Issue · October 2026 · everything a nomad needs, city by city

Nomadzine

The visa · Kenya

Kenya

Kenya introduced a dedicated Class N Digital Nomad permit in 2025, alongside the older Class K ordinary-resident permit for people over 35 with assured foreign income. Most remote workers still arrive on the electronic travel authorisation, which the government has said in September 2026 does not authorise any work. The Class N income floor is quoted as USD 24,000 a year by practitioners but is not shown on the official page, so applicants should expect discretion on that point.

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The routes

Researched 9 September 2026 · rules as of September 2026 · as published, not legal advice

  1. Nomad visa

    Class N Digital Nomad permit

    Permit Class N: Digital Nomads (KEP/N)

    Employees, contractors and business owners whose employer or clients are entirely outside Kenya and who want a lawful base for one to two years.

    Income floor
    Practitioner guides and the EY alert-derived summaries quote an assured annual income of USD 24,000 from outside Kenya; the official infopack page opened does not state a figure and one practitioner notes assessment now stresses consistent foreign income shown by three months of statements rather than a fixed threshold. Treat the figure as disputed.
    Duration
    Issued for one or two years; renewable on application, renewal not automatic.
    Cost
    Reported by practitioner guides as USD 200 non-refundable processing fee plus USD 1,000 issuance fee per year of validity; these figures were not confirmed on the official page opened.
    Processing
    Reported at four to eight weeks for complete applications, up to three months in practice; after approval the fee must be paid within 30 days and the permit is issued within five to ten working days. No statutory timeline published for this class.
    Eligibility
    Verifiable work for a company registered outside Kenya, or foreign clients; income from outside Kenya only; police clearance from country of habitual residence; proof of accommodation in Kenya; a letter of no objection from the applicant's embassy. Some third-party guides state a minimum age of 35, which was not confirmed on the official page opened.
    Work rights
    Remote work for foreign employers or clients only; employment, business or any income-generating activity for Kenyan entities or clients is prohibited and breach can lead to cancellation and removal.
    Dependants
    Law-firm guides report that a spouse and children apply for dependant passes linked to the Class N permit; the official page opened does not set out dependant terms.
    Leads to
    Not stated. Permanent residence for lawful residents requires seven years on work permits plus three continuous years of residence; whether Class N years count is not published.
    Apply
    Online through the eFNS Foreign Nationals Services portal after creating a Government of Kenya single sign-on; passport endorsement may require a visit to Nyayo House, Nairobi.

    Documents Form 25 completed and signed on eFNS · Passport biodata page and current immigration status if in Kenya · Passport photographs · Applicant cover letter to the Director General of Immigration Services · Employer or company letter, or contracts, proving foreign employment or clients · Bank statements or payslips for the last three months · Proof of accommodation in Kenya · Police clearance certificate · Embassy letter of no objection

    Official page →

  2. Long stay

    Class K Ordinary Residents permit

    Permit Class K: Ordinary residents (KEP/K)

    People aged 35 or over living on pensions, annuities or other assured income from outside Kenya who do not intend to work at all.

    Income floor
    Assured annual income of not less than USD 24,000 from a pension, annuity or sources outside Kenya, as published on the Directorate of Immigration Services page.
    Duration
    Practitioner guides report one to three years per issue, renewable; the official page does not state validity.
    Cost
    KES 20,000 non-refundable processing fee and KES 250,000 issuance fee per year, as published; East African Community citizens pay nothing. Practitioner guides also cite a KES 100,000 security bond, which the official page does not mention.
    Processing
    No official timeline published; practitioners report several weeks to three months.
    Eligibility
    Minimum age 35; assured income at the applicant's free disposal; undertaking not to take employment, business or professional activity in Kenya; good conduct.
    Work rights
    None. The holder undertakes not to engage in employment, business or a profession in Kenya; remote work for foreign clients is not addressed in the published text.
    Dependants
    Not stated on the official page; dependant passes exist for permit holders generally.
    Leads to
    Not stated; permanent residence rules refer to work permit holders, and Class K is not an employment permit.
    Apply
    Online through the eFNS portal.

    Documents Form 25 completed and signed · Cover letter to the Director General of Immigration Services · Recent colour passport photograph · Passport biodata page copies · Current immigration status if already in Kenya · Proof of assured annual income from external sources or pension or annuity arrangements

    Official page →

  3. Temporary stay

    Electronic Travel Authorisation (visitor stay)

    Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA)

    Short stays for nationals who are not exempt; the route most remote workers actually use, even though it grants no work rights.

    Income floor
    none
    Duration
    Single entry; must be used within 90 days of issue; stays of up to 90 days reported for most nationalities, six months for East African Community citizens. Extensions are not addressed on the pages opened.
    Cost
    USD 30 plus bank charges, as reported for 2026.
    Processing
    About three working days; applying one to two weeks before travel is advised.
    Eligibility
    All travellers except exempt categories: East African Community citizens, most other African nationals, selected Caribbean and Commonwealth nationals, and holders of valid Kenyan work permits or permanent residence. Somalia and Libya are excluded from the African exemption.
    Work rights
    None. The Ministry of Investments stated on 6 to 7 September 2026 that visa-free entry or an eTA only allows entry and does not authorise work, employment, paid consulting or trade.
    Dependants
    Each traveller applies separately.
    Leads to
    no
    Apply
    Online portal only; third-party sites charge extra.

    Documents Passport valid for the stay · Photograph · Accommodation and onward travel details · Payment card

    Official page →

  4. Freelance / self-employed

    Class G business or consultancy permit

    Permit Class G: Specific trade, business, consultancy or profession (KEP/G)

    Freelancers or founders who want to serve Kenyan clients or run a Kenyan business, which Class N and Class K both forbid.

    Income floor
    Not published as an income floor; the class is for a person who intends to engage, alone or in partnership, in a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession. Capital and fee figures were not verified in this pass.
    Duration
    Not verified in this pass.
    Cost
    Not verified in this pass.
    Processing
    Not verified in this pass.
    Eligibility
    Intention to engage in a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession in Kenya; the usual Form 25 process applies.
    Work rights
    Local business and local clients within the approved activity; this is the published route for earning from Kenyan sources.
    Dependants
    Dependant passes available to permit holders generally.
    Leads to
    Seven years on work permits plus three continuous years of residence qualifies a lawful resident to apply for permanent residence.
    Apply
    Online through the eFNS portal.

    Documents Form 25 · Passport copies and photographs · Evidence of the business or consultancy to be carried on

    Official page →

  5. Residence

    Permanent residence for lawful residents (Category B)

    Permanent Residence – Lawful Residents (Category B)

    Long-term permit holders who have already spent seven years on Kenyan work permits.

    Income floor
    none published; applicants must show they can make a tangible contribution to socio-economic development.
    Duration
    Permanent.
    Cost
    KES 50,000 non-refundable processing fee; KES 750,000 issuance fee on approval.
    Processing
    Not published; an in-person interview is required.
    Eligibility
    Work permits held for at least seven years and continuous residence in Kenya for the three years before applying.
    Work rights
    Full residence rights.
    Dependants
    Not verified in this pass.
    Leads to
    Citizenship by registration is a separate route after seven years of lawful residence, with a KES 20,000 processing fee and KES 1,000,000 issuance fee reported.
    Apply
    Online through the eFNS portal, then interview in Kenya.

    Documents Online application on eFNS · Evidence of seven years of work permits · Evidence of three years' continuous residence · Passport copies

    Official page →

Without a visa, by passport

The stay you get on arrival, and whether working remotely on it is tolerated

  • EU / EEA / SwitzerlandeTA required, USD 30, single entry, stays reported up to 90 daysGovernment stated on 6 to 7 September 2026 that an eTA allows entry only; work, paid consulting or trade needs a permit. Remote work for foreign employers is not separately addressed in the published text and is widely practised but unauthorised.
  • United KingdomeTA required, USD 30, single entry, stays reported up to 90 daysSame position: entry only, no work authorised as published; remote work for abroad is a grey area in practice.
  • United StateseTA required, USD 30, single entry, stays reported up to 90 daysEntry only as published; remote work for a foreign employer is not expressly permitted.
  • CanadaeTA required, USD 30, single entry, stays reported up to 90 daysEntry only as published; remote work for a foreign employer is not expressly permitted.
  • AustraliaeTA required, USD 30, single entry, stays reported up to 90 daysEntry only as published; remote work for a foreign employer is not expressly permitted.
  • IndiaeTA required, USD 30, single entry, stays reported up to 90 daysEntry only as published; remote work for a foreign employer is not expressly permitted.
  • BrazileTA required, USD 30, single entry, stays reported up to 90 daysEntry only as published; remote work for a foreign employer is not expressly permitted.
  • South AfricaeTA-exempt as an African national, stay up to two monthsThe African exemption was decided by Cabinet on 21 January 2025; the September 2026 ministry statement says visa-free entry does not authorise work or trade.
  • East African Community (Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, DRC)eTA-exempt, stay up to six months under EAC free movementWork permits are free of charge for EAC citizens under Class R; visitor stay itself does not confer work rights.
  • JapaneTA required, USD 30, single entry, stays reported up to 90 daysEntry only as published; remote work for a foreign employer is not expressly permitted.
  • Somalia and LibyaExcluded from the African exemption; eTA or visa still requiredExcluded on security grounds under the January 2025 decision.

Tax

When the country starts counting you as its taxpayer

Residency trigger
Under the Income Tax Act an individual is resident for a year of income if they have a permanent home in Kenya and were present for any period in that year, or, without a permanent home, were present for 183 days or more in the year, or were present in that year and in each of the two preceding years for periods averaging more than 122 days a year. Since 1 July 2022 'permanent home' includes any residence available to the person or the place where personal and economic interests are closest, in the Commissioner's opinion.
Special regime
none. There is no special regime for remote workers. Residents pay progressive rates from 10 percent on the first KES 288,000 to 35 percent above KES 9,600,000 a year, with personal relief of KES 28,800 a year; non-residents get no personal relief. Residents are taxed on worldwide employment and business income, including remote and online work, so a Class N holder who crosses the residency tests is taxable in Kenya on foreign earnings unless a treaty says otherwise. Returns are filed on iTax between 1 January and 30 June for the previous year.
Social security
A Class N or Class K holder has no Kenyan employer, so employer-side NSSF contributions do not arise. Whether Social Health Insurance registration is required of non-citizen permit holders was not verified in this pass.
Treaties
Kenya has double-taxation agreements with, among others, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates, as reported by a secondary source. For a remote employee or contractor who becomes dual resident, the treaty tie-breaker decides which state taxes worldwide income; without a treaty, Kenyan residence brings foreign income into charge with only domestic relief.

Practicalities

Bank account
Banks ask for an original passport, a residency document such as a work permit, dependant pass or special pass, proof of address, photographs and an opening deposit of KES 1,000 to 5,000. Equity and KCB open accounts the same day; visitors on an eTA generally cannot open one and rely on M-Pesa.
SIM registration and M-Pesa
SIM registration is mandatory under the Kenya Information and Communications (Registration of SIM-cards) Regulations; foreigners register with an original passport, or an alien's registration certificate if they cannot produce a passport. A Safaricom SIM plus passport is enough to open M-Pesa without a Kenyan ID or work permit.
Health insurance
A mandatory USD 50,000 travel health insurance requirement for visitors was suspended by an interim High Court order reported on 29 August 2026, pending a hearing on 16 September 2026. Nomads use private cover; public healthcare is not relied on.
Tax number (KRA PIN)
A KRA PIN obtained on iTax is needed for bank accounts, leases, and filing; practitioners advise permit holders to obtain one even where no Kenyan tax is initially due. Non-citizen traders have been given until 8 December 2026 to regularise status before enforcement.
Address registration
No separate residence registration was found; proof of accommodation in Kenya is a document required with the Class N application itself.
Overstay penalties
From January 2025 a gazetted sanction fee of USD 50 applies to overstays, with the notice unclear on whether it is per day or per overstay; the Foreign Nationals Service has separately announced USD 601 for overstays beyond six months. One nomad guide quotes KES 500 a day rising to KES 15,000 a month, which conflicts with the gazette figures. Detention, removal and re-entry bans are possible.
Where applications are handled
All permits go through the eFNS portal; endorsement and interviews take place at Nyayo House, Nairobi.

Kenya: a Class N remote-work permit on paper, an eTA in practice

Where remote workers base and why

Nairobi holds most of the remote-work population. Westlands and Kilimani have the coworking density and the nightlife, Karen and Lavington the quieter family housing, and Gigiri the diplomatic quarter with the most reliable infrastructure. One-bedroom flats start around USD 400 a month and a dedicated coworking desk around USD 310, with fibre at roughly USD 40 a month.

The coast is the second cluster. Diani Beach has the work-from-the-beach reputation and rentals from USD 300 a month, Kilifi a smaller creative scene, and Mombasa runs about a quarter cheaper than Nairobi. Mobile data averages above 45 Mbps and often outperforms fixed lines outside the capital, so most people run on a Safaricom SIM as their primary or backup connection.

What applicants report about the process

The Class N permit is applied for on the eFNS portal with Form 25, a cover letter, the employer's letter, three months of statements, accommodation proof, a police certificate and an embassy letter of no objection. Practitioners report approval in four to eight weeks for clean files and up to three months when queries are raised, then a 30-day window to pay the issuance fee and five to ten working days for the permit to be issued.

The income test is the point of dispute. Law firms and the summaries derived from the EY alert cite USD 24,000 a year, mirroring the Class K figure, while one practitioner reports the Directorate now assesses consistent foreign income from the statements rather than a fixed floor. The official infopack page describes the class but shows no figure. The embassy letter of no objection is the document applicants most often struggle to obtain, since several consulates do not issue one as a matter of course.

Banking, money and daily admin

M-Pesa is the everyday rail and is open to visitors with a passport and a Safaricom SIM. A conventional bank account needs a permit or pass, so most people on an eTA never open one and use M-Pesa topped up from a foreign card or through agents.

A KRA PIN unlocks leases, bank accounts and utilities, and annual returns fall due by 30 June even when no Kenyan tax is owed. Anyone who crosses 183 days in a year, or averages more than 122 days over three years, becomes resident and taxable on worldwide income at rates up to 35 percent, which is the number that decides whether Kenya works as a full-year base.

What is changing

Enforcement is the trend. The January 2025 overstay sanctions, the January 2025 eTA exemption for African nationals, and the September 2026 statement that visa-free entry does not authorise work all point the same way: the state wants remote workers on Class N rather than rolling eTAs. The mandatory visitor insurance mandate is in front of the High Court, with an interim suspension reported and a hearing listed for mid-September 2026, so that requirement may return.

Researched from fns.immigration.go.ke · fns.immigration.go.ke · immigration.go.ke · immigration.go.ke · etakenya.go.ke · kra.go.ke · taxsummaries.pwc.com · ey.com · clydeco.com · afriwise.com · the authority