Republic of Kenya visas
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.
8 routes · 5 without a sponsor · 5 lead to settlement
Official portal
Primary source
Directorate of Immigration Services (DIS) ↗ · Directorate of Immigration Services (Kenya)
Link last verified:
Regulators of immigration advice
- Law Society of Kenya (LSK) — Statutory bar association; membership is mandatory to practise as an advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
Visa routes (8)
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.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 10 July 2026
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 sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 10 July 2026
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 sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 11 July 2026
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 sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Special Pass
Short-term pass allowing a foreign national to conduct business, trade or a profession in Kenya temporarily, for up to six months.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Dependant's Pass
Pass for a dependant of a Kenyan citizen, a work-permit holder, a permanent resident or an exempted person.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Student's Pass
Pass for a foreign national admitted to an academic or training institution in Kenya.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 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 sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Planning life after your move?
Organise documents, arrival money, housing and the practical steps after visa approval. Your route conditions remain the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
How many visa routes does Republic of Kenya have?+
We cover 8 Republic of Kenya visa routes in these categories: sponsored work, entrepreneur, general residence, investor, visitor and short business, family, and study. Each one links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date.
Which Republic of Kenya visas do not need an employer sponsor?+
5 of the 8 Republic of Kenya routes we cover can be pursued without an employer sponsor, which helps if you do not have a job offer yet. The remaining 3 are employer-sponsored.
Which Republic of Kenya visas lead to permanent residence?+
5 of the 8 routes can lead to settlement or permanent residence; the others are temporary. Open each route for its settlement detail and qualifying period.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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