Quick answer
Register an existing overseas company as a Kenya branch
A company incorporated outside Kenya can register a branch through the Business Registration Service (BRS). The branch remains part of the foreign company. After approval, BRS issues a Certificate of Compliance.
| Who it is for | An existing overseas company extending its own operations into Kenya. |
|---|---|
| Official BRS fee | KES 7,550. Professional support and other setup expenses are separate. |
| Core requirements | Certified parent-company documents, director particulars, a Kenya office and a Kenya-resident local representative. |
| Application | Online through BRS/eCitizen. |
| Published processing time | 3–5 days on the BRS fee schedule; document preparation and Registry queries can extend completion. |
The fee and processing period are published in the BRS Companies Registry fee schedule, checked on 27 September 2026. Confirm the application invoice before payment.
For a new Kenyan company owned by foreign investors, see foreign investor business setup in Kenya and our private limited company registration guide.
Request a branch-registration quotation
Send your name, email or WhatsApp number, the parent company's name and country of incorporation, and the intended Kenya activity. Let us know whether you already have a local representative and office address.
Foreign Company Branch Registration Requirements in Kenya
A branch is relevant where an existing overseas company will carry on business in Kenya under its own corporate identity. It creates a registered Kenya presence without incorporating a separate Kenyan subsidiary. The foreign parent remains responsible for the branch's activities and liabilities.
Documents and Kenya particulars
Foreign parent company
- Certified current certificate of incorporation or registration, or equivalent document.
- Certified constitution, charter or equivalent constitutive documents.
- Company registration number, date and country of incorporation.
- Registered or principal office address in the country of origin.
- Particulars of the company's directors.
Kenya branch and local representative
- Kenya registered-office address and proposed places of business.
- Intended business activity.
- At least one local representative resident in Kenya, with identification, residential address and contact details.
- The representative's acceptance or appointment documents.
- Office-opening particulars and alternative-name information where applicable.
Confirm the supporting documents for the particular application before arranging overseas certification. Prepare acceptable English translations where required, and keep the foreign parent's ownership and control information available for filing checks and bank or other KYC enquiries.
Document readiness check
| Check | Prevent avoidable Registry queries |
|---|---|
| Names and company number | Reconcile the certificate, constitution, director records and application. |
| Certification and translation | Use complete, legible records with the certification and English translation required for the filing. |
| Local representative | Confirm appointment or acceptance, identification and a complete Kenya residential/contact address. |
| Kenya office | Use consistent registered-office and place-of-business particulars throughout the file. |
Technical filing notes: FC forms and ownership information
FC forms: the BRS Forms Library identifies FC1 as the registration application, FC2 as an alternative-name statement, FC4 as registered-office opening hours and FC6 as closure of a place of business. The fee schedule also contains an inconsistent FC2/FC4/FC6 registration checklist. Check the relevant prescribed forms against the current BRS/eCitizen application; do not use FC6 as a general registration requirement.
Ownership and control: prepare the foreign parent's ownership chain and supporting records. Banks and other onboarding bodies may request this information independently of the branch-registration uploads.
Confirm the applicable statutory disclosure duties and current BRS filing requirements for the branch. Omission from a public checklist does not establish an exemption, and portal prompts do not replace legal obligations. Submit personal ownership information through the appropriate official or secure channel.
Foreign Company Branch Registration Cost in Kenya
The BRS fee schedule lists KES 7,550 for foreign-company registration. This is the Registry charge, rather than the complete cost of establishing and operating the branch.
| Cost item | How it is charged |
|---|---|
| BRS registration | KES 7,550 on the published schedule; confirm the generated invoice before payment. |
| Professional registration support | Quoted separately according to the document set and agreed services. |
| Certification and translation | Depend on the documents, language and country of origin. |
| Local representative or office support | Separately scoped if assistance is required. |
| Tax, banking, licences and immigration | Separate post-registration work where applicable. |
Professional registration support
Biz Brokers Kenya helps overseas companies prepare and coordinate their branch application. The written quotation identifies the services included, government charges, third-party expenses and any applicable VAT.
Structure and document review
Review the proposed branch route and identify document, certification, name or address issues before filing.
Application preparation
Prepare the company and Kenya branch particulars and coordinate the BRS/eCitizen submission.
Representative and office particulars
Coordinate the appointed representative's details and the branch's Kenya office information.
Queries and certificate handover
Follow up Registry queries and hand over the Certificate of Compliance and available filing records after approval.
For an accurate quote, state the number of directors, whether certified documents are ready, and whether local representative, office or post-registration support is needed.
For the separate Kenyan incorporation route, see company registration costs in Kenya.
How to Register a Foreign Company Branch in Kenya
- Confirm the structure. Decide whether the overseas company should operate through a branch or a separate Kenyan subsidiary before commissioning certified documents.
- Prepare the parent-company records. Reconcile the registration certificate, constitution, director particulars and any required translations.
- Appoint the local representative and confirm the office. Prepare the Kenya representative, registered-office and place-of-business particulars.
- Complete the BRS/eCitizen application. Enter the company information and submit the prescribed forms and supporting records required for the application.
- Pay the application invoice. Check the official charge and retain the payment record.
- Resolve Registry queries. Supply corrections or clarifications if the Registrar requests them.
- Obtain the Certificate of Compliance. Retain the certificate and filing records for the branch's subsequent tax, banking and licensing applications.
Timeline and common delays
BRS publishes a 3–5 day processing period for foreign-company registration. This is a Registry estimate, not a guaranteed end-to-end delivery period.
Allow additional preparation time for overseas certification, translation, replacement documents and internal approvals. Inconsistent names, incomplete representative details, unclear addresses, alternative-name issues and unanswered Registry queries can delay completion.
Foreign Company Branch vs Kenyan Subsidiary
Choose the structure according to the intended operation, parent-company exposure and tax or reporting requirements.
| Issue | Foreign company branch | Kenyan subsidiary |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | The existing overseas company registered in Kenya. | A separate company incorporated in Kenya. |
| Registration document | Certificate of Compliance. | Certificate of Incorporation. |
| Shares and liability | No separate Kenyan shareholding structure is created; the branch forms part of the parent. | The Kenyan company has its own shares and liabilities, subject to applicable corporate-law exceptions. |
| Kenya presence | A local representative and Kenya registered office. | A registered office and the locally incorporated company's officers. |
| Documents | Certified foreign parent records and Kenya branch particulars. | Kenyan incorporation documents and shareholder/director particulars. |
Tax treatment, banking, reporting and sector-specific ownership or licensing rules require separate consideration. Registration cost alone should not determine the structure.
For the subsidiary route, see foreign investor business setup in Kenya and the private company registration requirements.
What Happens After a Foreign Company Branch Is Registered?
The Certificate of Compliance completes the branch-registration process. Plan the additional steps needed before operations begin:
- KRA registration and applicable tax obligations.
- Corporate bank account onboarding and bank KYC.
- County business permits and sector-specific licences where applicable.
- Employer registrations and payroll compliance if staff will be hired.
- Appropriate immigration permissions for foreign personnel working or residing in Kenya.
Registry filings and changes
Maintain the branch's registered particulars, including changes to its constitution, directors, local representative, Kenya offices and business status. Part XXXVII of the Companies Act also addresses financial-statement and document lodgements under section 987 and prescribed returns under section 989.
Confirm the applicable filing content and deadlines for the branch and maintain a compliance calendar alongside tax, licensing and employment obligations.
See our business permits in Kenya and Kenya immigration and work permit services for related support.
FAQs on Foreign Company Branch Registration in Kenya
How much does foreign company branch registration cost in Kenya?
BRS lists KES 7,550 for registration. Professional support, certification, translation, local representative or office support, and post-registration work are separate where applicable. Request a written quotation showing the complete agreed scope.
What documents are needed to register a Kenya branch?
Prepare certified parent-company registration and constitutional documents, director particulars, Kenya office details and local representative information. Confirm any additional records, translations or certification required for the particular application.
Does a branch need a local representative resident in Kenya?
Yes. Prepare the Kenya-resident local representative’s identification, residential and contact details, together with the required acceptance or appointment documents before submission.
How long does foreign company branch registration take?
The BRS fee schedule lists 3–5 days. Allow extra time for overseas document preparation and any Registry queries; this published period is not a guaranteed total completion time.
Is a Kenya branch the same as a Kenyan subsidiary?
No. The branch is part of the existing overseas company and receives a Certificate of Compliance. A subsidiary is a separately incorporated Kenyan company and receives a Certificate of Incorporation.
Which FC form is the foreign-company registration application?
The BRS Forms Library identifies FC1 as the application. Public checklists contain inconsistent form labels, so check the prescribed forms against the current BRS/eCitizen application. The technical filing note above explains the distinction.
Should the foreign parent prepare beneficial ownership information?
Yes. Keep its ownership and control records ready. Confirm the statutory disclosure duties and filing requirements applicable to the branch, as well as separate bank or other KYC requirements; a public checklist’s silence does not establish an exemption.
What follows receipt of the Certificate of Compliance?
Complete the tax, banking, licensing, employment and immigration steps applicable to the operation. Maintain the branch’s Registry particulars and calendar the financial-statement, return and other filing duties that apply.
Professional review
Reviewed by Edward Omondi
Edward Omondi is a Nairobi-based business registration, immigration and regulatory compliance consultant. Biz Brokers Kenya's branch-registration support covers document review, filing coordination, Registry query follow-up and certificate handover.
Page updated: 27 September 2026. Legal source review: 25 September 2026. BRS fee and form listings were rechecked on 27 September 2026. Confirm the applicable legal requirements and current application details before filing.
Official sources
- BRS Companies Registry fee schedule — fee, published processing period and registration output.
- BRS Forms Library — prescribed foreign-company forms.
- Companies Act, Part XXXVII — Kenya Law.
- Registrar of Companies (Forms) Rules — Kenya Law.
- KenInvest eProcedures — foreign-company branch registration.
- KRA foreign investor PIN guidance.
- Companies (Beneficial Ownership Information) Regulations — Kenya Law, version dated 19 October 2023.
Start your Kenya branch-registration enquiry
Send your name, contact details, the parent company's name and incorporation country, intended Kenya activity and preferred start date. Tell us whether the corporate documents, Kenya office and local representative are already available.
We will review the scope and provide a written quotation. We will confirm the supporting documents required after the initial enquiry.
Request Branch Support Chat on WhatsApp
Call +254 757 884 710 | Email info@bizbrokerskenya.com
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