Moving To Kenya 2026, Permits, Fees and Your First 90 Days

Moving to Kenya in 2026 means two separate steps, entry approval first, then the permit or pass that matches what you will actually do.

Moving to Kenya in 2026 starts with one rule that decides everything else. Kenya’s Electronic Travel Authorisation gets you through the airport, but it never grants the right to work.

Kenya runs entry through an Electronic Travel Authorisation, applied for online at etakenya.go.ke before you fly. The portal is operated by the Directorate of Immigration Services.

The standard eTA costs US$30 and allows entry into Kenya once. A transit authorisation costs US$20, and a one-year multiple-entry eTA costs US$300.

American nationals can also buy a five-year multiple-entry eTA for US$185. Expedited processing is available for an extra US$100 and is handled immediately.

Normal applications are processed in about three working days. The official portal still advises applying at least two weeks before travel.

You need a passport valid for at least six months with one blank page. You also need a photo, an itinerary, an accommodation booking and a payment card.

The fee is not refundable, even if the application is refused. An eTA is permission to travel, and admissibility is still decided at the border.

Many travellers need no eTA at all, under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Amendment Rules of 2025. Citizens of the East African Community partner states may stay up to 180 days.

A further list of countries is exempt for up to 90 days, and 28 African countries for up to 60 days. Holders of Kenyan permanent residence, work permits and passes are exempt too.

None of that includes the right to work. The government repeated the point in September 2026, giving foreign business operators 90 days to regularise their papers.

A Kenyan work permit is a class, not a generic document. Anyone moving to Kenya should pick the class by the activity, not by what looks easiest.

Class D covers a foreign national offered specific employment by a specific employer. Processing costs KSh 20,000 (about US$155) and issuance costs KSh 500,000 (about US$3,860) a year.

The employer must show tax compliance certificates and evidence that local recruitment failed. A Kenyan understudy and certified qualifications form part of the same file.

Class G is the trade, business or consultancy route for people putting capital into a Kenyan company. It requires documentary proof of capital of at least US$100,000.

Class G processing is KSh 20,000 (about US$155), and issuance is KSh 250,000 (about US$1,930) a year. Renewals also need two years of signed audited accounts.

Class K is the ordinary residence route for people living on income earned outside Kenya. Applicants must be at least 35 and show assured annual income of US$24,000.

Class K fees match Class G, at KSh 20,000 (about US$155) to process and KSh 250,000 (about US$1,930) a year to issue. Citizens of East African Community states pay nothing for any of these classes.

Other classes cover mining, agriculture, prescribed professions, manufacturing, religious work and refugees. All applications go through the immigration service’s foreign nationals portal.

Family members travel on a dependant’s pass, filed on Form 28 by the permit holder. It costs KSh 10,000 (about US$77) for the family of a work permit or permanent residence holder.

Dependants of a Kenyan citizen pay KSh 20,000 (about US$155). East African Community nationals pay nothing, and the main permit must have at least six months left to run.

A special pass covers a foreigner conducting business, trade or a profession temporarily. It runs for no more than six months and costs US$200 a month on approval.

It is the lawful bridge while a permit is pending, and East African Community nationals pay nothing. It is not a cheaper substitute, because six months is a hard ceiling.

The visitor’s pass issued at the airport can be extended to a maximum of six months. The extension application and processing fee is US$50.

Order matters more than speed. Decide your purpose, then enter, then file the matching class with evidence that fits it.

Permanent residence is a separate track under sections 37 to 39 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act of 2011. It is not a realistic first-year option for most arrivals.

Westlands sits closest to offices, malls and services, and is usually among the pricier inner areas. Kilimani suits professionals and younger families, with apartments and more walkability.

Lavington is quieter and more residential, with larger homes and a family pattern. Karen and Runda offer space and low density, at the cost of a longer commute.

These are market descriptions, not official classifications, and no government body ranks Nairobi neighbourhoods. Traffic usually decides the question in the end.

Mombasa is the main coastal alternative, with a different job market and a hotter climate. Diani, south of Mombasa, is chosen more for lifestyle than for work.

Coastal living can lower rent pressure compared with prime Nairobi. The trade-off is thinner access to specialist services, schools and employers.

The Kenyan shilling is market-determined, with no peg, and trades near 129.5 shillings to the dollar. All conversions here use 23 September 2026 exchange rates.

Landlords and agents commonly ask for a deposit of one to two months’ rent. That is market custom rather than a statutory rule, so it varies with the property and the lease.

Before signing, check whether service charge, water, backup power, parking and internet are included. Those extras change the real monthly cost more than the headline rent does.

Rent is usually paid by bank transfer or mobile money once you are settled. M-Pesa remains central to daily payments, so a local account plus mobile money is the practical pairing.

Moving to Kenya is easier on the nerves if you build the budget in shillings and convert only to compare. Setup costs usually exceed the first estimate, so keep a contingency line.

The Social Health Authority runs Kenya’s public health scheme under the Social Health Insurance Act of 2023. All residents, including non-citizens, may register for it.

Contributions are 2.75 percent of gross monthly income, with a minimum of KSh 300 (about US$2.30) a month. Non-citizens register using a foreign resident certificate, also called an alien identity card.

Most foreign residents still carry private insurance, because access and billing vary sharply by facility. Cover should be in place before or immediately after arrival.

That matters most with children, chronic conditions or maternity care. Evacuation cover is worth checking if you will live outside the main urban centres.