Work in Kenya for Ukrainians

The type of visa you need depends on the work you will be doing in the country. Let's take a look at some of the available types of work permits in Kenya to determine which one you need to get if you plan to live and work in Kenya.

Class A

The Kenyan Class A work visa is intended for individuals moving to Kenya for the purpose of prospecting and mining. To be eligible for this visa, you must hold a mining or exploration license in Kenya and prove that you have the financial means to do so (at least $100,000 in investment capital).

Class B

The Class B work visa is a Kenyan work visa granted to individuals who will work in livestock or agriculture while residing in the country. To be eligible for this visa, you must prove that you can obtain and afford the necessary land in Kenya to perform this work, and that this work will contribute to the betterment of the country.

Class D

If you need a standard work visa, the Class D visa is probably the best option. With this visa, you are eligible to work for an independent employer or for the Kenyan government. However, to be eligible for this work visa, you must be qualified to do a job that local candidates cannot apply for.

Class G

A special visa for trade, business or consulting, also known as a Class G visa, is available for individuals who can provide unique skills that will benefit the country's economy. To be eligible for this visa, you must prove financial stability of at least $100,000.

Class I

The Class I visa is available for individuals entering Kenya for charitable or religious purposes. Similar to other work permits in Kenya, this visa requires an individual to prove that their activities will be beneficial to the country.

Class K

The "ordinary resident" visa, the Class K visa, is only available to individuals over the age of 35 who receive at least $24,000 per year from any source outside of Kenya or from a Kenyan savings or pension plan. With this visa, you can live in Kenya but not work.

Class M

The Kenyan M class work visa, also known as a refugee visa, is intended for persons who have moved to Kenya and have been granted refugee status in the country. The spouse of a refugee can also obtain a Class M work visa if they plan to work while residing in the country.

When looking for a job in Kenya, keep in mind that a person who has a single or multiple entry tourist or business visa (valid for 3 months) is not eligible for employment in Kenya. If you want to obtain a special permit, you must apply to the Immigration Office and submit the necessary documents. Initially, applicants for a work permit must submit a completed and signed application form 3, which can be downloaded from the Immigration Office website. This application should be submitted to the head office of the Department of Immigration at: Nyayo House, P. O. Box 30191 - 00100 NAIROBI, Kenya, Alien Section, Counter 7; tel: +254 2 222022, fax: +254 2 220731, e-mail: [email protected]

Work/residence visas are intended for people who are going to spend more than six months in Kenya and want to work, live or volunteer in the country. Employers or charitable partners usually make efforts to submit such applications on behalf of their employees and partners. However, you can apply on your own. As a rule, potential expats apply for a work/type visa before arriving in Kenya.

Entry permits are issued to all foreigners who plan to work in Kenya, regardless of whether it is paid work or volunteering. Entry permits are classified from A to M. You pay an annual fee depending on the type of permit ranging from Kshs. 2,000 (USD 20) to Kshs. 100,000 (USD 1,000).

In Kenya, an entry permit is issued by the Director of Immigration to allow foreigners to enter Kenya and engage in trade, agriculture, business, professional activities, missionary work, or even live in Kenya.

How to apply for a work permit?

To apply for a work permit, you must follow these steps:

1. Create a login account with the Kenyan government;
2. Log in using the account you created above to access the eFNS portal.
3. After logging in to the eFNS portal, select the "Apply Now" link.
4. Click on the "Application" tab and select the "Permit Issuance/Renewal" tab.
5. Print out the required application form by clicking on the Dashboard and then on the My Applications tab.
6. Submit the application with all the requirements to the Immigration Service (Nyayo House) for processing;
7. You will receive automatic email notifications about the progress of your application.

Keep in mind that obtaining a visa is only one part of the process. After arriving in Kenya, you will need to register with the immigration department or the local police in one way or another. You must do this within three months. This rule applies to all adult foreigners who plan to stay in the country for more than 90 days.

In addition to visiting the relevant authorities, you must also present valid travel documents and identity cards, two passport-size photos, and pay a registration fee. During this visit, you will have to be fingerprinted.

Remember that all work permits are valid for two years with the possibility of extension for another two years. Your employees can extend their work permits an unlimited number of times, but they must do so at least three months before the permit expires.