Cost of a Special Pass application in Nairobi
The government fee is national and does not change because the application is prepared or followed up in Nairobi. The Directorate of Immigration Services currently lists USD 200 per approved month for a non-East African national and generally lists East African Community nationals as gratis. Always follow the final eFNS invoice.
Official Immigration fee
| Applicant category | Official amount | When paid |
|---|---|---|
| Non-East African applicant | USD 200 per approved month | After approval |
| East African Community national | Gratis | As directed by Immigration |
Monthly fee examples
| Approved period | Indicative official fee for a non-East African applicant |
|---|---|
| 1 month | USD 200 |
| 2 months | USD 400 |
| 3 months | USD 600 |
| 6 months | USD 1,200 |
Professional application and follow-up fees
Professional fees are quoted after reviewing the sponsor arrangement, applicant’s status, assignment, urgency, number of applicants, document readiness and the level of Nairobi follow-up required. Certification, translation, courier and regulatory-clearance costs are separate where applicable.
Special Pass application requirements
The application is submitted through eFNS using Form 32. The current eFNS Special Pass information pack lists the principal applicant and organization requirements. A Nairobi employer or host organization should prepare the sponsor file together with the foreign applicant’s records so that the role, location, dates and requested period remain consistent throughout.
Applicant documents
Passport, photographs and immigration status
- Copy of the valid passport bio-data page.
- Two recent passport-size colour photographs.
- Evidence of current lawful immigration status where the applicant is already in Kenya.
- Copies of any permits or passes previously held, where applicable.
- Official receipt or acknowledgement where another permit or pass application is pending.
CV, qualifications and translations
- Current curriculum vitae aligned with the proposed assignment.
- Certified academic and professional certificates relevant to the role.
- Clearance from the relevant regulatory body where the activity is regulated.
- Certified English translations for documents issued in another language.
Sponsor or host-organization documents
Form 32 and sponsor cover letter
- Form 32 completed online, printed, signed and stamped by the sponsoring organization.
- Detailed signed cover letter addressed to the Director of Immigration Services.
- Clear explanation of the applicant’s role, project, work site, reporting relationship, start date, end date and temporary purpose.
Registration and assignment evidence
- Certificate of incorporation, registration certificate or equivalent sponsor record.
- Invitation, assignment, engagement, secondment or contract documents supporting the temporary activity.
- Sector or regulatory clearance where the sponsor’s proposed activity requires it.
How to apply for a Special Pass in Nairobi
The formal application begins online through Government of Kenya Single Sign On and eFNS. Nairobi-based assistance is most valuable in preparing the sponsor file correctly, monitoring the application and handling any case-specific presentation or follow-up requested by Immigration.
Before filing
Confirm the correct route and sponsor
First determine whether the assignment is genuinely temporary and suitable for a Special Pass. Confirm the Kenyan employer, client, host or organization that has a real connection to the work and can support the application truthfully.
Online application through eFNS
Complete Form 32 and submit the supporting file
- Access eFNS.
Create or sign in through Government of Kenya Single Sign On and select the Special Pass application. - Complete Form 32.
Enter the applicant, sponsor, assignment, address, duration and immigration-status information accurately. - Print, sign and stamp.
Print the generated form and obtain the applicant and sponsor execution required for the file. - Upload supporting documents.
Use readable scans and confirm that names, passport numbers, job titles, work locations and dates match. - Submit and monitor.
Track the eFNS dashboard and email notifications for receipt, queries, approval or further instructions.
After submission
Queries, payment and issuance
Where Immigration asks for clarification or additional records, respond with one complete and consistent package. After approval, pay the official invoice through the channel shown in eFNS, retain the receipt and follow the applicable issuance or endorsement instructions.
Special Pass processing time in Nairobi
The Directorate of Immigration does not publish a guaranteed processing period for every Special Pass application. For practical planning, allow approximately 2–6 weeks for a complete and straightforward file, subject to Immigration workload, sponsor clarity, document quality, regulated-sector clearance and further-information requests.
Can an urgent Special Pass application be processed faster?
Priority professional handling can reduce avoidable delay before filing and when responding to an Immigration query. It cannot guarantee accelerated government assessment. Be cautious of any promise of same-day approval, a fixed approval date or influence over the final decision. For a genuinely urgent file, the practical objective is to submit the strongest complete application as early as possible and respond promptly to lawful requests.
Practical application timeline
| Stage | Planning guidance | Main variable |
|---|---|---|
| Document review | 1–5 working days | Sponsor readiness, qualifications, translations and clearances |
| eFNS filing | Once the file is complete | Portal availability and execution of Form 32 |
| Immigration assessment | Plan approximately 2–6 weeks | Workload, file complexity and queries |
| Payment and issuance | After approval | Invoice generation, payment and final instructions |
Validity of the issued pass
The Directorate of Immigration Services describes a Special Pass as authorization to enter or remain in Kenya for a period not exceeding six months. The requested and approved period should be supported by the contract, project, assignment or pending-permit circumstances.
Pending work permits and further periods
A Special Pass may be relevant where a longer-term permit application is pending, but it does not replace the work permit. The applicant must remain within the Special Pass conditions and the approved temporary period while the separate permit application is considered.
Any extension or further application is subject to Immigration review and discretion. Act before expiry, explain why additional temporary time is needed and provide updated sponsor and assignment records. Do not allow the applicant to continue working or remain without valid authority.
Why use Nairobi-based Special Pass assistance?
A Nairobi-based consultant can coordinate the employer and applicant file before submission and remain available for practical follow-up where the portal, supporting records or Immigration instructions require attention.
Confirm the correct route before filing
Where the assignment is long-term, recurring or outside the temporary scope of a Special Pass, review the appropriate work or investor permit before relying on a short-term application.
Special Pass application in Nairobi: standard and urgent FAQs
Do you provide urgent Special Pass application support in Nairobi?
Yes. Urgent support can prioritize eligibility review, document-gap identification, Form 32 and sponsor-letter preparation, upload-file review and follow-up planning. Immigration retains control of assessment, approval, invoice generation and issuance.
Can a Kenya Special Pass be fast-tracked or guaranteed?
No official fast-track or guaranteed approval should be promised. An urgent service can accelerate the applicant-controlled preparation and response stages, but the Directorate of Immigration Services controls government processing and the final decision.
What should I send for an urgent Special Pass assessment?
Send the passport bio-data page, current Kenya immigration status, nationality, proposed sponsor, sponsor registration certificate, CV, qualifications, assignment or contract, intended work location, requested dates and any eFNS receipt, query or pending-permit acknowledgement.
What if the applicant's current Kenya status is about to expire?
Seek a case-specific review immediately and do not assume that a new or pending Special Pass automatically extends existing status. The correct action depends on the applicant's current authorization, expiry date, activity and application history.
Where is a Special Pass application processed in Nairobi?
The formal application is submitted online through eFNS and assessed by the Directorate of Immigration Services. Any physical presentation, clarification, issuance or endorsement step should follow the instructions given for the particular application.
Is the Nairobi Special Pass application entirely online?
The application begins online through eFNS using Form 32 and uploaded supporting documents. Immigration may nevertheless request additional records, presentation or another case-specific step after submission.
Must printed documents always be taken to Nyayo House?
No universal duplicate physical-filing requirement should be assumed. Prepare and submit the complete online file first. Printed documents may be used where Immigration requests them or where a particular application requires physical clarification or follow-up.
Can Biz Brokers follow up on an application already submitted?
Yes, subject to reviewing the eFNS application, sponsor documents, current status, dashboard history and any query or approval notice. The appropriate follow-up depends on the exact stage and problem affecting the file.
Can an employer or applicant outside Nairobi use the service?
Yes. Documents can be reviewed and prepared remotely while our Nairobi office coordinates local application support and any appropriate follow-up. The applicant does not need to live in Nairobi merely to obtain document-review assistance.
How early should a Nairobi employer begin the application?
Begin before the proposed work date and before the applicant’s current immigration status approaches expiry. Allow time for document certification, translations, sponsor execution, regulated-sector clearances and possible Immigration queries.
Can the applicant start work after the application is submitted?
No. Submission, payment or an approval notification alone should not be treated as authority to undertake the proposed activity. The applicant should obtain the actual Special Pass and comply with its approved sponsor, activity and period.
Official sources and information date
This page was checked on . Immigration requirements, fees and portal procedures may change, so confirm the live government position before submission or payment.
Speak to a Special Pass consultant in Nairobi
Biz Brokers Kenya provides standard and urgent Special Pass document review, Form 32 and sponsor-letter support, eFNS filing assistance, application tracking, query responses and case-specific Nairobi follow-up from its Kilimani office.
Call: +254 757 884 710
Email: info@bizbrokerskenya.com
WhatsApp: Chat on WhatsApp
Office: Kose Heights, Argwings Kodhek Road, Kilimani, Nairobi 00200.