Apply for Non-Governmental Organization Work Permit in Kenya

All Non-Governmental Organizations in Kenya who seek to apply for Work Permits for any foreign national must seek clearance and endorsement from the Non-Governmental Organization coordination Board before the Department of Immigration can process the Work permit application. Let us see how to Apply for Non-Governmental Organization Work Permit in Kenya

The application of Work permit for an NGO expatriate is elaborate and lengthy and is geared toward vetting, regulation, supervision and protection of the local Job market. To encourage NGO’s to seek a work force from qualified Kenyans.

It is important to note that strategically qualified expatriates who qualify to apply for a Work Permit in Kenya may apply and successfully process a Work Permit.

Requirements for NGO Board work permit Endorsement.

To get NGO Board endorsement you shall.

1. Detailed cover letter of Appointment from the organization.
2. Form 25. Executed. – Class D application form.
3. Report on employment form..
4. Contract from the employer.
5. All relevant copies of applicants’ certificates and detailed Curriculum Vitae of the applicant.
6. Certified copy of the applicant’s Passport.
7. Passport size photo (in white or Grey background).
8. Copy of the advertisement done in at least one National Circulation Newspaper in Kenya of the required position – If done.
9. Details of Understudy if identified to take up the position upon expiry of the work permit.
10. List of employees in the organization entailing their names, nationality, job titles, email address and mobile contacts. (Local and Expats)
11. Criminal clearances certificate an equivalent of a certificate of good conduct in Kenya from the applicant’s Country of origin for first time applications and has to be certified by any registered local lawyer. Non-Governmental Organization Work Permit

Procedure

• A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a non-profit, voluntary citizens’ group that is organized on a local, national or international level.
• NGOs are not eligible to receive work permit service if there file is not fully compliant.
• Volunteers require a work permit. However, they are required to provide proof of how they will sustain themselves in Kenya without income.
• All positions should be advertised for in the at least one National circulation Daily Newspaper in Kenya prior to the recruitment process. Non-Governmental Organization Work Permit
  

Apply In-Person

1. To apply for work permit, the applicant has to first contact the Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board offices with a formal application addressed to the Executive Director and request for endorsement.
2. This endorsement is done by filling in a filled Work permit Endorsement Form available at the Board’s offices. This form can also be downloaded from the NGO’s Board Website and filled beforehand.
3. The filled application form should be submitted with all the required documents. This include:
   • A duly filled Application for Issuance/ Or Renewal Of Permit – FORM 25 from immigration Department
   • Report on Employment from immigration Department.
   • Letter of Appointment & Contract from the employer
   • All relevant copies of applicants’ certificates and detailed Curriculum Vitae of the applicant
   • Certified copy of the applicant’s Passport
   • One (1) passport size photo(in white or grey background)
   • Copy of the advertisement done in at least one National Circulation Daily Newspaper in Kenya of the required position
   • Interview questions, long and short list of applicants entailing (name, age, nationality, sex, contacts and qualifications)
   • Understudy must be identified to take up the position upon expiry of the work permit
   • Provide a list of all employees in the organization entailing their names, nationality, job titles, email address and mobile contacts.
   • Where any document is made in a language other than English a copy of the translation into English language must be attached.
   • Criminal clearances certificate an equivalent of a certificate of good conduct in Kenya from the applicant’s Country of origin for first time applications and has to be certified by any registered local lawyer and criminal clearance certificate from CID Kenya for all renewals.
   • Copy of previous permit for renewals of permits.
4. You should then proceed to pay the processing fees and summit the receipt to the Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board offices. The applications are charged as follows.(i). New application for work permit – 20,000/-
   (ii). Renewal of work permit – Kshs. 20,000/-
   (iii). Special Pass – Kshs. 16,000/-
   (iv). Appeal – Kshs. 16,000/-
   
   Payments by Cheque or cash should be made to:
   NGO’s co-Ordination Board Account no: 01136030582102
   Co-operative bank
   Co-op house branch
5. On Completion of this process, will receive feedback from the Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board within 30 days.

Required Documents

1. Letter addressed to the Executive Director, NGOs Coordination Board requesting for recommendation letter
2. Duly filled Work permit Endorsement Form
3. Dully filled Application Form 25 and Form- 27 from immigration Department
4. Letter of Appointment & Contract from the employer
5. All relevant copies of applicants’ certificates
6. Detailed Curriculum Vitae of the applicant
7. Certified copy of the applicant’s Passport
8. One (1) passport size photo(in white or grey background)
9. Copy of the advertisement done in at least one National Circulation Daily Newspaper in Kenya of the required position
10. Interview questions, long and short list of applicants entailing (name, age, nationality, sex, contacts and qualifications)
11. Understudy must be identified to take up the position upon expiry of the work permit
12. Provide a list of all employees in the organization entailing their names, nationality, job titles, email address and mobile contacts.
13. Where any document is made in a language other than English a copy of the translation into English language must be attached.
14. Criminal clearances certificate an equivalent of a certificate of good conduct in Kenya from the applicant’s Country of origin for first time applications and has to be certified by any registered local lawyer and criminal clearance certificate from CID Kenya for all renewals.
15. Copy of previous permit for renewals of permits.
    

Office Locations & Contacts

The Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board – Head Office
15th floor Co-op Bank House, Haile Selassie Avenue
P.O. Box 44617-0100
Nairobi, KENYA
Telephone: +254 (20) 2214044 / +254 (20) 2214044
E-mail: info@ngobureau.or.ke
Website: NGO Bureau

Kisumu regional Office
Adala Otuko road, behind St Joseph Catholic church
Milimani, Kisumu
Telephone: +254 (20) 2662604

Mombasa Regional Office
NSSF Building 5th Floor
Nkurumah Road, Mombasa
Tel: 0776162231

Garissa Regional Office
Regional Co-ordinator’s Office 2nd floor
(Former provincial Commissioners Office)
Tel: 0733380280

Eldoret Regional Office
Deputy County Commissioners Office- Eldoret East
Kapsoya
Tel: 0723278047

Eligibility

• Non-citizen employees in Non-Governmental Organizations are eligible to make the application.
  

Fees

• New application for work permit – 20,000/-
• Renewal of work permit – Kshs. 20,000/-
• Special Pass – Kshs. 16,000/-
• Appeal – Kshs. 16,000/-
  

Validity

• The validity of the work endorsement is one year.
  

Documents to Use

• Non-Citizen Employees in Non-Governmental Organizations Endorsement Form for Recommendation for Work Permit
• Application for Issuance/ Or Renewal Of Permit – FORM 25
• Report on Employment

Instructions

1. Write letter of request to the executive director of the board
2. Fill in all application documents and submit the required documents to the NGO Board offices
3. Pay applicable fees and send proof of payment together with the application.
4. Wait for approval and collect the work permit after 30 days.
   

Required Information

1. Name of organization.
2. Physical and Postal address of organization.
3. Telephone number and E-mail address of organization.
4. Name of employee
5. Job title
6. Residential address
7. Passport ( Number , Place of issue , Date of issue , Date of expiry )
8. Personal particulars of the person for whom permit is required
9. Nationality
10. Gender
11. Age
12. Employee’s qualifications
13. Qualification of employee
14. Application Type
15. Reasons for Seeking an Expatriate
16. Advertisement details of the position
17. Particulars of The Kenyan Citizen Understudy
18. List of expatriates currently working in the organization
19. List of Kenyans holding key positions in the organization

Need for the Document

• This application allows a Non-Governmental Organization which wishes to hire foreign personnel who do not yet hold a work permit, to get endorsement for a work permit for the personnel by the Non – Governmental Organisation Board.
  

Information which might help

1. The Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Board is a State Corporation established by the Non-Governmental Organizations Co-ordination Act (Cap 19) of 1990. The Board has the responsibility of regulating and enabling the NGO sector in Kenya.
2. The Board is currently under the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government.
3. All NGO applications should be typed or filled in block letters.
4. All applications MUST contain ORIGINAL signatures of the officials and members as applicable.
5. All signatures must be originals, scanned copies will not be accepted
6. NGOs are not eligible to receive work permit service if there file is not fully compliant.
7. Volunteers require a work permit. However, they are required to provide proof of how they will sustain themselves in Kenya without income.
8. All positions should be advertised for in the at least one National circulation Daily Newspaper in Kenya prior to the recruitment process.

External Links

• Requirements
• Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Act 1990 Kenya
  

Others

Work permit recommendations shall not be issued in the following instances-

1. Paid positions for which there are sufficient skills in the country.
2. Where organizations have more than three non-Kenyan staff.
3. Where the applicants are not qualified for the positions they have applied for.
4. Where renewals have been issued more than twice.
5. Where there is no evidence that Kenyans were given a reasonable opportunity to apply.
6. Where there is proven cases of discrimination by the Organization.