KENYA IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IMPLEMENTS MECHANISM FOR APPLYING FOR NEW CLASSES OF WORK PERMITS (CLASSES: I, N, P, Q & R)
In our previous legal alert on the link: https://aowangaadvocates.com/kenya-introduces-new-classes-of-work-permits/ we discuss the new set of Kenya work permits that were gazette on 16th December 2024. That is:
- Class I permit which is permit issued to a person who is a member of an institution registered under the Society’s Act and is engaged as a missionary and whose activities are directly involved in preaching or conduct of the religious worship and rituals, and whose presence in Kenya is of benefit to the country.
- Class N permit which is digital nomad permit issued to a person who works remotely within Kenya for a company registered outside the country.
- Class P permit issued to staff of the UN, Diplomatic Missions, Intergovernmental Organizations or International non-governmental organizations, accredited to neighboring hardship countries and staff based in hardship neighboring countries of such organizations.
- Class Q permit issued to a person who is a member of prescribed professional and working for religious or charitable organizations and who is not involved in preaching or the conduct of religious worship and rituals and whose presence will be of benefit to Kenya. and
- Class R permit issued to a person who is a citizen of a Member State of the East African Community and is not a Prohibited Immigrant and who intends to reside, engage in employment, activity, business, trade or engage in any prescribed profession and whose presence will be of benefit to Kenya.
The Immigration Department has since set up the application mechanism and procedure on its Foreign Nationals Service portal (eFNS portal) allowing eligible applicants to make their applications. This now acts as a relieve to many and brings to an end the long wait eligible applicants have been experiencing.
In terms of cost below is the breakdown of applicable costs for the new work permits:
| NO. | Type of permit | Government cost |
| 1. | Class I: (Approved religious or charitable activities) | Processing fee Ksh. 5,000.00. Government issuance fee Ksh. 50,000.00 per year payable upon approval. |
| 2. | Class N: (Digital Nomads) | Processing fee USD 200 Government issuance fee USD 1000 payable upon approval. |
| 3. | Class P: (Staff of United Nations, Diplomatic Missions, Inter-Governmental Organizations, and International Non-Governmental Organizations) | Processing fee USD 200 Government issuance fee USD 1000 payable upon approval. |
| 4. | Class Q: (Professionals working for religious or charitable organizations) | Processing fee Ksh. 20,000.00. Government issuance fee Ksh. 100,000.00 payable upon approval. |
| 5. | Class R: (EAC Nationals) | Processing fee (Gratis) Government issuance fee (Gratis) |
For more information or assistance in Work Permits applications contact us on info@aowangaadvocates.com or +254794600191.
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