Digital Nomad & Residency · Kenya
Kenya digital nomad visa & residency (2026)
Kenya shaded by its digital nomad & residency status
Kenya operates a dedicated digital-nomad pathway: the Class N Work Permit, introduced on 1 October 2024 and opened for online application via the eFNS portal in 2025. It allows non-Kenyans employed by, or freelancing for, entities outside Kenya to reside and work remotely from Kenya for one or two years, renewable. Separately, investors can obtain residency through the Class G investor permit, but Kenya has no citizenship/residency-by-investment ('golden visa') programme.
Key points
A purpose-built digital-nomad permit (Class N / KEP-N) was created for non-citizens who work remotely from Kenya for an employer or clients based outside the country; permit holders are barred from local employment or income-generating activity in Kenya's domestic market.
Introduced on 1 October 2024 by the Cabinet Secretary for Interior via the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration (Amendment) Regulations, 2024, amending the 2012 Regulations (Legal Notice No. 155); online applications via the eFNS portal followed in 2025.
Reporting differs: early guidance cited an assured annual income of USD 55,000 from non-Kenyan sources, while later legal commentary cites a reduced threshold of about USD 24,000/year (≈USD 2,000/month). Applicants should confirm the current figure on the official eFNS infopack.
Granted for one or two years and renewable; a non-refundable processing fee of USD 200 plus an issuance fee of USD 1,000 per year. Required documents include passport, proof of remote employment/contracts, income/bank statements, proof of accommodation, health insurance and a police clearance certificate.
Relocators investing in business can use the Class G investor permit, generally requiring a minimum investment of around USD 100,000 and a viable business; after about seven years of lawful business operation a holder may apply for permanent residency.
Kenya does not operate a 'golden visa' citizenship-by-investment programme; residency for investors runs only through the conventional Class G permit and standard permanent-residence rules, not a dedicated investment-for-passport route.
Timeline - major decisions & events
The Directorate of Immigration Services confirmed that Class N (Digital Nomad) permit applications became available for online submission via the Electronic Foreign Nationals Services (eFNS) portal, completing the operational rollout of the October 2024 framework. Permits are issued for one or two years, renewable, with a USD 200 processing fee and USD 1,000 annual issuance fee.
Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services – Class N Permit Information Pack ↗Kenya Gazette Supplement No. 255 (16 December 2024) amended the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012, lowering the Class N Digital Nomad annual-income threshold from USD 55,000 to USD 24,000, significantly widening eligibility. The same gazette introduced Class P (UN/diplomatic-mission staff), Class Q (religious/charitable workers), and Class R (East African Community nationals).
Kenya Law – Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations (consolidated to 30 May 2025) ↗The Directorate of Immigration Services replaced the longstanding evisa.go.ke platform with a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) portal effective 5 January 2024, implementing the presidential visa-free directive. All nationalities could enter Kenya without a traditional visa by obtaining a pre-travel eTA; long-stay and work-related entry continued to require the relevant residence or work permit.
Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services – Electronic Travel Authorisation ↗Effective 2 March 2016, the Directorate of Immigration Services required all foreign nationals to use the eFNS digital portal (fns.immigration.go.ke) for passes, work permits, alien cards, and permanent-residence applications, replacing paper-based counter submissions. This was the foundational digital-infrastructure change that eventually enabled online Class N permit applications in 2025.
Kenya Directorate of Immigration Services – eFNS ↗The Directorate of Immigration Services launched the evisa.go.ke platform in September 2015, allowing visitors to apply for short-stay visas fully online without attending a Kenyan embassy or consulate. This was Kenya's first major step toward fully digital immigration processing, preceding the 2021 mandatory-online mandate and the 2024 ETA system.
Republic of Kenya – Electronic Visa System (archived) ↗Assented to on 27 August 2011 and commenced 30 August 2011, this Act repealed the Immigration Act Cap. 172 (1967) and established the comprehensive modern framework governing citizenship, immigration, work permits (Sections 36, 40–42), and permanent residence (Section 37). All subsequent permit classes and digital-nomad provisions derive their legal authority from this statute.
Kenya Law – Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, No. 12 of 2011 ↗Kenya - other topics
Last verified 5/23/2026 · Orientation, not legal advice - verify against the primary sources linked above. Explore the full world map →