OVERVIEW OF CLASS F WORK PERMIT (SPECIFIC MANUFACTURING PERMIT): KENYA

Investing in Kenya: Immigration series 10

Introduction

On 4^th November 2025, The Kenya Investment Authority signed a strategic partnership with KCB Bank Kenya to enhance facilitation and support for foreign investors seeking to establish and expand their operations in Kenya.

The collaboration aims to deliver a seamless experience for investors by integrating financial solutions with government-led investment facilitation services, reinforcing Kenya’s position as a leading investment hub in Africa. Through this partnership, investors will now enjoy streamlined access to essential services such as financial advisory, project financing, trade facilitation, and business linkages, designed to meet the needs of international investors across key sectors including manufacturing, infrastructure, renewable energy and ICT.

With this partnership, it will be easier for Foreign Investors intending to engage in specific manufacturing in Kenya to set up and process their class F Work permit. This is because, one of the condition or requirements for this permit is proof of investment capital of USD 100000 which as per the Immigration office, must be in a local bank account. For a long time, many banks have been reluctant to open bank accounts for Investors with no work permits and the intervention of Kenya Investment Authority has been vital in assisting investors to set up, recommend them for bank account opening and help them to meet the Immigration office work permit requirements demand.

To this end and with this kind of partnership, we foresee an easier and streamlined way of processing work permits for Investors with the assistance of Ken Invest.

Class F work Permit

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

Who Qualifies?

Applicant who:

1. Has obtained any licence, registration or other authority or permission that may be necessary for the purpose.
2. Has in his own right and at his full and free disposition sufficient capital and other resources for the purpose.
3. Whose engagement in that manufacture will be of benefit to Kenya.

The requirements are:

• Duly filled and signed Form 25.
• Applicant’s copy of valid national passport (bio-data page).
• Applicant’s most recent passport size colored photograph.
• Current Immigration status if in the country (where applicable eg. Electronic Travel Authorization).
• Cover letter from the organization/Company/employer addressed to the Director General of Immigration Services.
• Certificate of registration of the organization, company or business and copy of its PIN certificate.
• Memorandum of Understanding and Articles of Association of the organization/company.
• Copy of license held.
• Proof of funds for investment in manufacturing at least USD 100,000.
• Applicant’s academic certificate/professional certificates.
• For renewals; Tax Compliance Certificate (Individual/employer) and signed audited accounts/financial statement for the last one year.
• Applicable processing fees (Ksh. 20,000.00).
• Government issuance fees (Ksh. 250,000.00) per year payable upon approval.

Note: Legal fees for company set up and permit application may be applicable where necessary.

Other permit conditions

1. It is an offence for a person to knowingly mislead an Immigration Officer when applying for this permit.
2. Incomplete applications shall not be accepted.
3. Additional documents may be requested in addition to the list above.
4. Where the holder of a work permit ceases to engage in the employment in respect of which the work permit was issued, the employer specified in the work permit shall, within fifteen (15) days from the date of such cessation, report, in writing to the director that the holder has ceased to engage in such employment.
5. All citizens of the East Africa Community (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi) are exempt from payment of the processing and permit issuance fee.

At A.O. WANGA ADVOCATES we are happy to assist you in setting up and processing your work permit application in Kenya. Please contact us on info@aowangaadvocates.com or +254794600191.

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