Immigration fees in Kenya have been amended to reflect current economic realities. This supports the country’s continued efforts to position itself as a regional economic hub. With an ever-increasing number of foreign nationals coming into the country for tourism, business, employment, education and investment, this bold step will help improve service delivery and streamline immigration processes.
Under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011, any non-citizen seeking to enter, work, study or reside in Kenya must first obtain the appropriate permit or pass from the Department of Immigration Services. These permits and passes serve as legal authorization for a range of activities, from employment and trade to long-term stays for approved purposes.
This article explores the recent changes to the government fees associated with these immigration processes—changes that will significantly impact both individuals and corporate entities engaging foreign talent or investing in Kenya.
Kenya’s New Immigration Fee Effective March 2024
Changes to the Immigration Fees took effect on March 1, 2024, and were issued through Special Gazette Notice numbers 15239, 15240, and 15241, all dated 7 November 2023.
These changes affect visa applications, work permits, appeals for rejected applications, and other immigration-related services.
What Has Changed?
Below is a summary of the new revised fees.
| Types of Visa or Permit | New Application Fees |
|---|---|
| Single Entry Visa | USD 51 |
| Transit Visa | USD 21 |
| Multiple Entry Visa -1 year | USD 101 |
| Work Permit (Class Approved religious and charitable activities) | USD 161 |
| Special Pass | USD 200 |
| Student’s Pass | *Issuance Fee USD 100 |
| Dependent Pass (Kenyan Citizen) | *Issuance Fee KES 20,000 |
| Dependent Pass (Work Permit and Permanent Residence Holders) | *Issuance Fee KES 10,000 |
| Work Permit (Class C- Prescribed Profession) | Processing Fee KES 20,000 *Issuance Fee KES 250,00 per year |
| Work Permit (Class D-Employment) | Processing Fee KES 20,000 *Issuance Fee KES 500,00 per year |
| Work Permit (Class F-Specific Manufacturing) | Processing Fee KES 20,000 *Issuance Fee KES 250,000 |
| Work Permit (Class G-Specific trade, business or consultancy) | Processing Fee KES 20,000 *Issuance Fee KES 250,00 |
| Work Permit (Class I – Approved Religious and Charitable activities) | Processing Fee KES 5,000 *Issuance Fee KES 50,00 |
| Ordinary Residents | Processing Fee KES 20,000 *Issuance Fee KES 250,00 |
| Appeal Against Rejection | 15,000 |
*The Issuance Fee is payable per year
Conclusion
Kenya’s new immigration fees took effect from March 1, 2024 affecting charges across the various types of visas, permits and passes.
How We can Help
Our law firm offers professional immigration services tailored to your needs. We can help with:
- Visa and Work Permit Applications
- Permanent Residency Applications
- Appeals for Rejected Immigration-related Applications
- Advisory Services
If you are in need of Immigration related legal assistance, Schedule A Consultation with our team, Email Us or fill out the form on our Contact Us page for more personalized assistance.
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