Investor Registration Process in Kenya
Kenya Investment Agency (Keninvest) requires local and foreign investors to register with Keninvest as investors.
The Kenya Investment Authority is tasked with promoting investment in Kenya and is responsible for facilitating the implementation of new investment projects, providing aftercare services for new and existing investments, and organizing investment promotion activities both locally and internationally. Registered investors are issued with an investment certificate.
A foreign investor should provide proof of investing at least $100,000 to obtain an investment certificate, and local investors should invest Ksh. 1,000,000.
Registered investors enjoy three class D entry work permits for technical or management staff. They are also entitled to three class C, F, or G entry permits for owners, shareholders, or partners for a maximum period of two years.
An investor can use these work permits to bring in foreign employees from their home nations who have crucial knowledge for running operations.
The Procedure of Obtaining an Investment Certificate
The procedure of becoming a registered investor
- Fill out the investment application form and submit the required documentation, including a certificate of incorporation and proof of investment.
- Obtain an acknowledgment letter and request an investment certificate
- Inspection of work premises
- Receive investment certificate
Requirements
- Investment application form, Cover letter, Memorandum and articles of association, Certificate of incorporation, Proof of investment, Investment certificate request letter, and Environmental Impact Assessment license.
Cost and duration
- Free and 3½ -7 days
Keninvest facilitates registered investors with foreign taxpayer registration and immigration services such as work permits for foreign employees. Other after-care services that registered investors enjoy include services relating to the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) and Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC).
Kenya only issues alien cards after a foreigner has lived in the country for three continuous months. Since this requirement might affect foreign investors, Keninvest assists foreigners without alien cards to obtain PINs by giving them an endorsement letter to present to the Kenya Revenue Agency. Notably, foreign investors can directly obtain taxpayers’ personal identification numbers (PINs) for individuals or companies from the Kenya Revenue Agency if they have alien cards.
Investor registration as a foreign taxpayer through the Kenya Investment Authority
Procedure
- Apply for the director’s PIN
- Apply for investor registration with Kenya Investment Authority and request PIN facilitation.
- Obtain an endorsement letter
- Obtain the director’s PIN
- Apply for company PIN
- Submit PIN acknowledgment receipt
- Obtain company PIN
Requirements for Investor registration as a foreign taxpayer through the Kenya
- Passport, Filled investment application available form from the Kenya Investment Authority, PIN acknowledgment receipt (non-resident), Cover letter sent to the Director of Immigration, Certificate of compliance, Memorandum and articles of association, Proof of investment, Agent’s current practicing certificate, Letter of authority, Endorsement letter, PIN certificate, Certificate of incorporation, PIN acknowledgment receipt.
Cost
- Free and takes 8-18 days.
Procedure and Requirements for Registering with the Federation of Kenya Employers
Foreign investors have to comply with Kenya’s labour and employment rules. They should also register with the Federation of Kenya Employers.
Procedure
- Apply to be a registered investor with Kenya Investment Authority
- Submit the FKE application and pay
- Obtain a certificate of registration
Requirements
- Filled investment application form, cover letter, Memorandum and articles of association, Certificate of incorporation, Proof of investment, and FKE application form.
Types of Visas and Work Permits in Kenya
Kenya issues several classes of work permits. The relevant investment work permits are class A work permit, class B work permit, class C work permit, class D work permit, class F work permit, class G work permit, and special passes for temporary employees and dependents.
Class A work permits relates to investors interested in prospecting and mining, investors in agriculture are provided with class B work permits, and professionals obtain class C work permits. Employers can sponsor foreign worker through class D work permits. For manufacturing and consultancy work, investors should obtain class F and G work permits, respectively.
A special pass is provided to investors or employees whose stay or employment period does not exceed 3 months. A dependent on the applicant may obtain a dependant’s pass.
Categories | Permit processing fees | Annual permit issuance fee |
Class A work permit | 10,000 | 250,000 |
Class B work permit | 10,000 | 100,000 |
Class C work permit | 10,000 | 100,000 |
Class D work permit | 10,000 | 200,000 |
Class G work permit | 10,000 | 100,000 |
Dependant’s pass | 5,000 |
In addition to permit processing fees and annual permit issuance fees, investors considering residing and investing in Kenya will pay legal fees for immigration and investment support services.
Procedure and Requirements of a Single Entry Visa in Kenya
Procedure
- Register with eCitizen
- Apply and pay for a single entry visa
- Obtain visa approval
- Obtain visa
Requirements
- Passport, Recent coloured passport-size photos, Online visa application form, Travel itinerary, eVisa printout, invitation letter, Hotel reservation.
Cost and Time
USD 51 and 4½ -7 days.
Obtaining security bond
- Submit request for a security bond
- Deposit the bond amount
- Obtain security bond
Requirements
- Request letter and bank deposit slip
Procedure and Requirements of Class A Work Permit
Procedure
- Register with the eFNS portal
- Apply and pay for work permit processing fees (10,000)
- Submit a permit application
- Obtain notification of approval
- Pay permit fees (250,000)
- Obtain payment acknowledgment receipt
- Submit evidence of payment
- Obtain class A work permit
- Permit endorsement
Requirements
- Passport, Bank statement, Passport photo, License to prospect for minerals, Certificate of incorporation, Company PIN, Permit application printout, Payment receipt for work permit processing fee, Permit checklist, Permit invoice, Pin certificate, Security bond, Security bond receipt, Payment acknowledgment receipt, Notice to collect permit, Foreign national registration certificate- alien card.
Cost
- 260,100 and takes 24-38 days.
Procedure and Requirements of Class B Work Permit
Procedure
- Register with eFNS portal
- Apply and pay for work permit processing fees
- Submit permit application
- Obtain notification of approval
- Pay permit fees
- Obtain payment acknowledgement receipt
- Submit evidence of payment
- Obtain a class B work permit
- Permit endorsement
Requirements
- Passport photo, Passport, Clearance from relevant body, Company PIN, PIN certificate, Bank statement, Proof of land ownership, Certificate of incorporation, Permit application printout, Permit cover letter, Permit checklist, Payment receipt for work permit processing fees, Permit invoice, Security bond, Security bond receipt, Payment acknowledgment receipt, Foreign national registration certificate- alien card, Waiting slip.
Cost
- 110,100 and takes 24-38 days.
Procedure and Requirements Class C Work Permit
Procedure
- Register with eFNS portal
- Apply and pay for work permit processing fees
- Submit permit application
- Obtain notification of approval
- Pay permit fees
- Obtain payment acknowledgement receipt
- Submit evidence of payment
- Obtain class C work permit
- Permit endorsement
Requirements
- 3 passport copies, 3 passport photos, Permit application printout, Permit cover letter, Curriculum vitae, Permit checklist, Permit invoice, Pin certificate, Certified academic and professional certificates, Proof of membership to a professional body, Clearance from a relevant professional body, Security bond, Security bond receipt, Payment acknowledgment receipt, Foreign national registration certificate- alien card, Waiting slip.
Cost
- 110,100 and takes 24-38 days.
Procedure and Requirements for Class D Work Permit
Procedure
- Register with the eFNS portal
- Apply and pay for work permit processing fees
- Submit permit application
- Obtain notification of approval
- Pay permit fees
- Obtain payment acknowledgment receipt
- Submit evidence of payment
- Obtain class D work permit
- Permit endorsement
Requirements
- 3 passport copies, 3 passport photos, Company PIN, Permit application printout, Permit cover letter, Curriculum vitae, Permit checklist, Permit invoice, Pin certificate, Certified academic and professional certificates, Proof of membership to a professional body, Clearance from relevant professional body, Report on an employment form, Security bond, Security bond receipt, Payment acknowledgment receipt, Foreign national registration certificate- alien card.
Cost
- 210,100 and takes 24-38 days.
Procedure and Requirements for Class G Work Permit (Investor Permit)
Granted to foreigners who provide proof that they have invested or intend to invest at least $100,000 in Kenya. Proof of investment is shown using bank statements of a local bank account in Kenya.
Procedure
- Register with eFNS portal
- Apply and pay for work permit processing fees
- Submit permit application to the Immigration Department
- Obtain notification of approval
- Pay permit fees
- Obtain payment acknowledgment receipt
- Submit evidence of payment
- Obtain a class D work permit
- Permit endorsement
Requirements
- 3 passport copies, 3 passport photos, Certificate of incorporation, Memorandum of a company with share capital, Bank statement as proof of capital availability, Company PIN, List of shareholders and directors, Bank statement verification form, Proof of the offshore transaction receipt, Permit application printout, Permit application cover letter to the Director of Immigration Services, Permit checklist, Permit invoice, Security bond, Security bond receipt, Payment acknowledgment receipt, Foreign national registration certificate- alien card.
Cost
110,100 and takes 24-38 days
Dependant’s Pass in Kenya
- Provided to dependants of foreign investors residing and investing in Kenya.
- Holders of dependant’s pass are not allowed to work in Kenya.
- Applicants should attach copies of their national passport, filled and signed FORM 28, two current passport-colored photos, proof of relationship between dependant and applicant, proof of income to support applicant and dependant, copy of valid work permit, and application fee of Ksh 5000.
After obtaining work permits, applicants without alien cards should obtain an alien card. Finally, they should visit the Immigration Department to regularise their stay in Kenya by endorsing their permits on their passports.