How to Apply for a Kenyan work permit

A Work Permit is a document 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. In this article How to Apply for a Kenyan work permit

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.

Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Director regarding work/residence permit applications, may appeal to the Cabinet Secretary, for review of the decision (section 22(1) of Kenya Citizens and Foreign Nationals Management Service Act, 2011).There are various classes of permits as provided for under Section 36(1), as read with the seventh schedule of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012 as listed below:-

Permit Class A: (for prospecting and mining)

Permit (Class A) Application

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

Class B: (Agriculture and Animal husbandry)

Permit (Class B) Application

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. Learn More

Class C: (Prescribed profession)

Permit (Class C) Application

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. Learn More

Class D:(Employment)

Permit (Class D) Application

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. Learn More

Class F:(Specific manufacturing)

Permit (Class F) Application

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

Class G:(Specific trade, business or consultancy)

Permit (Class G) Application

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. Learn More

Class I: (Approved religious or charitable activities)

Permit (Class I) Application

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. Learn More

Class K:(Ordinary residents)

Permit (Class K) Application

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. Learn More

Class M:(Refugees)

Permit (Class M) Application

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. Learn More

Exemption

Exemption Application

This permit is issued 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). Learn More

Procedure to Apply for kenyan work permit

• Write an application for work permit addressed to the Director of Immigration Services. Attach all documents.
• Submit at the Department of Immigration office at Nyayo house or send by mail.
• Once the application is submitted at the Ministry of Immigration it shall be presented to a committee for approval. This process may take between 2-6 months depending on how many times the committee sits and the number of applications they must process.
  

Where the application is approved a Notification of Approval will be issued. If it is rejected, a Notification of Rejection will be issued. This Notification of Approval is valid for ninety days pending payment of the government fees.

Apply Online for kenyan work permit

No online application

Required Documents

1. Form 3 Application for an entry permit. This form is issued by the Ministry of Immigration and it must be completed and signed by the employer and is submitted in duplicate.
2. Two passportsize photographs of the applicant;
3. Copies of the applicants educational and professional certificates; which the immigration office will verify and return;
4. The applicants curriculum vitae signed and dated;
5. A letter from the employer explaining why the applicant is suitable for the position, why the applicant was offered the job as opposed to a Kenyan citizen and setting out the applicants strengths e.g. experience, training ability, qualifications etc.
6. Copy of passport.

Office Locations & Contacts

Department of Immigration Nyayo House PO Box 30191 Nairobi Kenya Tel: +245-20-222022 Fax: +254-20-220731

Eligibility

Non Kenyan wishing to work in Kenya.

Fees – to Apply for kenyan work permit

1. Kenya Shillings 100,000 bankers cheque for the Government fees payable in favour of the Principal Immigration Officer
2. Kenya Shillings 100,000, Security Bond from an insurance or bank

Validity

A work permit shall be declared invalid if:

• The person fails to engage or take up residence, within ninety days of the date of issue of the permit or of that persons entry into Kenya, whichever is the later, in the employment, occupation, trade, business or profession in respect of which the permit was issued;
• Ceases to engage in the said employment, occupation, trade, business or profession
• Engages in any employment, occupation, trade business or profession, whether or not for remuneration or profit, other than the employment, occupation, trade, business or profession the permit was issued for.

Processing Time

Processing takes between two to six months

Instructions

• Download form 3 from the webite. Fill in the required information.
• Assemble all the documents then begin the application
• Form 3 can also be found at Nyayo house Department of Immigration.

Required Information

• Photograph of the person for whom an entry is required
• Job description
• Employees qualifications
• Previous experience
• Name of employer
• employment period
• Annual salary offered
• Value of accommodation provided
• Any other emoluments

Need for the Document

A work permit is a legal document that that allows a foreigner to work or engage in other form of income providing activity or business. Work permits are issued by the Immigration Department.

Class A work permit is issued to a person who is offered specific employment by a specific employer who is qualified to undertake that employment, and whose engagement in that employment will be of benefit to Kenya.

The prospective employer(s) can show evidence that they have been unable to fill the particular post(s) due to lack of suitably qualified personnel in the Kenya Labour Market. Those seeking to work in Kenya must therefore ensure that their prospective employers have secured appropriate Entry/Work Permits before they proceed to Kenya.

Information which might help

The committee will usually consider the following things when deciding whether to approve or reject the application:

1. The amount of investment and its impact on Kenyas economy, which is determined by the auditors report or bank statement
2. The number of jobs that will be created for Kenyans, which is determined by the application letter submitted by the applicants agent.
3. The nationality of the applicant. An applicant has a higher chance of approval of his application if his or her country of origin has a stronger economy than that of Kenya, and lower criminal statistics and security threats

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