Quick Answers

Foreign Company Registration in Kenya: Quick Answers

A company incorporated outside Kenya can register to operate in Kenya as a foreign company branch through the Business Registration Service (BRS). The foreign company remains the underlying legal entity; after approval, the Registry issues a Certificate of Compliance.

Who it is for A company already incorporated outside Kenya that will carry on business in Kenya through a registered branch.
Official BRS fee KES 7,550 according to the current BRS Companies Registry fee schedule. The live BRS/eCitizen invoice controls at filing.
Core requirements Certified foreign company registration documents, director particulars, a Kenya registered office/place of business and a local representative resident in Kenya.
Core documents Certified current certificate of incorporation/registration, certified constitution, director details, Kenya office details and local representative particulars/acceptance documentation as required by the live workflow.
Application route Online through BRS/eCitizen using the current foreign-company registration workflow.
Registry processing time 3–5 days is the period currently listed by BRS for a complete foreign-company registration.
Key outcome Certificate of Compliance for the registered foreign company branch.

This page is specifically about registering an existing overseas company as a branch. A foreign investor incorporating a new Kenyan company should instead use the foreign-owned Kenyan company guide or the private limited company registration guide.

Who Must Register a Foreign Company in Kenya?

Under the Companies Act, a foreign company is a company incorporated outside Kenya. Section 974 provides that a foreign company may not carry on business in Kenya unless it is registered under the foreign-company provisions of the Act, subject to the statutory application position in that section.

A branch is usually relevant where

  • The parent company already exists outside Kenya.
  • The overseas company wants to operate in Kenya under the same underlying corporate identity.
  • The foreign parent will remain responsible for the Kenya branch's activities and liabilities.
  • The business needs a formal Kenya presence rather than a newly incorporated subsidiary.

A branch is not the same as

  • A Kenyan private limited company owned by foreigners.
  • A Kenyan subsidiary incorporated as a separate legal entity.
  • A business name or sole proprietorship.
  • An immigration or investor permit for foreign personnel.
Legal identity: registration of a branch does not incorporate the foreign parent again in Kenya. Kenyan courts have described a branch as the foreign company, incorporated outside Kenya but registered in Kenya. The registration evidence is a Certificate of Compliance rather than a Kenyan Certificate of Incorporation.

Foreign Company Registration Requirements and Documents

Section 975 of the Companies Act and the prescribed foreign-company form require the application to identify the foreign company, its directors, its Kenya presence and its local representative, together with certified corporate documents.

Foreign parent company documents

  • Certified current certificate of incorporation or registration from the country of origin, or an equivalent document.
  • Certified copy of the foreign company's constitution.
  • Registered office or principal office details in the country of incorporation.
  • Particulars of the foreign company's directors.
  • Foreign company registration number and date/place of incorporation.

Kenya branch information

  • Address of each place at which the company proposes to carry on business in Kenya.
  • Proposed registered office in Kenya for official communications and notices.
  • Business activity to be carried on in Kenya.
  • Registered-office opening information where required by the live filing.
  • Alternative-name information if the foreign company cannot use its original name in Kenya.

Local representative

  • At least one local representative as required by the Companies Act.
  • Full name and residential/contact details.
  • Nationality and identification particulars.
  • Telephone number and email address.
  • Acceptance or appointment documentation requested by BRS.

Practical pre-filing checks

  • All corporate names and registration numbers match across the documents.
  • Certification is current, clear and acceptable for filing.
  • Kenya addresses are complete and consistent.
  • Director and local representative details are internally consistent.
  • The live eCitizen upload prompts are checked before final submission.
Important BRS form-number note — checked 19 August 2026: BRS public sources currently conflict. The BRS fee schedule lists FC2, FC4 and FC6 in the foreign-company registration row. However, the current BRS Forms Library and the Registrar of Companies (Forms) Rules identify FC1 as the section 975 application for registration, FC2 as an alternative-name statement, FC4 as notice of registered-office opening hours and FC6 as notice of closure of a place of business. For an actual filing, follow the forms and labels generated or requested by the live BRS/eCitizen workflow.

For the official statutory materials, see the BRS Forms Library and the Registrar of Companies (Forms) Rules.

Foreign Company Registration fee in Kenya.

The current BRS Companies Registry fee schedule lists KES 7,550 for registration of a foreign company. This is the official Registry filing figure shown by BRS; the live eCitizen/BRS invoice at the time of submission remains controlling.

Fee item Position
BRS foreign company registration KES 7,550 on the current BRS fee schedule.
Certification / notarisation Separate and dependent on the country of origin and documents involved.
Translation Separate where an acceptable English-language version is required.
Professional registration support Separate from the government fee and quoted according to scope.
Post-registration tax, licensing or immigration work Separate processes and not included in the BRS branch registration fee.

Do not confuse this branch-registration fee with the cost of incorporating a Kenyan private limited company. For that separate intent, use the private company registration cost guide.

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Send us the foreign parent company's country of incorporation, intended Kenya activity, number of directors, and whether you already have a Kenya local representative and registered-office address. We can confirm the branch filing scope and quote the professional support separately from the government fee.

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How to Register a Foreign Company Branch in Kenya

Foreign company registration is completed online through BRS/eCitizen. The most important preparation step is ensuring that the foreign parent documents, local representative details and Kenya address information are consistent before submission.

  1. Confirm that a branch is the correct market-entry structure. Decide whether the foreign parent should register directly in Kenya or whether a separate Kenyan subsidiary is more appropriate.
  2. Prepare the certified parent-company documents. Compile the current registration certificate, constitution and director information required by section 975 and the live application.
  3. Appoint the local representative and confirm the Kenya registered office. Prepare the representative's particulars and the Kenya place-of-business/registered-office information.
  4. Start the foreign-company application on BRS/eCitizen. Enter the company, director, representative and Kenya office details using the current portal workflow.
  5. Complete and upload the current BRS documents. Use the forms and upload labels presented by the live system; do not rely solely on older public form-number descriptions.
  6. Pay the BRS invoice. Pay the government charge generated for the application.
  7. Respond to Registry queries if raised. Correct any issue concerning certification, company name, foreign registration particulars, office address or representative information.
  8. Obtain the Certificate of Compliance. After approval, retain the certificate and filing records for tax registration, banking, licensing and other operational onboarding.

KenInvest's eProcedures portal also describes branch registration as an online eCitizen process resulting in a Certificate of Compliance.

Talk to Us Before Filing

If you are deciding between a branch and a Kenyan subsidiary, send the parent-company profile and the intended Kenya activity before documents are notarised. Choosing the structure first can avoid unnecessary certification and duplicate filings.

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How Long Does Foreign Company Registration Take in Kenya?

BRS currently lists 3–5 days for foreign company registration. That is the Registry processing period stated on the BRS fee schedule for a complete accepted filing; it should not be read as a guarantee for document preparation outside Kenya.

Practical planning: allow additional time before submission where the parent documents still need certification, notarisation, internal board approval, replacement copies, or clarification. Registry queries also extend the end-to-end completion period.

Common causes of delay

  • Foreign company names or registration numbers that do not match across documents.
  • Outdated, unclear or improperly certified parent-company records.
  • Incomplete local representative particulars.
  • Incomplete Kenya registered-office or place-of-business details.
  • Using an obsolete form description instead of the current BRS/eCitizen workflow.
  • Alternative-name issues where the overseas company name cannot be registered for use in Kenya.
  • Failure to respond promptly to a Registry correction request.

Foreign Company Branch vs Kenyan Subsidiary

The phrase company registration in Kenya for foreigners can refer to two different structures. A foreign company branch is an existing overseas company registered in Kenya; a foreign-owned subsidiary is a new Kenyan company whose shares are held by foreign persons or a foreign parent.

Issue Foreign company branch Kenyan subsidiary / private company
Underlying entity The company incorporated outside Kenya. A separate company incorporated in Kenya.
Registry output Certificate of Compliance. Certificate of Incorporation.
Share capital in Kenya No separate Kenyan shareholding structure is created merely by registering the branch. The Kenyan company has its own shares and shareholders.
Parent liability The branch is not a separate legal entity from the foreign parent. The subsidiary is a separate legal entity, subject to ordinary corporate-law exceptions.
Kenya contact Local representative and Kenya registered office are central branch requirements. Registered office and the local company's officers/shareholders are recorded.
Best-fit intent Existing overseas company extending its own operations into Kenya. Investor wanting a distinct Kenyan operating company.

For the separate subsidiary/local-company route, read setting up a foreign-owned business in Kenya. For the documents needed to incorporate a normal private company, use the private company requirements checklist.

Local ownership: the former general 30% Kenyan shareholding requirement for foreign-company registration was repealed with effect from 1 January 2017. Sector-specific ownership, licensing or investment conditions can still apply independently, so regulated activities should be checked before relying on the general company-registration position.

What Happens After the Foreign Company Is Registered?

The Certificate of Compliance completes the Companies Registry branch registration, but it does not by itself complete every tax, banking, employment, licensing or immigration requirement.

Typical next steps

  • KRA registration and applicable tax obligations.
  • Corporate bank account onboarding and bank KYC.
  • County business permit where applicable.
  • Sector-specific licences for regulated activities.
  • Employer registrations and payroll compliance if staff will be hired.
  • Immigration permissions for foreign personnel who will work or reside in Kenya.

Keep the Registry record current

  • Changes to the foreign company's constitution.
  • Director changes.
  • Local representative changes.
  • Kenya place-of-business or registered-office changes.
  • Changes to other registered foreign-company particulars.
  • Cessation or closure filings when the Kenya branch stops operating.

For licensing after registration, see business permits in Kenya. For foreign personnel, see Kenya immigration and work permit services.

FAQs on Foreign Company Registration in Kenya

What is foreign company registration in Kenya?

It is the registration in Kenya of a company already incorporated outside Kenya. The foreign parent remains the underlying company and, after successful registration, the Kenya branch is evidenced by a Certificate of Compliance.

What is the cost to register a foreign company branch in Kenya?

The current BRS Companies Registry fee schedule lists KES 7,550 for registration of a foreign company. Certification, notarisation, translation, professional support, tax registration, licensing and other post-registration work are separate where applicable.

What documents are required for foreign company registration in Kenya?

Core statutory documents include a certified current certificate of incorporation or registration of the foreign company, a certified copy of its constitution, particulars of directors, Kenya place-of-business and registered-office details, and local representative information. The live BRS workflow controls the final upload list.

Does a foreign company branch need a local representative in Kenya?

Yes. The Companies Act requires a registered foreign company to have a local representative, and the prescribed foreign-company application captures particulars of the local or proposed local representative resident in Kenya.

How long does foreign company branch registration take in Kenya?

The BRS Companies Registry fee schedule currently lists 3–5 days for foreign company registration. End-to-end completion can take longer if overseas documents still require certification or if the Registrar raises a query.

What certificate is issued after registering a foreign company in Kenya?

The Companies Registry issues a Certificate of Compliance for a registered foreign company branch. A Kenyan subsidiary or other locally incorporated company receives a Certificate of Incorporation instead.

Which FC forms are used for foreign company registration in Kenya?

Public BRS sources are currently inconsistent. The BRS fee schedule lists FC2, FC4 and FC6 in its foreign-company row, while the BRS Forms Library and Registrar of Companies (Forms) Rules identify FC1 as the section 975 application for registration, FC2 as an alternative-name statement, FC4 as notice of registered-office opening hours and FC6 as notice of closure of a place of business. Follow the live eCitizen/BRS workflow when filing.

Is a foreign company branch the same as a foreign-owned Kenyan company?

No. A branch is the foreign company registered to operate in Kenya and is not a newly incorporated Kenyan entity. A foreign-owned Kenyan subsidiary is a separate company incorporated in Kenya with its own Certificate of Incorporation.

Primary sources checked

Register a Foreign Company Branch in Kenya

Biz Brokers Kenya assists overseas companies with branch-structure review, document readiness, local representative coordination, BRS/eCitizen filing, Registry query follow-up and Certificate of Compliance support.

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