that manufacture will be of benefit to Kenya.
How to apply for a Class F work permit
To apply for a Class F work permit, you need to follow these steps.
- Create a log in account within the Government of Kenya Single Sign On portal
- Log in using the account you have created above to access eFNS portal
- Once logged in the eFNS portal, select the “Apply now” link
- Click on the “Submit Applications” tab and select the Permit Issuance/Renewal tab. If you are already logged in to eFNS, you can click here to make an application
- After completing the application form, an invoice will be generated which you can see by clicking on “Dashboard” then “Payments” Tab. If you have already logged in eFNS, you can click here to make a payment
- If unable to pay using any of the online modes, print your application form by clicking on “Dashboard” then “My Applications” Tab or click here to print your application
- Present your application with all the requirements at the Immigration headquaters (Nyayo house), for payments and processing
- You shall receive automatic notifications via email and on your online account about the progress of your application
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, and who;
- Has obtained any licence, registration or other authority or permission that may be necessary for the purpose;
- Has in his/her own right and at his/her full and free disposition sufficient capital and other resources for the purpose;
- Whose engagement in trade, business, consultancy or profession will be of benefit to Kenya
How to apply for a Class G work permit
To apply for a Class G work permit, you need to follow these steps.
- Create a log in account within the Government of Kenya Single Sign On portal
- Log in using the account you have created above to access eFNS portal
- Once logged in the eFNS portal, select the “Apply now” link
- Click on the “Submit Applications” tab and select the Permit Issuance/Renewal tab. If you are already logged in to eFNS, you can click here to make an application
- After completing the application form, an invoice will be generated which you can see by clicking on “Dashboard” then “Payments” Tab. If you have already logged in eFNS, you can click here to make a payment
- If unable to pay using any of the online modes, print your application form by clicking on “Dashboard” then “My Applications” Tab or click here to print your application
- Present your application with all the requirements at the Immigration headquaters (Nyayo house), for payments and processing
- You shall receive automatic notifications via email and on your online account about the progress of your application
Class I: (Approved religious or charitable activities)
This permit is issued to a 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.
- 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
How to apply for a Class I work permit
To apply for a Class I work permit, you need to follow these steps.
- Create a log in account within the Government of Kenya Single Sign On portal
- Log in using the account you have created above to access eFNS portal
- Once logged in the eFNS portal, select the “Apply now” link
- Click on the “Submit Applications” tab and select the Permit Issuance/Renewal tab. If you are already logged in to eFNS, you can click here to make an application
- After completing the application form, an invoice will be generated which you can see by clicking on “Dashboard” then “Payments” Tab. If you have already logged in eFNS, you can click here to make a payment
- If unable to pay using any of the online modes, print your application form by clicking on “Dashboard” then “My Applications” Tab or click here to print your application
- Present your application with all the requirements at the Immigration headquaters (Nyayo house), for payments and processing
- You shall receive automatic notifications via email and on your online account about the progress of your application
Class K: (Ordinary residents)
This permit is issued to a person who;
- Is not less that 35 years of age
- Has in his own right and at his full and free disposition an assured annual income of not less than $24,000 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, and being an income that either; Is derived from sources outside, and will be remitted to Kenya; or Is derived from pension or annuity payable from, sources in Kenya
- Undertakes not to accept employment, paid or unpaid, or engage in any income generating activity of any kind without a permit of the relevant class;
- Whose presence in Kenya will be of benefit to Kenya
How to apply for a Class K work permit
To apply for a Class K work permit, you need to follow these steps.
- Create a log in account within the Government of Kenya Single Sign On portal
- Log in using the account you have created above to access eFNS portal
- Once logged in the eFNS portal, select the “Apply now” link
- Click on the “Submit Applications” tab and select the Permit Issuance/Renewal tab. If you are already logged in to eFNS, you can click here to make an application
- After completing the application form, an invoice will be generated which you can see by clicking on “Dashboard” then “Payments” Tab. If you have already logged in eFNS, you can click here to make a payment
- If unable to pay using any of the online modes, print your application form by clicking on “Dashboard” then “My Applications” Tab or click here to print your application
- Present your application with all the requirements at the Immigration headquaters (Nyayo house), for payments and processing
- You shall receive automatic notifications via email and on your online account about the progress of your application
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.
How to apply for a Class M work permit
To apply for a Class M work permit, you need to follow these steps.
- Create a log in account within the Government of Kenya Single Sign On portal
- Log in using the account you have created above to access eFNS portal
- Once logged in the eFNS portal, select the “Apply now” link
- Click on the “Submit Applications” tab and select the Permit Issuance/Renewal tab. If you are already logged in to eFNS, you can click here to make an application
- Print your application form by clicking on “Dashboard” then “My Applications” Tab. If you have already logged in eFNS, you can click here to print your application
- Present your application with all the requirements at the Immigration headquaters (Nyayo house) for processing
- You shall receive automatic notifications via email and on your online account about the progress of your application
Exemption
This permit is issued to any person or class or description of persons, exempted by the cabinet secretary from provisions of obtaining a work permit by notice in the gazette. (Section 34 (3)(g) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011).
How to apply for an Exemption work permit
- Create a log in account within the Government of Kenya Single Sign On portal
- Log in using the account you have created above to access eFNS portal
- Once logged in the eFNS portal, select the “Apply now” link
- Click on the “Submit Applications” tab and select the Permit Issuance/Renewal tab. If you are already logged in to eFNS, you can click here to make an application
- Print your application form by clicking on “Dashboard” then “My Applications” Tab. If you have already logged in eFNS, you can click here to print your application
- Present your application with all the requirements at the Immigration headquaters (Nyayo house),for processing
- You shall receive automatic notifications via email and on your online account about the progress of your application
