Who can apply for the Kenya digital nomad permit?

Any nationality that is not a prohibited immigrant and either works under an employment contract for a company registered outside Kenya, is a shareholder or conducts business on behalf of a foreign company, or is self-employed serving clients outside Kenya. You must undertake not to take paid or unpaid work for Kenyan employers. Kenya's Class N digital nomad permit, created by Legal Notice 155 of 2024 and open for online applications on the eFNS portal, lets remote employees, freelancers and foreign-company shareholders live in Kenya for one or two years, renewable. The regulations require an assured annual income of US$55,000 from outside Kenya; fees are US$200 to process plus US$1,000 per year on issue.

How much does the Digital nomad work permit (Class N) cost and how long does it take?

The fee is about $1,200 (US$200 processing fee (non-refundable) plus US$1,000 issuance fee per year); Stated in US dollars on the eFNS information pack: US$200 on application and US$1,000 for each year of validity, so a one-year permit costs US$1,200 and a two-year permit US$2,200. Paid online through the eFNS invoice or at Nyayo House. Processing time: not stated. No processing standard is published for Class N; the eFNS portal sends email notifications as the file moves. Applicants and advisers report one to three months, and incomplete files are rejected outright, so prepare the embassy no-objection letter and police certificate before you apply.

Is the Kenya digital nomad permit income requirement US$55,000 or US$24,000 a year?

The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations as consolidated by Kenya Law still read US$55,000 of assured annual income from outside Kenya, and the eFNS checklist only asks for three months of statements. Reports of a reduction to US$24,000 come from advisers rather than the published regulations, so budget for the higher figure and check eFNS when you apply.

Can I apply for the Class N permit while I am in Kenya on an eTA?

Yes. The eFNS form asks for your current immigration status if you are in the country, and the printed application is handed in at Nyayo House in Nairobi or a regional immigration office, so applying from inside Kenya on a valid eTA is the usual route.

Digital nomad visa · Africa

Kenya digital nomad permit 2026: requirements and cost

Kenya's Class N digital nomad permit, created by Legal Notice 155 of 2024 and open for online applications on the eFNS portal, lets remote employees, freelancers and foreign-company shareholders live in Kenya for one or two years, renewable. The regulations require an assured annual income of US$55,000 from outside Kenya; fees are US$200 to process plus US$1,000 per year on issue.

Official name: Class N Permit: Digital Nomad (KEP/N). Facts updated 2026-10-04 · Not yet reviewed by a person · Dataset 2026.10.7.

Who can apply: Any nationality; Any nationality that is not a prohibited immigrant and either works under an employment contract for a company registered outside Kenya, is a shareholder or conducts business on behalf of a foreign company, or is self-employed serving clients outside Kenya. You must undertake not to take paid or unpaid work for Kenyan employers.
Minimum income: $4,583/month; US$55,000 assured annual income from sources outside Kenya (about US$4,583 a month)
Fee: about $1,200; US$200 processing fee (non-refundable) plus US$1,000 issuance fee per year
Processing time: not stated
Initial stay: 1 year, renewable
Where to apply: Online; Online on the Directorate of Immigration Services' eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke) after creating a Government of Kenya e-Citizen single sign-on account; the printed application and originals are presented at Immigration headquarters (Nyayo House, Nairobi) or a regional office. You can apply from abroad or while in Kenya on an eTA.

Not yet reviewed by a person

Compiled from the official pages listed below, last read on 2026-10-04. A named person has not yet re-checked it; treat it as a starting point and confirm with the source before you apply.

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Who can apply

Any nationality that is not a prohibited immigrant and either works under an employment contract for a company registered outside Kenya, is a shareholder or conducts business on behalf of a foreign company, or is self-employed serving clients outside Kenya. You must undertake not to take paid or unpaid work for Kenyan employers.

What you need

Form 25 completed and signed online on eFNS
Two recent passport-size colour photos
Copies of a valid national passport, and your current immigration status (eTA or visa) if already in Kenya
Detailed signed cover letter from you to the Director General of Immigration Services stating the nature of your employment or business, its location and your intended length of stay
Signed cover letter from your employer, company or organisation to the Director General, with the company's physical address, telephone, email and a contact person
Bank statements or payslips for the last three months proving your monthly income (the regulations require US$55,000 a year from outside Kenya)
Proof of accommodation in Kenya: hotel reservation or lease/rental agreement
Letter of no objection from your home country's embassy in Kenya
Police clearance certificate from your country of habitual residence (plus an NDLEA certificate for Nigerian nationals)
Proof of payment of the US$200 processing fee

Income proof: The Seventh Schedule of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, as amended by Legal Notice 155 of 2024 and consolidated on Kenya Law, requires an assured annual income of US$55,000 from outside Kenya; the monthly figure is that divided by twelve. The eFNS checklist asks for three months of bank statements or payslips proving monthly income. Several law firms report a 2025 cut to US$24,000 a year, but that figure does not appear in the official consolidated regulations or on the eFNS page, so it is not used here.

Family: A spouse and children do not get Class N permits of their own; they apply for dependant's passes linked to your permit through eFNS with marriage and birth certificates, and may not work.

Cost and timeline

Minimum income	$4,583/monthUS$55,000 assured annual income from sources outside Kenya (about US$4,583 a month)
Fee	about $1,200Stated in US dollars on the eFNS information pack: US$200 on application and US$1,000 for each year of validity, so a one-year permit costs US$1,200 and a two-year permit US$2,200. Paid online through the eFNS invoice or at Nyayo House.
Processing time	not statedNo processing standard is published for Class N; the eFNS portal sends email notifications as the file moves. Applicants and advisers report one to three months, and incomplete files are rejected outright, so prepare the embassy no-objection letter and police certificate before you apply.
Stay	1 year, renewable

How to apply

Online. Online on the Directorate of Immigration Services' eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke) after creating a Government of Kenya e-Citizen single sign-on account; the printed application and originals are presented at Immigration headquarters (Nyayo House, Nairobi) or a regional office. You can apply from abroad or while in Kenya on an eTA.

Create an e-Citizen single sign-on account, log in to the eFNS portal, choose Apply Now, then Submit Applications and Permit Issuance/Renewal, and fill in Form 25 for Class N.
Upload your passport, two recent colour passport photos, a signed cover letter to the Director General of Immigration Services describing your remote work and planned length of stay, and a letter from your employer or company with its address and contact person.
Attach three months of bank statements or payslips showing your income (the regulations set US$55,000 a year), proof of accommodation such as a lease or hotel booking, a police clearance certificate and a letter of no objection from your home country's embassy in Kenya.
Pay the US$200 processing fee through the invoice generated on your eFNS dashboard (or print the form and pay at Nyayo House), then present the printed application with originals at Immigration headquarters or a regional office.
Watch the email and portal notifications; on approval pay the US$1,000 per-year issuance fee, collect the permit and register for a Foreign Nationals Certificate (alien card).

After you arrive

Renewal: Issued for one or two years at the applicant's choice (the US$1,000 issuance fee is charged per year) and renewable through the same eFNS process with two new photos and updated income proof.

Residence: The Directorate of Immigration Services has not said whether years on a Class N permit count toward permanent residence, which Kenya generally grants after long periods on work permits; treat the permit as a renewable stay rather than a residence track until the Directorate confirms otherwise.

Taxes

Kenya taxes residents on worldwide employment income. You become resident if you have a permanent home in Kenya and are present at all in the year, or if you are present for 183 days or more in a tax year (or an average of 122 days over three years). Permit holders are expected to obtain a KRA PIN; whether foreign salary is actually taxed depends on the few treaties Kenya has, so take advice before passing 183 days.

In practice

Decision on nomadVisa: the permit is in force (Legal Notice 155 of 2024, operational from 2025) and the eFNS portal is accepting Class N applications, so it counts as a dedicated digital-nomad permit; the only open question is the income figure, which officially remains US$55,000 a year.
The eFNS site was unreachable from some networks on 2026-10-04 (it resolves but times out); the information pack was read through its archived copy and a direct connection. Use a Kenyan or mobile connection if the portal hangs.
Most visitors enter on the electronic travel authorisation (eTA) for up to 90 days and lodge the Class N application while in Nairobi; the embassy no-objection letter is the slowest document for many nationalities, so request it early.
Nairobi has fast fibre (Safaricom, Zuku) and a mature coworking scene around Westlands and Kilimani; Mombasa and Diani are cheaper with good 4G but more power cuts.

For your passport

Choose your passport in the ranker and the notes that apply to you move to the top.

EU, EEA, GB, US, CA, AU, NZ, JP:Eligible. You need an electronic travel authorisation (eTA, usually processed in about three days) to enter for up to 90 days, which is enough to lodge the permit application and attend Nyayo House in person.
ZA, TZ, UG, RW, ET, GH, NG:Most African nationals enter Kenya without an eTA for up to 60 days (East African Community partner-state citizens for 180 days) and can apply for Class N on the same terms; Nigerian applicants must add an NDLEA clearance certificate.
All other passports:Eligible for Class N regardless of nationality, but check whether you need an eTA or visa to enter, and note that the embassy no-objection letter must come from your own country's mission in Kenya.

Cities in Kenya on Nostos

Nairobi
Balanced score 58 · $1,127/month
Mombasa
Balanced score 57 · $922/month
Watamu
Balanced score 56 · $1,100/month
Diani Beach
Balanced score 54 · $1,100/month
Lamu
Balanced score 54 · $1,100/month
Kisumu
Balanced score 50 · $1,127/month

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Frequently asked

Who can apply for the Kenya digital nomad permit?: Any nationality that is not a prohibited immigrant and either works under an employment contract for a company registered outside Kenya, is a shareholder or conducts business on behalf of a foreign company, or is self-employed serving clients outside Kenya. You must undertake not to take paid or unpaid work for Kenyan employers. Kenya's Class N digital nomad permit, created by Legal Notice 155 of 2024 and open for online applications on the eFNS portal, lets remote employees, freelancers and foreign-company shareholders live in Kenya for one or two years, renewable. The regulations require an assured annual income of US$55,000 from outside Kenya; fees are US$200 to process plus US$1,000 per year on issue.
How much income do you need for the Digital nomad work permit (Class N)?: About $4,583 per month (US$55,000 assured annual income from sources outside Kenya (about US$4,583 a month)). The Seventh Schedule of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, as amended by Legal Notice 155 of 2024 and consolidated on Kenya Law, requires an assured annual income of US$55,000 from outside Kenya; the monthly figure is that divided by twelve. The eFNS checklist asks for three months of bank statements or payslips proving monthly income. Several law firms report a 2025 cut to US$24,000 a year, but that figure does not appear in the official consolidated regulations or on the eFNS page, so it is not used here.
How much does the Digital nomad work permit (Class N) cost and how long does it take?: The fee is about $1,200 (US$200 processing fee (non-refundable) plus US$1,000 issuance fee per year); Stated in US dollars on the eFNS information pack: US$200 on application and US$1,000 for each year of validity, so a one-year permit costs US$1,200 and a two-year permit US$2,200. Paid online through the eFNS invoice or at Nyayo House. Processing time: not stated. No processing standard is published for Class N; the eFNS portal sends email notifications as the file moves. Applicants and advisers report one to three months, and incomplete files are rejected outright, so prepare the embassy no-objection letter and police certificate before you apply.
How long can you stay in Kenya on the Digital nomad work permit (Class N), and can it be renewed?: 1 year, renewable. Issued for one or two years at the applicant's choice (the US$1,000 issuance fee is charged per year) and renewable through the same eFNS process with two new photos and updated income proof.
Does the Digital nomad work permit (Class N) lead to permanent residence in Kenya?: The Directorate of Immigration Services has not said whether years on a Class N permit count toward permanent residence, which Kenya generally grants after long periods on work permits; treat the permit as a renewable stay rather than a residence track until the Directorate confirms otherwise.
Can family members come with you on the Digital nomad work permit (Class N)?: A spouse and children do not get Class N permits of their own; they apply for dependant's passes linked to your permit through eFNS with marriage and birth certificates, and may not work.
Do you pay tax in Kenya on the Digital nomad work permit (Class N)?: Kenya taxes residents on worldwide employment income. You become resident if you have a permanent home in Kenya and are present at all in the year, or if you are present for 183 days or more in a tax year (or an average of 122 days over three years). Permit holders are expected to obtain a KRA PIN; whether foreign salary is actually taxed depends on the few treaties Kenya has, so take advice before passing 183 days.
Where do you apply for the Digital nomad work permit (Class N)?: Online: Online on the Directorate of Immigration Services' eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke) after creating a Government of Kenya e-Citizen single sign-on account; the printed application and originals are presented at Immigration headquarters (Nyayo House, Nairobi) or a regional office. You can apply from abroad or while in Kenya on an eTA.
Is the Kenya digital nomad permit income requirement US$55,000 or US$24,000 a year?: The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations as consolidated by Kenya Law still read US$55,000 of assured annual income from outside Kenya, and the eFNS checklist only asks for three months of statements. Reports of a reduction to US$24,000 come from advisers rather than the published regulations, so budget for the higher figure and check eFNS when you apply.
Can I apply for the Class N permit while I am in Kenya on an eTA?: Yes. The eFNS form asks for your current immigration status if you are in the country, and the printed application is handed in at Nyayo House in Nairobi or a regional immigration office, so applying from inside Kenya on a valid eTA is the usual route.

Sources

Application for Permit Class N: Digital Nomads (KEP/N), eFNS Information Pack, Directorate of Immigration Services, Republic of Kenya (fns.immigration.go.ke) · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Who qualifies, one or two years renewable, document checklist, US$200 processing and US$1,000 per year issuance fees, how to apply on eFNS and at Nyayo House
Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations (Legal Notice 64 of 2012), consolidated to 30 May 2025, Seventh Schedule: Class N Digital Nomad, Kenya Law, National Council for Law Reporting (new.kenyalaw.org) · retrieved 2026-10-04 · Class N definition inserted by Legal Notice 155 of 2024: valid passport, proof of remote work, assured annual income of US$55,000 from outside Kenya, accommodation, clean criminal record, no local employment
Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) Kenya, Department of Immigration and Citizen Services, Republic of Kenya (etakenya.go.ke) · retrieved 2026-10-04 · eTA processing of about three days; 90-day stays for most visitors, 60 days for listed African countries and 180 days for East African Community citizens

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