🇹🇴→🇰🇪Tonga→Kenya

multiple entry~$155online

Spouses, children and other dependants of Kenyan citizens, permit holders, permanent residents or exempted persons

For a foreigner who is a dependant of a Kenyan citizen, permit/pass holder, permanent resident or exempted person; validity is typically co-terminus with the sponsor's status. Official fees: KES 20,000 (~USD 155) for a spouse or child of a Kenyan citizen, KES 10,000 (~USD 77) for a spouse or child of a work-permit or permanent-residence holder; gratis for EAC citizens. Applied online via the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke).

multiple entry~$115valid 365donline

Foreign nationals undertaking an internship or academic research in Kenya

Authorisation to enter and remain in Kenya to undertake an internship or academic research. Researchers require NACOSTI clearance and institutional sponsorship. Official fee KES 15,000 per year (~USD 115) for non-EAC nationals; gratis for EAC citizens. Applied online via the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke).

multiple entry14-30d processing~$100valid 365donline

Foreign nationals accepted or admitted to study at a Kenyan academic or training institution

Issued to a foreigner accepted or admitted to a recognised Kenyan academic or training institution. Official fee USD 100 per year for non-EAC nationals; gratis for East African Community citizens. Applied online via the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke). Minors require parental consent; refugees require Department of Refugee Services clearance. Fee corrected from prior USD 50 to the official USD 100/year on 2026-07 re-validation; official_url updated from the retired eCitizen link.

180 days~$200valid 180donline

Short-term (up to 6 months) work, trade or professional engagement, often as a bridge while a work permit is processed

Authorisation to enter and remain in Kenya for a period not exceeding 6 months to temporarily conduct business, trade or a profession (e.g. equipment installation, training, short consultancy), or as a bridge while a work-permit application is pending. Official fee USD 200 per month for non-EAC nationals; gratis for EAC citizens. Applied online via the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke).

multiple entry~$1920online

Members of a prescribed profession (e.g. medicine, law, engineering) intending to practise it in Kenya

Issued to a member of a prescribed profession who intends to practise that profession, alone or in partnership, in Kenya and whose practice benefits the country. Official fees: processing KES 20,000 (non-refundable) plus issuance KES 250,000 per year (~USD 1,920); gratis for EAC citizens. Applied online via the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke).

multiple entry~$3850online

Foreign employees offered specific employment by a specific employer for skills not available in Kenya

Kenya's main employer-sponsored work permit. Issued to a person offered specific employment by a specific employer, who holds skills or qualifications not available in Kenya and whose engagement benefits the country. Requires employer sponsorship. Official fees: processing KES 20,000 (non-refundable) plus issuance KES 500,000 per year (~USD 3,850); gratis for East African Community citizens. Applied online via the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke).

multiple entry~$385online

Missionaries and staff of approved religious or charitable (non-profit) organisations

Issued to a member of a society registered under the Societies Act engaged as a missionary, or with a government-approved non-profit organisation, whose presence benefits Kenya. Official fees: processing KES 5,000 (non-refundable) plus issuance KES 50,000 per year (~USD 385); gratis for EAC citizens. Applied online via the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke).

multiple entryfreeonline

Persons granted refugee status in Kenya, and their spouses, wishing to take up a specific occupation, trade, business or profession

Issued to a person who has been granted refugee status in Kenya, and their spouse, wishing to engage in a specific occupation, trade, business or profession. Issued gratis (free of charge). Requires refugee status recognition; applied via the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke).

multiple entry~$1000valid 730donline

Remote workers and freelancers earning income from companies or clients registered outside Kenya

Introduced October 2024; online applications opened April 2025. Issued to a person who works remotely within Kenya for a company registered outside the country, or who provides self-employed services to overseas clients. Validity one or two years, renewable. The holder may not be employed by a Kenyan company or earn income within Kenya. Official fees: processing USD 200 (non-refundable) plus issuance USD 1,000 per year. Requires the last three months' bank statements or payslips as proof of income. Applied online via the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke).

multiple entry~$3850online

Foreign nationals engaging, alone or in partnership, in prospecting for minerals or mining in Kenya

For a person intending to engage, alone or in partnership, in prospecting for minerals or mining in Kenya. Requires the necessary prospecting/mining rights and licences and documentary proof of at least USD 100,000 capital to invest. Official fees: processing KES 20,000 (non-refundable) plus issuance KES 500,000 per year (~USD 3,850); gratis for EAC citizens. Applied online via the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke). Added 2026-07 to complete the work-permit class enumeration; the Class A investor route already appears in this record's rbi section.

multiple entry~$1920online

Investors engaging in agriculture or animal husbandry in Kenya

For a person intending to engage, alone or in partnership, in agriculture or animal husbandry in Kenya, with suitable land and sufficient capital. Requires documentary proof of at least USD 100,000 capital. Official fees: processing KES 20,000 (non-refundable) plus issuance KES 250,000 per year (~USD 1,920); gratis for EAC citizens. Applied online via the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke).

multiple entry~$1920online

Investors engaging in a specific manufacturing activity in Kenya

For a person intending to engage, alone or in partnership, in a specific manufacture in Kenya. Requires documentary proof of at least USD 100,000 capital for manufacturing. Official fees: processing KES 20,000 (non-refundable) plus issuance KES 250,000 per year (~USD 1,920); gratis for EAC citizens. Applied online via the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke).

multiple entry~$1920online

Foreign nationals establishing or running a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession in Kenya (self-employment/investor)

For a person intending to engage, alone or in partnership, in a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession (other than a prescribed profession) in Kenya. Requires documentary proof of at least USD 100,000 capital to invest. Official fees: processing KES 20,000 (non-refundable) plus issuance KES 250,000 per year (~USD 1,920); gratis for EAC citizens. Applied online via the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke). Corrected 2026-07: the prior entry mis-stated the fee (USD 2,000) and described employer-sponsored employment, which is actually Class D.

multiple entry~$1920online

Financially independent residents aged 35+ living on assured non-employment income (pension/annuity) - Kenya's retirement/passive-income residence permit

Kenya's closest equivalent to a retirement permit. Issued to a person at least 35 years old with an assured annual income of not less than USD 24,000 from sources outside Kenya (e.g. pension or annuity), not derived from employment or business in Kenya; the holder may not take employment. Official fees: processing KES 20,000 (non-refundable) plus issuance KES 250,000 per year (~USD 1,920); gratis for EAC citizens. Applied online via the eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke).