On this page · 4 sections
Foreign employees, investors and their families need the right permission to live and work in Kenya, and employers need that permission to be current. CS Advocates LLP advises individuals and employers on work permits, passes, permanent residence and citizenship, and on the compliance steps that keep a permit valid.
Led by Charles Muriu Mathenge, Managing Partner. An advocate handles your matter and fees are agreed in writing before chargeable work begins.
Permits and passes are issued under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act 2011 and its Regulations by the Directorate of Immigration Services. Applications are lodged online through the Directorate’s Foreign Nationals Services portal, and each class is tied to a defined activity. The firm acts for foreign founders and executives, Kenyan employers hiring from abroad, and families relocating to Nairobi.
What we advise on
- Work permit class selection and applications, including Class D employment permits and the Class G permit for a specific trade, business or consultancy
- Special passes for short term work, dependent passes for spouses and children, and student passes
- Permit renewals, variations for a change of employer, role or activity, and responses where an application has been refused
- Permanent residence applications and an assessment of the route that may be open to the applicant
- Citizenship by registration and by marriage under the Act
- Employer immigration compliance, including the records that should be kept for each foreign employee
How a matter starts
- Send a short outline covering nationality, the activity the person will carry out in Kenya, the intended duration, any family members and any previous Kenyan permits or refusals.
- The firm confirms that it can act, identifies the class that matches the activity and lists the documents and corporate steps the application depends on.
- A written engagement letter sets out scope and fees, and chargeable work begins after it is signed.
Questions clients ask
Which permit does a foreign founder need?
A founder who will run a Kenyan enterprise is usually assessed under the Class G permit, which covers a specific trade, business or consultancy other than a prescribed profession. An executive employed by a named employer is in a different position and may be described under a Class D employment permit. The class is chosen on the activity actually performed, not on the label that appears fastest to process.
Can someone work while an application is pending?
A pending application does not by itself authorise work. Permits are issued for a fixed term, may carry conditions about the employer, role or activity, and must be endorsed after issue. Where short term activity is needed before a permit is granted, ask about the special pass and take advice before any work begins.
How long does a permit last?
A work permit is issued for a fixed term and must be renewed before it expires. A change of employer or role generally requires a variation or a fresh application before the new engagement starts. Conditions on the permit define what the holder may lawfully do, and working outside them affects both the individual and the employer.
Does permanent residence lead to citizenship?
No. Permanent residence is a long term immigration status under the Act that allows a foreign national to reside in Kenya indefinitely, but it is not citizenship and does not carry the right to vote. Citizenship by registration or marriage is a separate application with its own conditions. Permanent residents also remain subject to tax and to registration requirements that apply to regulated professions.
Related legal insights
More detail is in our immigration guides, including these articles:
- Work permit classes and requirements in Kenya
- The Class G investor permit for foreign entrepreneurs
- Permanent residency in Kenya and the eligibility routes
To discuss a permit, pass or citizenship application, read our fees and engagement terms and contact the firm to arrange a confidential consultation at our Westlands, Nairobi office.