How Much Does a Class G Work Permit Cost in Kenya?
The Directorate of Immigration Services currently lists two core Class G fee lines: a KES 20,000 non-refundable processing fee and a KES 250,000 issuance fee per year, payable after approval. For a one-year permit, those two Immigration fee lines total KES 270,000. The separate USD 100,000 requirement is documentary proof of capital to be invested; it is not a fee paid to Immigration.
| Item | Amount | When it applies | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processing fee | KES 20,000 | Application stage | Official non-refundable Immigration processing fee. |
| Issuance fee | KES 250,000 per year | After approval | Official permit issuance fee for the approved period. |
| Core Immigration fees for one year | KES 270,000 | If the application is approved | Arithmetic total of the listed processing and one-year issuance fees, before other charges. |
| Capital proof | At least USD 100,000 | Supporting evidence | Capital to be invested. It is not an Immigration application fee. |
| EAC Member States | Gratis | Subject to nationality and current portal treatment | Immigration lists East Africa Community Member States as gratis for Class G fee purposes. |
Kenya Investment Authority's eProcedures portal currently publishes a broader Class G procedure cost of KES 280,100, which includes the Class G fee lines plus listed eCitizen charges and security-bond issuance. Because government payment workflows can change, use the live eFNS / government invoice as the final payment reference.
Other costs that may arise
- Security bond and related issuance costs.
- Foreign national registration / Alien Card after permit issuance where applicable.
- Company incorporation, corporate changes or CR12 updates where the business vehicle is not ready.
- KRA PIN and Tax Compliance Certificate regularisation.
- Sector-specific licences or regulatory clearances.
- Translation, notarisation or certification of foreign documents where required.
- Professional fees for application preparation, filing and query-response support.
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Send us your nationality, proposed business activity, current Kenya immigration status, company documents, shareholding, KRA status and how the USD 100,000 capital will be evidenced. We can identify the missing items and provide a scoped fee quote before filing.
Class G Permit Eligibility, Requirements and Documents
Under the official eFNS criteria, Class G is for a person intending to engage in a specific trade, business, consultancy or profession in Kenya. The applicant should have any licence, registration or permission required for the activity, sufficient capital and other resources at their full and free disposition, and a proposed activity that will be of benefit to Kenya.
Who is Class G usually for?
- Foreign investors establishing or acquiring an interest in a Kenyan business.
- Foreign founders or business owners who will actively engage in the Kenyan enterprise.
- Consultants carrying on an eligible consultancy through the appropriate business structure.
- Partners in a qualifying trade or business.
- Foreign directors who will actively operate a business and whose facts fit the Class G category.
Official Class G document checklist
A complete Class G file should be built around identity, company ownership, tax compliance, capital evidence and any sector approval required for the business.
- Duly filled and signed Form 25.
- Detailed and signed cover letter addressed to the Director of Immigration Services.
- Copies of a valid national passport, including the bio-data page.
- Recent coloured passport-size photographs.
- Current immigration status if the applicant is already in Kenya.
- English translations for foreign-language documents by an accepted authority.
- Copies of previous permits or passes held, where applicable.
- Duly filled Form 27 (Report on Employment).
- Documentary proof of capital to be invested of at least USD 100,000.
- Certificate of incorporation and constitutional/company registration documents.
- CR12 / shareholding certificate.
- Company and individual KRA PIN records as applicable.
- Valid organisation Tax Compliance Certificate for new applications; organisation and individual TCCs for renewals as stated by eFNS.
- Bank Statement Verification Form for new cases.
- Proof of offshore transaction receipt / slip where applicable.
- Relevant regulator or institutional clearance where the business activity requires it.
- For renewals, current audited accounts and other renewal evidence requested by Immigration, including Kenyan employment information where applicable.
How to present the USD 100,000 capital proof
The official wording is "documentary proof of capital to be invested of at least USD 100,000." The evidence should make it easy to identify the investor, the funds, the intended investment and the connection to the Kenyan business.
| Evidence type | What it should establish |
|---|---|
| Bank statements | Availability and control of the investment funds. |
| Bank Statement Verification Form | Verification of the financial evidence for a new application. |
| Offshore transaction or remittance records | Movement of funds where money has been transferred for the Kenyan investment. |
| Company bank or investment records | Connection between the funds and the Kenyan business where capital has already been introduced. |
| Capital-use explanation | How the funds support the proposed trade, business or consultancy. |
Class G vs Class D vs county Single Business Permit
| Route | Main purpose | Typical applicant | What it does not replace |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class G permit | Specific trade, business, consultancy or eligible profession. | Foreign investor, business owner, partner or consultant. | County and sector operating licences. |
| Class D work permit | Specific employment by a specific employer. | Foreign employee with skills or qualifications required by the Kenyan employer. | Company and employer compliance obligations. |
| Single Business Permit | County operating licence for the business/activity/premises. | The operating business. | Foreign national immigration status. |
If the Kenyan business vehicle is not yet established, keep the detailed incorporation procedure on the separate company registration in Kenya page. This Class G page should only cover company setup to the extent needed for investor-permit eligibility and filing.
How to Apply for a Class G Permit Through eFNS
The official application is made through the Government of Kenya Single Sign On / eFNS process. The practical sequence is:
- Confirm the correct permit class.
Check that the activity is specific trade, business, consultancy or an eligible profession and identify any licence or regulator approval required. - Regularise the Kenyan business vehicle.
Prepare the incorporation, shareholding, CR12, company PIN and business records required for the file. - Prepare the capital and compliance evidence.
Organise the USD 100,000 capital proof, bank verification/transaction evidence, KRA records, Tax Compliance Certificate and sector clearance where applicable. - Create or access Government of Kenya Single Sign On.
Use the account to access eFNS. - Start the permit application.
Select Apply Now, then Submit Applications, then Permit Issuance/Renewal. Complete Form 25 and the required application details consistently. - Upload documents and pay the processing fee.
Upload the supporting evidence, generate the invoice and pay the non-refundable processing fee through the available government payment route. - Track the application and respond to queries.
Monitor the eFNS dashboard and email. If approved, follow the issuance-payment and post-approval instructions shown on the portal.
Talk to Us Before You File
We can review the company structure, Class G eligibility, capital evidence and supporting documents before the eFNS application is submitted, and assist with responses if Immigration raises a query.
Class G Processing Time, Approval, Delays and Renewal
Kenya Investment Authority's eProcedures portal currently publishes a total procedural duration of approximately 42.5 to 53.5 days for the Class G procedure. Treat this as a government planning benchmark rather than a guaranteed Immigration decision date. Processing can extend where company records are incomplete, sector clearances are outstanding, capital evidence needs clarification or Immigration raises additional queries.
What commonly delays a Class G application?
| Delay risk | Why it matters | Practical control |
|---|---|---|
| Weak or unclear capital evidence | The file may not clearly establish the required USD 100,000 capital to be invested. | Use verifiable bank, verification and transaction records linked to the investor and business. |
| CR12 or company-record mismatch | The applicant's stated role may conflict with official company records. | Update corporate records before filing and ensure the cover letter reflects the current structure. |
| Missing sector licence or clearance | Class G eligibility assumes required authority or permission for regulated activity. | Identify regulator requirements before submission. |
| KRA / TCC gaps | Tax-compliance evidence is part of the official checklist. | Resolve company and individual tax-document issues before filing where possible. |
| Foreign documents not properly translated | eFNS requires foreign-language documents to be translated into English by an accepted authority. | Prepare compliant translations before upload. |
| Slow response to eFNS queries | An unresolved query can stop progression of the application. | Monitor the eFNS account and email throughout processing. |
What happens after approval?
After approval, pay the issuance fee shown on the government portal and follow the eFNS / Immigration instructions for permit issuance and any required post-approval formalities. A Class G permit does not remove separate obligations such as county licensing, sector licences, tax compliance or foreign national registration where applicable.
Class G renewal requirements
Renewal focuses on whether the business remains genuine and compliant. The official materials refer to current audited accounts, valid tax-compliance evidence, previous permit records and Kenyan employment information among the renewal documents. The eFNS FAQ specifically notes that current audited financial reports are used as the supporting financial document rather than requiring the original USD 100,000 bank statement again solely for renewal.
How Biz Brokers Kenya can assist
Official sources
Fees, forms and government workflows can change. The following primary or government sources should be checked before filing:
- Directorate of Immigration Services — Class G: Specific trade, business or consultancy
- eFNS — Application for Permit Class G Information Pack
- Department of Immigration Services — Entry Permit Checklist
- Kenya Investment Authority eProcedures — Class G Work Permit
- Kenya Law — Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations
FAQs: Class G Work Permit and Investor Permit Kenya
How much does a Class G work permit cost in Kenya?
The Directorate of Immigration Services lists a KES 20,000 non-refundable processing fee and a KES 250,000 issuance fee per year. The USD 100,000 capital requirement is investment-capital evidence, not an Immigration fee. Use the live eFNS or government invoice as the final payment reference.
What is the minimum capital for a Class G investor permit?
The official Class G checklist requires documentary proof of at least USD 100,000 capital to be invested. The evidence should clearly connect the investor, the funds and the Kenyan business activity.
What are the requirements for a Class G permit in Kenya?
The applicant must intend to engage in a qualifying trade, business, consultancy or profession, hold any licence or permission required for that activity, have sufficient capital and resources at their full and free disposition, and show that the activity will benefit Kenya.
What documents are required for a Class G work permit?
Core documents include Form 25, a signed cover letter, passport copies, photographs, current immigration status if in Kenya, company registration documents, CR12, KRA records, tax-compliance evidence, Form 27, USD 100,000 capital proof, bank-statement verification for new cases and relevant regulatory clearances where applicable.
How do I apply for a Class G permit on eFNS?
Use Government of Kenya Single Sign On to access eFNS, select Apply Now, choose Submit Applications and Permit Issuance/Renewal, complete the application, upload the supporting documents, generate the invoice, pay the processing fee and track the file online.
How long does a Class G work permit take in Kenya?
KenInvest eProcedures currently publishes a procedural duration of about 42.5–53.5 days. This is not a guaranteed approval time; Immigration queries, missing documents, regulatory clearances and company or tax issues can extend the process.
Is a Class G permit the same as a county Single Business Permit?
No. Class G is an immigration permit for the foreign national. A county Single Business Permit is a local operating licence for the business activity or premises and does not grant immigration status.
Do I need a lawyer or consultant to apply for Class G?
No professional adviser is legally required merely to submit the application. Assistance can be useful where the company structure, capital evidence, KRA compliance, sector licensing or Immigration queries require coordinated preparation.
Need help with a Class G work permit in Kenya?
Biz Brokers Kenya assists foreign investors and business operators with eligibility review, company-readiness checks, USD 100,000 capital-proof organisation, document preparation, eFNS filing support and Immigration query responses.
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Email: info@bizbrokerskenya.com
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