Republic of Kenya vs Republic of Türkiye: where should you move?

Start with the route that fits your plans, then compare the practical steps after approval. A country offering more routes is not necessarily easier for you to move to.

Comparison updated 12 September 2026. The individual source-check dates appear with the relevant guidance.

Route and arrival decisions

Choose between Republic of Kenya and Republic of Türkiye by your actual plan

These are routes to investigate, not a ranking or an eligibility result. Open the linked route for its conditions, then use the country setup actions to test whether the move works after approval.

Routes to consider for each applicant situation
Your situation	Republic of Kenya	Republic of Türkiye
Employer-sponsored work Routes recorded for a local job where an employer or route sponsor is required.	Republic of Kenya Class D Work Permit (Employment) Employer-sponsored work permit for a foreign national offered specific employment by a specific Kenyan employer, where the skills are not available locally. Employer or route sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Issued and renewable in line with the employment; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence. Class D (Employment) - Directorate of Immigration Services · source checked 1 June 2026	Republic of Türkiye Turkey Work Permit (employer-sponsored) Employer-sponsored permit issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security that grants both the right to work and to reside in Türkiye for its validity period. Employer or route sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Definite permit up to one year initially, extendable; permanent work permit available after eight years legal work. Ministry of Labour and Social Security - Work Permit Types · source checked 1 June 2026
Skilled migration or talent Points, qualification or talent routes. A route can still require a job, nomination or endorsing body.	Republic of Kenya No confirmed route in this category is recorded in the current comparison dataset.	Republic of Türkiye Turkey Turquoise Card Special status conferring the rights of an indefinite work permit on highly qualified professionals, investors, researchers, and cultural figures, after a three-year transition period. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Provisional three-year transition period, then indefinite on successful conversion. Ministry of Labour and Social Security - Turquoise Card · source checked 1 June 2026
Overseas remote work Published digital-nomad routes only; these do not imply permission to take local employment.	Republic of Kenya No confirmed route in this category is recorded in the current comparison dataset.	Republic of Türkiye Turkey Digital Nomad Visa Route for remote workers employed by, or contracting with, non-Turkish companies, built around an official Digital Nomad Identification Certificate issued via the goturkiye portal. No employer sponsor recorded · Non-settlement · Temporary; tied to the visa and short-term residence period granted on entry. Go Türkiye - Digital Nomad Portal · source checked 1 June 2026
Founder or entrepreneur Routes recorded for starting or operating a qualifying business.	Republic of Kenya Class G Work Permit (Trade, Business or Consultancy) Work permit for a foreign national investing in and running a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession in Kenya. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Issued and renewable in line with the business; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence. Class G (Specific trade, business or consultancy) - Directorate of Immigration Services · source checked 1 June 2026	Republic of Türkiye No confirmed route in this category is recorded in the current comparison dataset.
Investment residence Investment routes only. Capital does not remove the route-specific approval conditions.	Republic of Kenya Class A Work Permit (Prospecting and Mining) Work permit for a foreign national engaging, alone or in partnership, in prospecting for minerals or mining in Kenya. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Issued and renewable in line with the licensed activity; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence. Application for Permit Class A (Prospecting and Mining) - eFNS · source checked 1 June 2026	Republic of Türkiye Turkey Citizenship by Investment Exceptional acquisition of Turkish citizenship for foreigners making a qualifying investment, including real estate of at least USD 400,000 with a three-year no-sale restriction. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Citizenship, subject to a three-year no-sale restriction on the qualifying property. Presidency of Migration Management - Acquisition of Turkish Citizenship · source checked 1 June 2026
Study Study routes; no work right is inferred from student status.	Republic of Kenya Student's Pass Pass for a foreign national admitted to an academic or training institution in Kenya. Employer or route sponsor required · Non-settlement · Aligned to the course of study; renewable while enrolled. Student's Pass - Directorate of Immigration Services · source checked 1 June 2026	Republic of Türkiye Turkey Student Residence Permit Residence permit for foreigners enrolled in primary, secondary, or higher education in Türkiye, issued by the Presidency of Migration Management. No employer sponsor recorded · Non-settlement · Tied to the period of study; renewable while enrolled. Presidency of Migration Management - Residence Permit Types · source checked 1 June 2026
Join family Family routes to inspect. The presence of a route does not establish relationship eligibility or dependant work rights.	Republic of Kenya Dependant's Pass Pass for a dependant of a Kenyan citizen, a work-permit holder, a permanent resident or an exempted person. Employer or route sponsor required · Non-settlement · Aligned to the sponsor status; renewable while the relationship and sponsor status continue. Dependant's Pass - Directorate of Immigration Services · source checked 1 June 2026	Republic of Türkiye Turkey Family Residence Permit Residence permit for the foreign spouse, children, and dependent family members of a Turkish citizen or of a residence-permit holder, issued by the Presidency of Migration Management. Employer or route sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Up to two years per issuance, not exceeding the sponsor permit duration; renewable. Presidency of Migration Management - Residence Permit Types · source checked 1 June 2026
Other long-stay residence General residence routes that are not automatically work, family or investment permission.	Republic of Kenya Class K Permit (Ordinary Residents) Residence permit for a foreign national aged 35 or over with an assured income from sources outside Kenya, who undertakes not to take up employment. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Issued and renewable subject to continued assured income; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence. Class K (Ordinary residents) - Directorate of Immigration Services · source checked 1 June 2026 Permanent Residence Permanent residence in Kenya under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, including a route after long lawful residence on work permits. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Permanent on grant, subject to the conditions of the Act. Permanent Residence - Directorate of Immigration Services · source checked 1 June 2026	Republic of Türkiye Turkey Short-Term Residence Permit Flexible residence permit covering property owners, business connections, tourism, study programmes, medical treatment and investment, issued by the Presidency of Migration Management. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Up to one or two years per issuance, renewable. Presidency of Migration Management - Residence Permit Types · source checked 1 June 2026 Turkey Long-Term Residence Permit Indefinite residence permit for foreigners who have lived continuously in Türkiye for at least eight years on valid residence permits. No employer sponsor recorded · Leads to settlement · Indefinite, subject to the conditions of the permit. Presidency of Migration Management - Residence Permit Types · source checked 1 June 2026

What setup starts after the immigration decision

Four sourced actions from each relocation checklist show the sequence beyond visa approval. The linked country guides contain the complete registration, health, tax, banking, housing and renewal context.

Republic of Kenya

Kenya’s Directorate of Immigration lists distinct work-permit and pass classes. A visitor entry does not become work permission; submit the correct application through eFNS and keep the permit class aligned with the activity.

Before travel
Match the proposed work, business, profession, study or family plan to an eFNS class.
- Kenya Directorate of Immigration: work permits and passes · checked 11 September 2026
- Kenya eFNS: permits information pack · checked 11 September 2026
On arrival
Print and present the issued permit or pass for endorsement as directed.
- Kenya Directorate of Immigration: work permits and passes · checked 11 September 2026
First month
For residence exceeding 90 days, check exemptions and apply for the Alien Card through eFNS; book the document and biometrics appointment.
- Kenya Immigration: foreign-national certificate (Alien Card) · checked 11 September 2026
Later
Calendar permit, passport, KRA, health, school and licence dates separately.

Open the Kenya moving guide

Republic of Türkiye

A visa or visa-free admission is permission to visit, not permission to settle or work. Choose the residence or work route before renting, verify that the address can be registered, and keep immigration, payroll, tax and family files aligned.

Before travel
Match the real activity to a work, remote-work, family, study or short-term residence route.
On arrival
Submit the official e-İkamet application before visitor permission expires and attend the appointment.
- Presidency of Migration Management: residence-permit application, insurance, address and renewal · checked 11 September 2026
First month
Verify payroll, tax and SGK activation rather than inferring them from the residence card.
- Ministry of Labour and Social Security: work-permit FAQ · checked 11 September 2026
- Social Security Institution: general health insurance eligibility · checked 11 September 2026
Later
Report an address change to migration and civil registration within 20 working days.
- Presidency of Migration Management: residence-permit application, insurance, address and renewal · checked 11 September 2026

Open the Turkey moving guide

What setup starts after the immigration decision

🇰🇪 Republic of Kenya

🇹🇷 Republic of Türkiye

Turn your shortlist into a moving plan

Republic of Kenya

Republic of Türkiye