Republic of Kenya vs Taiwan (Republic of China)
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Republic of Kenya
Kenya's Directorate of Immigration Services (DIS) administers entry, residence and work authorisation under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011. Foreign nationals work mainly under lettered work-permit classes — most commonly Class D (employment by a specific employer), Class G (trade, business or consultancy) and Class K (ordinary residents with an assured external income) — while short-term and dependent stays use the Special, Dependant's and Student's passes. Applications are filed online through the eFNS portal.
- Official portal
- Directorate of Immigration Services (Kenya)
- Languages
- English, Swahili
- Currency
- Kenyan shilling
Taiwan (Republic of China)
Taiwan manages immigration through the National Immigration Agency (NIA) under the Ministry of the Interior, with work authorisation governed by the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and entry visas issued by the Bureau of Consular Affairs (BOCA). The headline routes for skilled foreigners are the Employment Gold Card, which bundles a visa, residence and open work permit for designated specialist fields, and the employer-sponsored work permit plus Alien Resident Certificate (ARC). After five years of continuous residence, many foreign professionals can apply for an Alien Permanent Resident Certificate (APRC).
- Official portal
- National Immigration Agency (Taiwan)
- Languages
- Mandarin Chinese
- Currency
- New Taiwan dollar
How Republic of Kenya and Taiwan (Republic of China) differ
| Dimension | Republic of Kenya | Taiwan (Republic of China) |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 8 | 6 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 5 | 4 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 5 | 5 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Class D Work Permit (Employment) | Taiwan Employment Gold Card |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | English, Swahili | Mandarin Chinese |
| Currency | Kenyan shilling | New Taiwan dollar |
| Primary regulator | LSK | TBA |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Routes unique to Republic of Kenya
Routes unique to Taiwan (Republic of China)
Visa routes side by side
Republic of Kenya (8)
Class D Work Permit (Employment)
Sponsor · To settlement · Issued and renewable in line with the employment; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence.
Class G Work Permit (Trade, Business or Consultancy)
No sponsor · To settlement · Issued and renewable in line with the business; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence.
Class K Permit (Ordinary Residents)
No sponsor · To settlement · Issued and renewable subject to continued assured income; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence.
Class A Work Permit (Prospecting and Mining)
No sponsor · To settlement · Issued and renewable in line with the licensed activity; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence.
Special Pass
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 6 months maximum; not a settlement route.
Dependant's Pass
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Aligned to the sponsor status; renewable while the relationship and sponsor status continue.
Student's Pass
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Aligned to the course of study; renewable while enrolled.
Permanent Residence
No sponsor · To settlement · Permanent on grant, subject to the conditions of the Act.
Taiwan (Republic of China) (6)
Taiwan Employment Gold Card
No sponsor · To settlement · Valid for 1 to 3 years; renewable.
Work Permit for Specialized or Technical Work + ARC
Sponsor · To settlement · Work permit and resident visa run with the employment contract (which must have more than six months remaining at application); renewable.
Foreign Special Professional Work Permit
Sponsor · To settlement · Employment permit of up to five years for designated foreign professionals; renewable.
Entrepreneur Resident Visa
No sponsor · To settlement · Initial residence of 2 years; extensions of up to 2 years each subject to continuing to meet the qualification directions.
Visitor Visa for Employment-Seeking Purpose
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Short-stay visitor visa for job-seeking; the holder must convert to a work-permit-based resident visa to stay and work.
Permanent Residence (Alien Permanent Resident Certificate, APRC)
No sponsor · To settlement · Permanent, subject to maintaining the rolling presence requirement; re-entry and the certificate are maintained per NIA rules.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Republic of Kenya or Taiwan (Republic of China)?+
Republic of Kenya’s Class D Work Permit (Employment) is the dominant skilled route; Taiwan (Republic of China)’s Taiwan Employment Gold Card is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Republic of Kenya or Taiwan (Republic of China) have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Republic of Kenya has more: 5 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 4 for Taiwan (Republic of China). No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.