What is Kenya's Class N — Digital Nomad Work Permit?

Remote workers and freelancers earning from outside Kenya. Introduced to make Nairobi a regional base for remote work. It lasts issued annually, renewable. Permanent residence generally requires seven years of continuous lawful residence, so a long-held Class N permit could in principle contribute — but the permit is new and this has not been tested at scale.

What is Kenya's Class D — Employment Permit?

Foreign employees, technical specialists, managers and professionals with a confirmed offer from a Kenyan employer. It lasts usually 2 years, renewable, tied to the employer and the approved role. Counts toward permanent residence, which generally requires seven years of continuous lawful residence.

What is Kenya's Class G — Investor Permit?

Investors and founders establishing or acquiring a business in Kenya. It lasts typically 2 years, renewable. Counts toward the seven-year permanent-residence route; substantial investors have a dedicated category.

What is Kenya's Spouse of a Kenyan citizen?

Foreign spouses of Kenyan citizens — the cheapest and most durable route into Kenya by a wide margin. It lasts dependant pass renewed periodically, leading to permanent residence. Permanent residence becomes available after a qualifying period of marriage — substantially shorter than the seven years required on other routes.

GlobeQuest

Moving from China to Kenya

What your passport gets you at the border — and what it takes to actually stay.

China

KenyaShort stay

Travel authorisation

China passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation before flying to Kenya. It's an online form, usually approved quickly, and lighter than a full e-visa.

This is short-stay visitor policy only. It does not let you work, study or settle in Kenya — that needs a residence permit.

Passport Index · updated 17 February 2026Kenya's official immigration service

Long stay

How you actually move to Kenya

Digital nomadHigh confidenceVerified July 2026

Class N — Digital Nomad Work Permit

Remote workers and freelancers earning from outside Kenya. Introduced to make Nairobi a regional base for remote work.

What you need

Minimum annual income of USD 24,000 from foreign sources — cut from the USD 55,000 originally announced
Proof of remote employment or client contracts with non-Kenyan entities
Proof of accommodation in Kenya
Police clearance certificate
Filed through the eFNS portal

How long it lasts: Issued annually, renewable.
Path to permanent residence: Permanent residence generally requires seven years of continuous lawful residence, so a long-held Class N permit could in principle contribute — but the permit is new and this has not been tested at scale.
Cost: USD 200 non-refundable processing fee plus a USD 1,000 issuance fee per year.
Processing time: Several weeks through eFNS.

Worth knowing

The threshold cut from USD 55,000 to USD 24,000 transformed this permit's accessibility. Any guide quoting the higher figure is out of date.
It authorises no work for Kenyan employers or clients.
At USD 1,000 a year the permit is not cheap relative to the income bar, but it is dramatically cheaper than the Class D employment permit.
Plan your first three months without leaving Kenya. The alien card requires three unbroken months in-country, and the KRA PIN — which gates banking, leases and utilities — requires either that card or a passport-endorsed permit. One trip home in your first quarter silently resets the whole administrative chain.

Sources:eFNS — Foreign Nationals Services portal Directorate of Immigration Services

Work / sponsoredMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Class D — Employment Permit

Foreign employees, technical specialists, managers and professionals with a confirmed offer from a Kenyan employer.

What you need

A confirmed job offer from a Kenyan employer, who applies on your behalf
Evidence that your skills or qualifications are not readily available in Kenya
Certified academic and professional credentials, and registration with the relevant Kenyan professional body where the role is regulated
Police clearance and, for some roles, a tax compliance certificate
Filed through the eFNS portal

How long it lasts: Usually 2 years, renewable, tied to the employer and the approved role.
Path to permanent residence: Counts toward permanent residence, which generally requires seven years of continuous lawful residence.
Cost: KES 20,000 processing fee plus a KES 500,000 per-year issuance fee — normally employer-borne, and by far the most expensive element.
Processing time: Several months in practice, driven by the labour-availability assessment.

Worth knowing

The KES 500,000 annual issuance fee is the single biggest fact about hiring foreigners in Kenya — roughly USD 3,800 a year, per employee. It shapes which roles employers will sponsor at all.
The permit names your employer and role. Changing either requires a new permit, not an amendment.
Professional-body registration for regulated occupations is a separate process and commonly the long pole.

Sources:Directorate of Immigration Services eFNS — Foreign Nationals Services portal

InvestmentMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Class G — Investor Permit

Investors and founders establishing or acquiring a business in Kenya.

What you need

Minimum investment commonly set at USD 100,000 in a Kenyan business
A registered Kenyan company with the appropriate licences
A business plan and evidence that the venture benefits Kenya, including local employment
Bank confirmation of the capital

How long it lasts: Typically 2 years, renewable.
Path to permanent residence: Counts toward the seven-year permanent-residence route; substantial investors have a dedicated category.
Cost: Processing and annual issuance fees on top of the investment.
Processing time: Several months including company formation.

Worth knowing

The investment must be demonstrably in Kenya and productive — a bank balance is not an investment for these purposes.
Local-employment expectations are assessed at renewal, so a business with no Kenyan staff is a renewal risk.

Sources:Directorate of Immigration Services

FamilyMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Spouse of a Kenyan citizen

Foreign spouses of Kenyan citizens — the cheapest and most durable route into Kenya by a wide margin.

What you need

Valid marriage to a Kenyan citizen
The Kenyan spouse's proof of citizenship
Police clearance and supporting documentation

How long it lasts: Dependant pass renewed periodically, leading to permanent residence.
Path to permanent residence: Permanent residence becomes available after a qualifying period of marriage — substantially shorter than the seven years required on other routes.
Cost: Modest fees, with none of the Class D issuance cost.
Processing time: Several weeks to a few months.

Worth knowing

A dependant pass does not automatically carry work rights; permission to work is a separate endorsement.
Kenya permits dual citizenship, so eventual naturalisation does not require renouncing your existing nationality.

Sources:Directorate of Immigration Services eFNS — Foreign Nationals Services portal

StudentMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Student pass

Students at Kenyan universities and colleges.

What you need

Admission to a recognised institution, which sponsors the application
Proof of funds and accommodation
Filed through eFNS

How long it lasts: Course length, renewed as required.
Path to permanent residence: Counts as lawful residence toward the seven-year route, though graduates must switch to a work permit to stay on.
Cost: Modest pass fees plus tuition.
Processing time: Several weeks after admission.

Worth knowing

Employment is not permitted on a student pass without separate authorisation.
Nairobi hosts a large number of regional NGO and UN offices, which is the practical reason many graduates find sponsored roles — worth knowing before choosing a field.

Sources:eFNS — Foreign Nationals Services portal

On the ground