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Republic of Kenya · entrepreneur · Leads to settlement

Class G Work Permit (Trade, Business or Consultancy)

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Work permit for a foreign national investing in and running a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession in Kenya.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyIssued and renewable in line with the business; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence.
Processing time
Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the eFNS portal.
Government fees
Indicative only - a processing fee plus an annual issuance fee apply; confirm current amounts on the official Class G page.
Typical duration
Issued and renewable in line with the business; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Directorate of Immigration Services (Kenya) ↗

In short

As of 10 July 2026, the Class G Work Permit (Trade, Business or Consultancy) for Republic of Kenya is an unsponsored Kenya immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Kenya government pages, reviewed 10 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/kenya/class-g-trade-business-permit#answer

What is the Class G Work Permit (Trade, Business or Consultancy) in Republic of Kenya?

Class G Work Permit (Trade, Business or Consultancy) is an unsponsored Kenya route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - a processing fee plus an annual issuance fee apply; confirm current amounts on the official Class G page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the eFNS portal; typical duration is Issued and renewable in line with the business; counts toward the residence record for permanent residence. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Directorate of Immigration Services (Kenya) on 1 June 2026.

Overview

Class G is issued to a foreign national intending to engage, alone or in partnership, in a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession (other than a prescribed profession). The Directorate of Immigration Services requires documentary proof of capital available to invest of at least USD 100,000, company registration and tax compliance. Applications are filed online through the eFNS portal.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm the activity qualifies under Class G and that you can evidence the required capital.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Register the company and assemble proof of capital, the business plan and tax documents.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    File the Class G application online through the eFNS portal.

  4. After approval

    On approval, operate the business in Kenya and renew the permit as required.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Class G Work Permit (Trade, Business or Consultancy), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Class G Work Permit (Trade, Business or Consultancy) instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Kenya

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Kenya. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use official Class G Work Permit (Trade, Business or Consultancy) route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Class G Work Permit (Trade, Business or Consultancy).

    Directorate of Immigration Services (Kenya) · verified

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Frequently asked questions

How much capital do I need for a Kenya Class G permit?+

The official Class G page indicates documentary proof of capital available to invest of at least USD 100,000. Because thresholds can change, confirm the current requirement on the official Directorate of Immigration Services page.

Does Class G cover professionals?+

Class G covers specific trade, business, consultancy or profession other than a prescribed profession. Some regulated professions are handled under other classes; confirm on the official page.

Can I move to Kenya by setting up my own business instead of finding an employer?+

Yes. Class G is for engaging, alone or in partnership, in a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession and does not require employer sponsorship, but it requires documentary proof of capital available to invest of at least USD 100,000 plus company and Kenyan tax (PIN) registration. Some regulated professions are handled under other classes; confirm on the official Directorate of Immigration Services page.

Need tailored advice?

We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.

Find a regulated advisor in Kenya

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Directorate of Immigration Services (Kenya)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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