What Is the Class N Digital Nomad Permit in Kenya?

“Kenya Digital Nomad Visa” is the common search term. The official immigration category is the Class N Digital Nomad Permit, created under Kenya’s immigration regulations for qualifying foreigners who work remotely from Kenya for employers, companies or clients outside Kenya. Applications are submitted online through the Foreign Nationals Service portal, commonly called eFNS.

Permit, not a visitor visa: Class N authorises qualifying remote work while the holder resides in Kenya. Employment by a Kenyan entity, work for Kenyan clients or active local trade, business or consultancy may require Class D, Class G or another appropriate permit and should be assessed before filing.

How the law and the eFNS checklist work together

The Immigration Regulations establish the legal eligibility criteria. These include the US$55,000 assured annual foreign-source income threshold, accommodation and a clean criminal record. The eFNS Class N information pack provides the current public upload checklist, application form and fee lines. A complete application should satisfy both sources even where a statutory requirement is not shown as a separate item on the public portal checklist.

Requirement	Official position	Typical supporting evidence
Remote work	Work must be connected to a company, business or clients outside Kenya.	Employment contract, employer letter, foreign-company records or overseas-client contracts.
Annual income	At least US$55,000 annually from sources outside Kenya.	Payslips, contracts, invoices and matching bank statements.
Accommodation	The applicant must show accommodation arrangements in Kenya.	Hotel booking, lease or rental agreement.
Criminal record	A clean criminal record from the country of habitual residence is required.	Valid police-clearance or equivalent certificate.
Local activity restriction	The applicant must undertake not to accept Kenyan employment or prohibited local income activity.	Signed undertaking and consistent applicant and employer cover letters.
Benefit to Kenya	The applicant’s presence must be of benefit to Kenya.	A clear explanation in the applicant’s cover letter.

Primary legal source: Legal Notice No. 155 of 2024 and the consolidated Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations. Current portal source: eFNS Class N information pack.

Who Qualifies for Kenya’s Digital Nomad Visa?

Eligibility depends on the applicant’s work and income-generating relationship being connected outside Kenya. The evidence must clearly identify the foreign employer, foreign company or overseas clients and demonstrate that the applicant can support themselves while residing in Kenya.

Eligible remote-working arrangements

Remote employees

Foreign nationals employed by a company registered outside Kenya may qualify where the employer confirms the remote-working arrangement, position, salary and company details.

Foreign company owners

A shareholder, director, founder or representative may qualify when conducting remote business for a company established outside Kenya and supported by company and ownership records.

Freelancers and consultants

Self-employed professionals may qualify when their contracts, invoices and income records show that their clients are outside Kenya.

Applicants needing another permit

A person taking up ordinary employment with a Kenyan company should be assessed under the appropriate route, such as a Class D employment permit. Active local trade, business or consultancy may instead require assessment under Class G or another applicable category.

Statutory Class N criteria to address

The amended Immigration Regulations identify matters that include:

A valid passport and verifiable proof of the remote-working arrangement.
Proof of assured annual income of at least US$55,000 derived from sources outside Kenya.
Proof of accommodation arrangements in Kenya.
Evidence of a clean criminal record from the applicant’s country of habitual residence.
A written undertaking not to accept paid or unpaid employment or undertake prohibited income-generating activity in Kenya.
An explanation of how the applicant’s presence in Kenya will be of benefit to the country.

Category risk: a freelancer, consultant or foreign-company owner whose proposed activities involve Kenyan clients, local trading or active Kenyan business operations should obtain a permit-category assessment before filing. Class N is designed for foreign-connected remote work; local activity may require Class G, Class D or another appropriate permit.

Legal source: Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, Seventh Schedule.

Class N Digital Nomad Permit Cost

Government charges are stated in United States dollars. The final payment authority is the invoice generated through eFNS.

Fee	Official amount	Payment stage	Important note
Processing fee	US$200	At application or when invoiced	Non-refundable and does not guarantee approval.
Issuance fee	US$1,000 per year	After approval or when invoiced	Payable for the period approved by Immigration.

Total government fee examples

Approved period	Processing fee	Issuance fee	Estimated total
One year	US$200	US$1,000	US$1,200
Two years	US$200	US$2,000	US$2,200

Additional application expenses

Professional eligibility review and filing assistance, where instructed.
Certification, notarisation or translation of supporting records where required.
Embassy no-objection letter, courier or document-procurement expenses.
Accommodation documentation or lease preparation where the applicant has not completed relocation arrangements.

Currency note: avoid relying on a fixed Kenya-shilling conversion. Use the live eFNS invoice and the applicable payment exchange rate.

Professional fees: Biz Brokers Kenya provides a written quotation after reviewing the proposed remote-work arrangement and document readiness. Professional fees are separate from government charges, certification, translation, embassy, courier and third-party expenses.

Fee source checked 5 August 2026: eFNS Class N information pack. Always follow the live invoice generated for the individual application.

Kenya Digital Nomad Visa Requirements

A Class N file should address both the legal eligibility criteria in the Immigration Regulations and the current documents requested through eFNS. It must connect the applicant’s identity, lawful status where applicable, foreign-source work, income and Kenyan accommodation to one consistent remote-working arrangement.

Current eFNS Class N document checklist

Duly completed and signed Form 25, generated through the online application.
Two recent passport-size colour photographs.
Copy of the applicant’s valid passport.
Evidence of current immigration status if the applicant is already in Kenya.
Detailed applicant cover letter addressed to the Director General of Immigration Services.
Signed cover letter from the foreign employer, company or organisation.
Bank statements or payslips for the previous three months proving monthly income.
Proof of accommodation, such as a hotel reservation, lease or rental agreement.
Letter of no objection from the applicant’s local embassy.
Foreign company details, including address, telephone, email and contact person.
Copy of the applicable eFNS checklist.

Portal source checked 5 August 2026: Application for Permit Class N (Digital Nomads).

Supporting evidence by applicant type

Applicant type	Recommended supporting evidence
Remote employee	Employment contract, employer letter confirming remote work, salary evidence, payslips and matching bank statements.
Company owner or representative	Foreign company registration documents, shareholder/director records and a company letter explaining the remote business arrangement.
Freelancer or self-employed applicant	Foreign-client contracts, invoices, retainers, portfolio evidence and bank records showing consistent overseas income.

Income evidence and the US$55,000 threshold

The Immigration Regulations require an assured annual income of at least US$55,000 derived from sources outside Kenya. The current eFNS checklist separately asks for bank statements or payslips for the previous three months proving monthly income. Applicants should therefore show both that they meet the statutory annual threshold and that their recent financial records are consistent with the employment, company or client arrangement described in the application.

Evidence should reconcile: salary, contract value, invoices, bank credits, employer letters and the occupation stated in Form 25 should tell one consistent story. Unexplained deposits should be identified and supported rather than presented as ordinary remote-work income.

Police clearance and statutory undertaking

The Regulations require a clean criminal record from the applicant’s country of habitual residence and an undertaking not to accept paid or unpaid Kenyan employment or undertake prohibited local income-generating activity. These statutory matters should be prepared even where they are not displayed as separate upload lines on the current public eFNS checklist.

Common causes of delay: vague cover letters, mismatched income documents, unclear scans, missing accommodation or embassy evidence, unexplained deposits, missing statutory records and documents that fail to establish that the employer, company or clients are outside Kenya.

Legal source: Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations.

Common Class N Application Weaknesses

The following are common document weaknesses we look for during a pre-filing review. They are practical risk indicators rather than a published list of automatic refusal grounds.

The employer letter does not expressly confirm that the applicant may work remotely from Kenya.
The stated annual remuneration does not reach or clearly evidence the US$55,000 statutory threshold.
Bank credits do not match the salary, contracts, invoices or explanation in the cover letter.
A foreign-company owner has not supplied company registration, ownership or authority records.
Client contracts do not identify the overseas clients, service scope, duration or payment terms.
Accommodation evidence is incomplete, too short or not issued in the applicant’s name.
The proposed activity refers to Kenyan clients, local trading or active Kenyan consultancy without a permit-category assessment.
Police-clearance, embassy or translated records are missing, expired, incomplete or inconsistent.

Best filing approach: prepare the legal eligibility evidence and the eFNS upload checklist as one coordinated file before completing Form 25. This reduces contradictions between the application form, cover letters and supporting records.

How to Apply for the Class N Permit on eFNS

The application begins online through the Government of Kenya Single Sign-On system and the eFNS portal. Prepare the complete document file before starting Form 25.

Step-by-step eFNS procedure

Create or sign into a Government of Kenya Single Sign-On account.
Use the account to access the eFNS portal.
Select Apply Now, then Submit Applications.
Choose Permit Issuance/Renewal and open the Class N application.
Complete Form 25 with the applicant, employer, company, address and income details.
Upload readable supporting documents in the correct sections.
Generate and pay the processing invoice as directed through Dashboard and Payments.
Print and retain the completed application, invoice and payment evidence.
Follow the portal instructions on presenting the application printout where required.
Monitor email and the eFNS dashboard and respond promptly to any Immigration query.
After approval, pay the issuance invoice within the required period.
Download and print the permit and present it for endorsement where instructed.

Pre-submission review

Confirm that the passport number, names, nationality and dates match across every document.
Ensure the employer, company or client evidence clearly identifies an overseas connection.
Make sure the income records match the cover letters, contracts and stated occupation.
Confirm that the accommodation evidence covers the intended residence period.
Use descriptive file names and upload clear, complete scans.

Nairobi application assistance: our Kilimani office can review the file, prepare the applicant and employer letters, support the eFNS submission and guide the applicant on any Nairobi presentation or endorsement instruction issued by Immigration.

Processing Time, Validity and Compliance

How long does the Class N application take?

The official eFNS information pack does not publish a guaranteed processing period for every Class N application. Timing depends on the quality of the file, Immigration review queues, document verification and whether additional information is requested.

Practical planning estimate: allow approximately 4–8 weeks for a complete Class N application, subject to Immigration workload, verification, portal queries and any request for further documents. This is an indicative professional estimate, not a guaranteed government service period.

Applicants should submit well before their intended relocation or before their current Kenyan immigration status expires. Do not make non-refundable travel or accommodation commitments based solely on an estimated processing period.

Validity and renewal

Issue	Practical position
Permit validity	Class N may be issued for one or two years, subject to approval and the live eFNS invoice.
Renewal	Renewal is possible where the holder continues to qualify and provides updated documents.
Dependants	Family members require separate immigration planning and are not automatically covered by the principal applicant’s Class N permit.
Local employment	Class N does not replace the appropriate permit for ordinary employment by a Kenyan company.

What happens after approval?

After approval, the applicant should follow the eFNS notification, pay the issuance invoice for the approved period, download and print the issued permit and comply with any presentation or passport-endorsement instructions. A foreign national remaining in Kenya for more than 90 days should also obtain advice on foreigner registration and related post-approval compliance.

Immigration and tax are separate

A Class N Permit determines immigration permission; it does not by itself determine Kenyan tax residence or guarantee exemption from Kenyan tax. A person expecting to spend substantial time in Kenya should obtain tax advice based on their days of residence, income source, employer or business structure and any applicable double-tax agreement.

Compliance point: maintain lawful immigration status throughout the application and do not undertake employment or business activities outside the scope permitted by the issued Class N approval.

Official validity and renewal source: eFNS Class N information pack. The processing estimate is based on practical planning and is not published by Immigration.

Kenya Digital Nomad Visa FAQs

Is Kenya’s Digital Nomad Visa the same as the Class N Permit?

Yes. “Kenya Digital Nomad Visa” is the common search term. The official immigration category is the Class N Digital Nomad Permit.

How much does the Kenya Digital Nomad Visa cost?

The official fee lines show US$200 for processing and US$1,000 for each approved year. The usual government total is therefore US$1,200 for one year or US$2,200 for two years, subject to the live eFNS invoice.

What is the minimum income requirement?

The Immigration Regulations require an assured annual income of at least US$55,000 derived from sources outside Kenya. The current eFNS checklist also asks for bank statements or payslips for the previous three months proving monthly income. The documents should demonstrate both the statutory annual threshold and a consistent foreign-source income stream.

Is a police-clearance certificate required for Class N?

The amended Immigration Regulations refer to a clean criminal record from the applicant’s country of habitual residence. Although the current public eFNS checklist does not display this as a separate line, applicants should prepare the evidence or confirm the current upload requirement before filing.

How long does a Kenya Digital Nomad Visa application take?

Immigration does not publish a guaranteed Class N processing period. A practical planning range is approximately 4–8 weeks for a complete file, but verification, review queues, portal queries and additional-document requests can extend the period.

Can I work for a Kenyan company under Class N?

Class N is designed for remote work connected to a foreign employer, foreign company or clients outside Kenya. Employment by a Kenyan entity, work for Kenyan clients or active local business activity may require Class D, Class G or another appropriate permit and should be assessed before filing.

Must I be in Kenya to apply?

The application is initiated online through eFNS. The appropriate filing and travel strategy depends on the applicant’s location, lawful status and intended relocation date. An applicant already in Kenya must provide current immigration-status evidence and should not allow that status to expire while waiting for the Class N decision.

Can I apply while planning to live in Nairobi?

Yes. Class N is a Kenya-wide immigration permit, and Nairobi may be used as the applicant’s intended residence where supported by accommodation evidence. Biz Brokers Kenya provides application support from its Kilimani, Nairobi office.

Can dependants be included in the Class N application?

Dependants are not automatically included under the principal applicant’s permit. Each family member should be assessed for the appropriate separate immigration status.

Is the Class N Permit renewable?

Yes. Renewal may be considered where the applicant continues to qualify and provides updated income, employment or business, accommodation and immigration-status documents.

Does Class N exempt me from Kenyan tax?

No automatic tax exemption should be assumed. Immigration permission and tax residence are separate issues and should be assessed independently.

Can Biz Brokers Kenya assist with the application?

Yes. We assist with eligibility assessment, document planning, cover letters, Form 25, eFNS filing, Immigration queries, payment follow-up and endorsement guidance from Nairobi.

Official sources

Legal and portal information checked on 5 August 2026. Requirements, administrative practice and fees can change.

Related immigration guides

Need Help With a Kenya Digital Nomad Visa Application?

Send us the applicant’s passport bio-data page, current location and immigration status, employer, company or client evidence, documents demonstrating at least US$55,000 annual foreign-source income, three months of income records, intended accommodation details and any available police-clearance record. We will assess the proposed activity, identify document gaps and issue a written quotation before filing.

Confidentiality: send identity and financial documents only through the contact channel agreed for the instruction. See our privacy policy.

Office: Kose Heights, Argwings Kodhek Road, Kilimani, Nairobi, Kenya
Call: +254 757 884 710
Email: info@bizbrokerskenya.com
WhatsApp: Start a Class N enquiry