Permits & Passes

Permits and Passes

The Permits Section under the Directorate of Immigration and Citizen Services is responsible for the processing and issuance of work permits and passes. There are various classes of permit as provided under the enabling regulations.

Foreign Nationals Certificate (Alien Card) Application

Registration of foreign nationals is governed by the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011 part VII (56) 2 laws of Kenya. The law requires that all foreigners resident within Kenya for a period exceeding 90 days be registered.

Re-Entry Pass

Registration of Re-entry pass is governed by the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011 part VII (56) 2 laws of Kenya. Re-entry passes are only issued to holders of dependant passes.

Extension of Visitor's Pass

This pass is issued to person(s) with a visitor’s pass (stay duration entered on your passport/travel document by an immigration officer at an official port of entry when you enter Kenya on a visa) and seeking to extend the duration of stay in the country.

Residence Permit Class A: Prospecting and mining

This permit is issued to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, in prospecting for minerals or mining in Kenya.

Residence Permit Class B: Agriculture and animal husbandry

This permit is issued to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, in the business of agriculture or animal husbandry in Kenya.

Residence Permit Class C: Prescribed profession

This permit is issued to a person who is a member of a prescribed profession who intends to practice that profession, whether alone or in partnership, in Kenya.

Residence Permit Class D: Employment

This permit is issued to a person who is offered specific employment by a specific employer, the government of Kenya or any other person or authority under the control of the Government or an approved technical aid scheme under the United Nations Organization or some other approved Agency (not being an exempted person under section 34 (3), who is in possession of skills or qualifications that are not available in Kenya and whose engagement in that employment will be of benefit to Kenya.

Residence Permit Class F: Specific manufacturing

This permit is issued to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, in a specific manufacture in Kenya.

Residence Permit Class G: Specific trade, business or consultancy

This permit is issued to a person who intends to engage, whether alone or in partnership, in a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession (other than a prescribed profession) in Kenya.

Residence Permit Class I: Approved religious or charitable activities

This permit is issued to a person who is a member of an institution registered under the Society’s Act who is engaged as a missionary, Member of a company limited by guarantee, Member of a trust registered under the Trustees Act and is approved by the Government of Kenya, and whose presence in Kenya will be of benefit to Kenya.

Residence Permit Class K: Ordinary residents

This permit is issued to a person who Is not less that thirty-five years of age; and has in his own right and at his full and free disposition an assured annual income of not less than the prescribed amount that is derived from sources other than any such employment, occupation, trade, business or profession as is referred to in the description of any of the classes specified in this Schedule.

Residence Permit Class M: Refugees

This permit is issued to a person who has been granted refugee status in Kenya in accordance with the refugee law of Kenya and any spouse of such a refugee who intends to take up employment or engage in a specific occupation, trade, business or profession.

Special Pass

This is a document issued under Regulation 34 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012, to person(s) who wishes to enter or remain in Kenya for a limited period for purposes of temporarily conducting a business, trade or profession.

Dependant Pass

This permit is issued to a person who is offered specific employment by a specific employer, the government of Kenya or any other person or authority under the control of the Government or an approved technical aid scheme under the United Nations Organization or some other approved Agency (not being an exempted person under section 34 (3), who is in possession of skills or qualifications that are not available in Kenya and whose engagement in that employment will be of benefit to Kenya.

Dependant Pass

This is a document issued under Regulation 34 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012, to person(s) who wishes to enter or remain in Kenya for a limited period for purposes of temporarily conducting a business, trade or profession.

Student/Internship/Research Pass Application (also for FSJ)

This is a document issued to applicants (foreign students) (section 30(1) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations 2012, who wish to purse their education in Kenya’s Education or Training Institutions where they have been accepted or admitted. The applicant (foreign student) must be accepted as a student by an approved Educational or Training Establishment.

  • All applications for Permits and Passes are made and submitted online accompanied by all the necessary requirements which should be uploaded.
  • To apply you need first to login to your ecitizen account https://accounts.ecitizen.go.ke/login then click permits to create an eFNS account with Department of Immigration Services
  • Applicants can print out their own Permits and Passes from their eFNS Accounts once they are processed and issued

Click this link to learn more on the requirements for Permits and passes https://immigration.go.ke/application-links/