Getting a work permit in Kenya can take up to four months. Now, imagine how much productivity is lost when that process drags out because you’re unsure what step comes next.
And while going the DIY route is an option, we’ve seen firsthand how that often leads to delays, penalties, or even lost talent.
You’re expected to manage applications, track approvals, keep documents updated, and avoid compliance mistakes, all while trying to run your company.
It doesn’t have to be this hard.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essentials of immigration services in Kenya.
For HR professionals, founders, and foreign professionals settling into new roles, here’s what you need to know to get it right the first time.
Why Immigration Services Matter for Kenyan Businesses
Sectors like tech, energy, finance, development, and education often need expertise that’s not always available in the local talent pool. In response, businesses usually look beyond Kenyan borders to fill those gaps.
Once an offer is made, employers must manage immigration paperwork, meet compliance requirements, and stay ahead of timelines.
Unfortunately, many companies underestimate just how detailed and time-sensitive this process is.
We’ve seen cases where delays in permit processing lead to stalled projects or, worse, penalties for non-compliance.
That’s why more companies are choosing to work with immigration consultants in Nairobi.
With the right immigration support services in Kenya, the process can become easier to manage, faster to complete, and fully compliant with Kenyan law.
Now, what exactly do you get with such services?
Key Immigration Services in Kenya
If you’re bringing in foreign talent or relocating to Kenya, you’ll quickly realize there’s much more to immigration than just submitting an application.
Below are a few immigration services you can outsource to make the process a bit more manageable:
- Work permit processing
These services help both employers and individual professionals apply for work permits. Employers can apply on behalf of foreign employees, while independent applicants (e.g., consultants or self-employed professionals) can apply directly.
It’s a multi-layered process, but for the sake of this guide, here’s the gist of it:
- Completing the online application on the eFNS Portal
- Uploading all supporting documents (passports, academic and professional certificates, contracts, company documents)
- Tracking the application and ensuring follow-through with immigration authorities
- Presenting the issued permit for passport endorsement
- Visa applications and renewals
Visa support services cover both initial applications and renewals for foreign nationals in Kenya.
Services under this category include:
- Guidance on the correct visa type for your situation
- Support with application forms, government fees, and supporting documentation
- Renewals and extensions, especially when transitioning from short-term to long-term stays
Visa processing companies in Kenya can also help you avoid overstaying or applying under the wrong category, which often attracts fines or denial.
- Legal documentation for foreign employees
Beyond permits and visas, there are several documents every foreign employee in Kenya must have in place. Immigration consultants can help you secure:
- Special passes (for short-term assignments)
- Dependent passes (for spouses and children)
- Foreign Nationals Certificate (alien registration)
- Re-entry passes
- Ongoing compliance with Kenyan immigration law
- Corporate relocation support in Kenya and settlement assistance
For companies relocating staff to Kenya or setting up new branches, relocation support ensures a smooth landing for employees and their families. This service typically covers:
- Coordinating work permit approvals and endorsements
- Securing lease agreements for housing or office space
- Helping obtain school admission letters for dependent children
- Arranging police clearance certificates for regulatory or employment purposes
- Supporting bank account opening to enable local transactions
- Assisting with KRA PIN registration for tax compliance
It’s a whole lot of work that would pull your HR department away from its core responsibilities. Still, it becomes much more manageable when you outsource to immigration specialists such as Bridge Talent Management.
What are Work Permits in Kenya?
If you plan to hire someone outside Kenya, you must get them a Class D (Employment) permit. It’s the standard work permit for foreign employees.
According to the Directorate of Immigration, this permit is “issued to a person who is offered specific employment by a specific employer, 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.”
To apply for a Class D permit, the following documents are required:
- Completed application forms: Form 25 for the applicant and Form 27 for the Kenyan understudy
- Cover letter from the employer, addressed to the Director General of Immigration Services
- Valid passport and current immigration status if the applicant is already in Kenya
- Recent passport-size photo
- Tax Compliance Certificate for the company (and also for the applicant in case of renewals)
Academic and professional certificates, duly certified - Curriculum Vitae of both the applicant and the assigned Kenyan understudy
- Details of a Kenyan understudy, including ID, qualifications, and contact information
- Company registration documents (e.g., Certificate of Incorporation)
- Proof of local recruitment efforts, such as job advertisements and shortlisting evidence
- Clearance letters from relevant regulatory bodies, if required for the profession
You’ll also need to pay Kshs. 20,000 application fee upfront (non-refundable) and then Kshs. 500,000 per year for the permit itself if your employee isn’t from an East African Community member state.
While Class D is what most companies need, there are other types of work permits depending on what your employee or partner will be doing, for example:
- Class A for mining
- Class B for agriculture
- Class C for regulated professions like doctors and lawyers.
- Internship or Research Pass for academic research or unpaid internships
- And a Special Pass for short-term work assignments (up to 6 months) like training, consulting, or project-based roles
Eligibility Criteria for a Kenyan Work Permit
You need to show that the person you want to hire has skills that aren’t readily available locally and that hiring them will benefit Kenya in some way.
Here’s what immigration authorities will be looking for:
- Must have a valid job offer from a Kenyan employer
- Must possess skills or qualifications not readily available in the local labor market
- The role must demonstrate a clear economic or professional benefit to Kenya
- Employers must prove efforts to recruit locally before hiring a foreign national
- Applicant must have certified academic and professional credentials
- Applicant must be of good conduct and in compliance with Kenyan laws
- The employer must be a legally registered entity in Kenya with valid tax compliance
- Applicant must have sufficient financial means or be adequately sponsored
- In some cases, a qualified Kenyan understudy must be identified and attached to the application
How long are work permits valid?
A Kenyan work permit is usually valid for 2 years, but you can extend it to 4 years.
Kenyan Visa Services for Expats and International Business Professionals
To work in Kenya legally, your work permit must be approved before applying for a work visa. The visa allows you to enter and stay in the country, while the permit gives you the legal go-ahead to work.
There are different visa types depending on your situation, and if you pick the wrong one, you might have to start over.
But that’s something you don’t need to worry about if you bring an immigration support service on board.
Here’s what they usually help with:
- Guiding you on the correct visa or permit for your situation
- Preparing your documents and submitting the visa application
- Keeping track of approvals and following up with immigration offices
- Renewing visas and handling paperwork for spouses or children
- Helping with KRA PIN registration, opening a local bank account, or finding housing if you’re settling in
If you’re a company bringing in foreign professionals, this support keeps things moving without piling everything on your HR team. If you’re an expat, it helps you land and settle without getting stuck in paperwork.
Step-by-Step Process for Hiring Foreign Workers in Kenya
Let’s walk through what happens when you hire someone from abroad.
Fair warning: this isn’t a quick process, and there are several moving parts that need to align.
Getting your company ready
Before you even consider submitting an application, your company must be in good standing.
This means having all your registration documents current, your tax compliance certificates up to date, and being able to demonstrate that you’re a legitimate business that can support a foreign employee.
Immigration authorities want to see that you’re not just some fly-by-night operation.
You’ll also need to build a case for why you need this specific person. This is where many companies fail. You can’t just say, ‘We like this candidate better.’
You must show concrete evidence that you first tried to find someone locally. Think job postings, interview records, and documentation of why local candidates didn’t work out. The more thorough you are here, the stronger your application.
The application
Now that you have your justification sorted, the paperwork begins.
You’ll work primarily through the eFNS Portal, Kenya’s online system for work permit applications.
Your employee must also submit their part, including all their academic credentials, professional certificates, and a detailed CV.
Remember that Kenyan understudy we mentioned earlier?
Their information also goes in here, along with proof that they’re qualified to learn from your foreign hire.
The waiting
After submission, you’re looking at several weeks to several months for processing.
This is where having an immigration service track your application becomes super important. The system doesn’t always clearly communicate where things stand or if additional documentation is needed.
Once the work permit is approved, your employee still needs to apply for their actual entry visa. It’s a separate process that happens after the permit is issued, not before.
The whole process, from start to finish, takes 2-4 months if everything goes smoothly.
Delays are common, especially if documentation is incomplete or if there are questions about the application that need clarification.
Immigration Compliance for Businesses in Kenya
Once you have foreign employees on your payroll, you become responsible for ongoing compliance with Kenyan immigration law.
What your HR department needs to handle
Your HR team should be the first line of defense for immigration compliance.
They need to authenticate all permits and special passes that foreign employees bring in.
They’re also required to maintain detailed records for each expatriate employee.
Typically, this includes their full name, passport number, nationality, employment start date, job title, and the specific class of permit they hold.
Ongoing responsibilities
When a foreign employee’s contract ends, or their permit expires, you must notify the immigration offices.
You must also cooperate with any inspections or audits from the Directorate of Immigration Services.
The cost of getting it wrong
Immigration non-compliance penalties are severe and can significantly impact your business. To name a few;
- Fines of up to KES 500,000 per incident
- Deportation orders for your foreign staff
- Criminal charges and legal prosecution
- Revocation of existing work permits
- Blacklisting from future immigration applications
That last one is particularly damaging. If you get blacklisted, it will be much harder to hire international talent in the future.
This is a business-ending consequence for companies that rely on specialized skills from abroad.
Top Immigration Consultants and Support Firms in Kenya
- Bridge Talent Management (BTM)
If you’re looking for end-to-end immigration support, BTM handles the full spectrum of services.
You can come to us with a work permit application and leave knowing that everything from visa extensions to dependent passes will be managed without you having to chase down different providers.
Since we are a full-fledged HR consultancy, we also offer ongoing immigration advisory, so you’re not left guessing about compliance or renewals.
Here’s a more detailed list of our services:
- Permits: New and renewal work permits
- Visas: Entry e-Visas, visa extensions, dependent visas, permanent resident visas
- Immigration support: Alien cards, endorsements, citizenship, immigration advisory
- Passes: Special passes, dependent passes
Rated 5/5 on Google
- ABC EXPAT
ABC EXPAT specializes in corporate mobility solutions and promises to help you secure seamless international mobility for all your employees.
They deal with work permits, dependent visas, short-term visas, and resident cards. Their processing times range from 15 days to 3 months maximum, depending on the country.
They maintain a 4.8 Google rating.
- Career Options Africa Group
With a footprint across East, West, and Central Africa, Career Options Africa Group offers regional immigration support for businesses managing expatriate staff.
Their services go beyond paperwork to include onboarding support, orientation for newly arrived expats, and compliance checks tailored to local labor laws. They’re ideal for companies with a pan-African workforce.
Rated 4.7 on Google
Can HR Consultancies Help with Immigration?
Yes, HR consultancies might be exactly what you need for several reasons.
When hiring internationally, you’re not just dealing with immigration paperwork.
You’re also managing employment contracts, salary structures, benefits, and compliance with Kenyan labor laws.
Having separate providers for HR and immigration will create coordination headaches and gaps in service.
HR consultancies with immigration expertise have Kenyan labor law experts on board who can tell you exactly how to classify your employees, which documents they’ll need, and which forms to fill out.
They’ll procure all the necessary documentation and ensure no appointments are missed.
And if you haven’t found the right candidate yet, they can help with the entire recruitment process, too. You get end-to-end service from candidate sourcing through to getting them legally settled in Kenya.
That’s precisely how we operate at Bridge Talent Management.
Because we’re both an HR consultancy and a licensed immigration support provider, we offer integrated solutions that save time, reduce risk, and simplify the entire process for your team and your new hire.
It doesn’t matter if you’re relocating one executive or an entire team; we’ll help you manage the process smoothly and in one place.
Learn more about our service.
Final Thoughts: Secure, Compliant, and Efficient Immigration Support
You probably didn’t start your day thinking about immigration paperwork, but if you’re hiring across borders or moving talent into Kenya, it’s something you can’t afford to get wrong.
If you’re building a regional team, relocating key leadership, or expanding into Kenya for the first time, getting expert support can free up your internal teams and keep you focused on growth.
Book a free consultation with our immigration team at Bridge Talent Management to review your current process, identify risks, and map out your next steps.
FAQs
What immigration services are available for companies in Kenya?
Companies can get help with work permit processing, visa applications and renewals, dependent passes, alien registration, re-entry passes, and full corporate relocation support.
How can foreign professionals get a work permit in Kenya?
Foreign professionals need a Class D (Employment) permit, which requires a valid job offer from a Kenyan employer, proof that their skills aren’t available locally, and completion of the online eFNS Portal application with supporting documents.
What documents are needed to hire expats in Kenya?
You’ll need completed Forms 25 and 27, an employer cover letter, a valid passport, academic/professional certificates, CVs for the applicant, company registration documents, proof of local recruitment efforts, and tax compliance certificates.
What is the process for obtaining a business visa in Kenya?
A Kenya business visa is obtained via the online eVisa/eTA portal. You’ll need to complete an application form, upload your passport, photo, invitation letter, and travel itinerary, and pay the fee . Processing takes 3–7 business days.
Are there legal risks in hiring foreign nationals without proper permits?
Immigration non-compliance can attract fines of up to KES 500,000 per incident, deportation orders for foreign staff, criminal prosecution, permit revocations, and potential blacklisting from future immigration applications.
How long does it take to process immigration paperwork in Kenya?
Work permit processing typically takes 2-4 months from start to finish. Delays are common if documentation is incomplete.
