How to Apply for a Refugee Permit in Kenya

Refugees and asylum seekers raised concern over limited opportunities for economic inclusion in Kenya. They raised these concerns at a community forum organized by the Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK) held on Tuesday 22nd January, 2019 in Kawangware, Nairobi City County. The aim of the forum was to sensitize the forced migrants on their rights and obligations with respect to working in Kenya. Thirty three of them gathered at the Maisha Poa Centre to interact with RCK officers on right to work with specific focus on access to work permits. They were mainly drawn from the Great Lakes Region and South Sudan. Nairobi City County hosts 75,742 refugees as at 31st December, 2018. Despite the existence of an encampment policy in Kenya, some refugees are allowed to live in the urban areas. Some of the reasons allowing refugees to reside outside the designated areas include accessing education and specialized medical attention. Refugees and asylum seekers who are allowed to live in urban areas must have the ability to sustain themselves because services such as provision of food and non-food items such as shelter are mainly provided in the camps. Therefore it is crucial that they engage in income generating activities to sustain themselves. To do this legally, they require a work permit to achieve this. let us see How to Apply for a Refugee Permit in Kenya

Procedure on How to Apply for a Refugee Permit in Kenya

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. The permit is Known as Class M: Refugees Refugee Permit in Kenya

Apply Online

1. The first step is to register with the Kenya electronic Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS) portal through the following link eFNS Online Platform.
2. Click on create account then click on the Create an Account to register.
3. You will need to fill in your personal information so to register for an eFNS account For Kenyan citizens, you will need your national ID number while foreigners residing in Kenya will need your foreigner certificate. If you do not have national ID or foreigner certificate, select other and use passport details to register.
4. Once you have registered you will then need to login to your eFNS account and under the Submit application tab click on Submit new applications.
5. This will direct you to the next page where you should make your next selection. Under the Permit and Passes Service Section, click on the Apply Now link in the Permit Issuance/ Renewal Tab.
6. This will direct you to next page; here you should read the instructions carefully; and click on the Learn More button under the Class M: Refugees (KEP/M) Tab
7. This will direct you to next page; where you are to read the instructions carefully, make sure you have all the requirements to make the application and then click on the Apply Now button which will direct you to the online application form.
8. Fill in the online application form with all the required details and upload supporting documents. These details include:-
   (i). Application type (new application or renewal)
   (ii). Full names
   (iii). Marital status
   (iv). Gender
   (v). Passport ( number, date of issue, expiry date )
   (vi). Date and place of birth
   (vii). Nationality (at birth, present)
   (viii). Country of residence
   (ix). Contact information ( phone number, postal address, physical address )
   (x). Current immigration status
   (xi). Upload Passport photo.
   (xii). Gratis status (All citizens of the East Africa Community (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi) can attach their valid passport as evidence.)
   Then click on save
9. This will lead you to the next page where you are supposed to:-
   (a). Give details of every dependant you have
   (b). List permits that you have previously held
   (c). List previous applications which have been declined
   After Filling the required details accordingly, click proceed button at the bottom left of this page for the next step.
10. This will lead you to the next page (PART II of Form 25) which is to be completed in respect to the employment to be undertaken. The information include:-
    (i). Name of Employer
    (ii). Postal Address
    (iii). State profession/Business
    (iv). Place of Employment
    (v). Job Title
    (vi). Job description
    (vii). Name of Employer
    (viii). Postal Address
    (ix). State profession/Business
    (x). Place of Employment
    (xi). Job Title
    (xii). Job description
    (xiii). State steps you are going to take during validity of the permit to engage a Kenya trainee
    (xiv). If this application is approved will the proposed employee be instrumental in training Kenya Citizen
    (xv). Attach (Upload)
    • Report on EmploymentMake sure you fill all the required details in this form then click Save & proceed Button.
11. This will direct you to the next page where you are supposed to give details regarding
    (a). Academic Qualifications(Give full details and attach certificates and testimonials)
    (b). Technical qualifications
    (c). Previous Work Experience (Attach Evidence)
    (d). What steps have you taken to confirm that the skills/qualifications sought are not available locally (Give full details and evidence)
    (e). If you have a Kenyan citizen you are training for this post, indicate the following(Attach employment contract)
    Make sure you fill all the required details in this form then click Proceed to complete registration.
12. You will be directed to the next page where you can print your application form and present it to the Immigration Headquarters Offices in Nyayo House Nairobi or their regional offices for processing.
    Make sure you present all the required documents to the immigration offices.
13. You shall receive automatic notifications via email and on your online account about the progress of your application.
14. Upon approval of your application you will receive notification on how to collect your permit through your eFNS account.
15. This application is issued free of charge. Refugee Permit in Kenya

Required Documents

1. Duly filled and signed Form 25 online form.
2. Two copies of detailed and signed cover letter from the employer / organization, addressed to the Director of Immigration Services
3. Copy of a valid national passport
4. Two(2) recent passport size colored photos (for both new and renewal)
5. Current Immigration status if in the country
6. Recognition letters from UNHCR and Department of Refugee Affairs.
7. Recommendation letter from the Department of Refugee Affairs

NB:

• Documents in foreign languages should be translated into English by either the Embassy, Public Notary, or authorized /recognized institution
  

Office Locations & Contacts

Department of Immigration Services
Nyayo house
Passport Section Ground Floor,
Kenyatta Avenue/ Uhuru Highway
P.O. Box 30191, 00100 Nairobi.
Tel: +254-20-2222022, +254-20-2217544, +254-20-2218833
Email: dis@immigration.go.ke
Website: Department of Immigration Website

Mombasa-Immigration Department Office
PC’s Office Building
Tel: +254-41-2222676

Kisumu-Immigration Department Office
New Provincial Headquarters
Tel: +254-057-2024935/2025438/0700596071

• electronic Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS) Kenya portal

Eligibility

• The applicant should have 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.
  

Fees

• Processing fee is free of charge
• Issuance fee is free of charge
• Applications for renewal of permits should be done three months prior to expiry date.
  

Validity Refugee Permit in Kenya

• The validity period one year.
  

Documents to Use

• Applications are done online though the Kenya electronic Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS) portal

Processing Time

• The processing time is 14 days

Instructions

1. Register with the Kenya electronic Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS) portal through the following link eFNS Online Platform.
2. Login to your eFNS account and under the Submit application tab click on Submit new applications.
3. Under the Permit and Passes Service Section, click on the Apply Now link in the Permit Issuance/Renewal tab.
4. This will direct you to next page; here you should read the instructions carefully; and click on the Learn more button under the Class M : Refugee Permit (KEP/M)Tab
5. Read the instructions carefully; make sure you have all the requirements to make the application and then click on the Apply Now button which will direct you to the online application form.
6. Fill in the online application form with all the required details and upload supporting documents, then click on save.
7. After completing the application form make payment for your application through an invoice which will be generated online. You can see this by clicking on “Dashboard” then on the “Payments” Tab.
8. If unable to pay using any of the online modes, print your invoice by clicking on “Dashboard” then “Payments” Tab. Present your application with all the requirements at the Immigration Counter at Nyayo House or other regional offices, Nairobi for payments and processing.
9. You shall receive automatic notifications via email and on your online account about the progress of your application. Refugee Permit in Kenya
   

Required Information

1. Application type (new application or renewal)
2. Full names
3. Marital status
4. Gender
5. Passport ( number, date of issue, expiry date )
6. Date and place of birth
7. Nationality (at birth, present)
8. Country of residence
9. Contact information ( phone number, postal address, physical address )
10. Current immigration status
11. Gratis status

Need for the Document

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

Information which might help

• It is an offence for a person to knowingly mislead an Immigration Officer ( section 53 (1)(a) of Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, (2011)
• Incomplete applications shall not be accepted.
• Additional documents may be requested in addition to the listed.
• Where the holder of a work permit ceases to engage in the employment in respect of which the work permit was issued, the employer specified in the work permit shall, within fifteen days from the date of such cessation, report, in writing to the director that the holder has ceased to engage in such employment. Any employer who contravenes this regulation commits an offence.

Need for the Document

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

Information which might help

• It is an offence for a person to knowingly mislead an Immigration Officer ( section 53 (1)(a) of Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, (2011)
• Incomplete applications shall not be accepted.
• Additional documents may be requested in addition to the listed.
• Where the holder of a work permit ceases to engage in the employment in respect of which the work permit was issued, the employer specified in the work permit shall, within fifteen days from the date of such cessation, report, in writing to the director that the holder has ceased to engage in such employment. Any employer who contravenes this regulation commits an offence.

External Links

• Checklist of requirements
  

Others

• Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
• Engaging in any form of business or employment without a requisite permit or pass is an offence.
• The applicant must be present in person when the application is presented at the immigration headquarters or regional offices for registration.
• Giving false or misleading information is an offence punishable by law
• Any person who contravenes any provision or requirement of an order issued to a foreign national commits an offence and is liable to a fine, imprisonment or both