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Kenya has consistently been ranked among the top 5 investment destinations in Africa. According to the World Bank, Kenya is one of the easiest countries to set up a business in the world. This means that it makes sense for a lot of foreigners to come to Kenya to seek greener pastures and viable investment opportunities. Well, if this is you and you want to find a startup to invest in or have been headhunted to lead a tech company in Kenya or simply want to find love in a far off country, you need two key things; an alien card and a work permit.

What is an alien card and why do you need it?

An alien card, also known as a foreign national certificate is a document that identifies a foreign national in Kenya. It is issued by the Directorate of Immigration Services, and it serves as proof of registration and legal residence for foreigners who want to stay in Kenya for more than 90 days. If you fail to take one out you can be sent to prison for 3 years, a hefty price to pay for some small paperwork.

What does an alien card enable you to do in Kenya?

It enables you to access financial services in the country such as opening a bank or mobile money account, taking your kids to a Kenyan school, touring and traveling the country, and enables you to apply for a work permit. It also allows you to apply for residence status and if the country has impressed you that much, citizenship.

Here are the steps you need to take to get an alien card in Kenya;

1. Create an account with the eFNS portal, Directorate of Immigration Services and then sign in.
2. Fill in the online form 50 after which you will be required to pay a registration fee of 2000 KES (12 USD) then print out the duly filled application form along with the payment acknowledgement receipt, which will be presented alongside other documents and your coloured passports.
3. You will also upload a copy of a valid passport which will be cross-checked against different global databases for proof of identity and to check if you are in a criminal database or if a red notice has been issued against you.
4. You can also renew your alien card for a fee of Ksh.1000 (6 USD).
5. You will need to schedule an appointment with immigration where your documents will be verified and your biometric information (Facial and fingerprints) will be collected.
6. Thereafter, you will receive a waiting slip that you will use to collect the alien card when it’s ready.

In order to get an alien card, you will also need to secure a work permit. A work permit is a legal document that authorizes a foreigner to work or run a business in Kenya. The different permits that you need in Kenya include the following;

Class A permit

This is a mining permit if you are a foreigner interested in mineral extraction in the country and is bound to grow in popularity as Kenya recently discovered huge deposits of Coltan. The application for this permit requires payment of a 10,000 KES (60 USD) processing fee.

Class B permit

This permit is ideal for farmers and those who engage in agriculture-related activities like fertilizer supply in Kenya. You will require proof that you have enough funds to engage in the business you have in mind, clearance from competent bodies and proof of land ownership or leasehold interest. You will also pay an annual permit fee of 100,000 KES (600 USD).

Class D permit

This permit is granted to eligible foreign nationals who receive a job offer from a company or firm in Kenya and whose employment will benefit the nation. Typically, this permit is granted for a maximum of two years but can be renewed.

Class G permit

Foreign nationals or representatives of foreign companies who want to invest or conduct business in Kenya are granted an investor immigration permission, also known as a class G permit. This mostly applies to venture capitalists and tech investors in Kenya.

Class M permit

This permission is given to those who have been granted refugee status in Kenya in line with Kenyan refugee law, as well as to the spouses of those individuals who wish to work or pursue a particular trade, company, or profession.

Class I permit

A Class I Immigration Permit in Kenya is also commonly referred to as a Missionary Permit or a Charitable Permit in Kenya and is issued for foreigners working on charitable and religious projects.

The process for obtaining a permit mirrors, in principle, the process for obtaining an alien card and you can read specifically about how to get an investor permit here. Living and working in Kenya as a foreigner is not a difficult process and if you are enticed by the lush vegetation of uptown Nairobi or the calm waters of Mombasa County, you are only an alien card and work permit away from making Kenya your new home.

In case you need help getting an alien card or work permit, do not hesitate to contact us at info@masibolaw.co.ke