Kenya Work Permit and Student Pass for US Travelers (DIY)
Short answer: A Kenya eTA does not authorize work or study. Work permits and passes are applied for online on Kenya’s eFNS portal (fns.immigration.go.ke); after issue you print the document and present it at an immigration office for endorsement. Employment Class D lists a non-refundable processing fee of KES 20,000. A student’s pass for non–East Africans is 100 US dollars per year (EAC member states: gratis). Holding a student’s pass, you may not take up trade or employment, paid or unpaid. The Kenya Embassy in Washington does not process entry/work permits — those go to the Director of Immigration Services in Nairobi. If you are only visiting Kenya, start with the Kenya eTA guide or Kenya eTA help. Stand: 19 August 2026.
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Work or study is not a Kenya eTA
Kenya’s eTA is an electronic travel authorization for visitors. It is not a work permit and not a student’s pass.
If you will take up employment in Kenya — paid or unpaid — Kenya’s Embassy in Washington states you must hold an entry/work permit issued by the Principal Immigration Office before you start. If you will pursue education or training at an establishment in Kenya, Immigration requires a pupil’s / student’s pass.
Visitors (including infants and children) who intend to travel to Kenya still need an approved eTA before the journey starts, unless an official exemption applies. That path is covered in the Kenya eTA guide.
Work and residence permits on eFNS
Issuance of work permits and passes is regulated by Sections 36, 40, 41, and 42 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act 2011 and the attendant Regulations (Directorate of Immigration Services).
A work permit is issued by the Director of Immigration Services under section 40 so a foreign national can enter Kenya and engage in trade, prospecting, farming, business, professional employment, missionary activities, or reside in Kenya. The eFNS permit information pack describes several classes. For paid employment with a named Kenyan employer, the usual class US readers ask about is Class D:
| Item | What Immigration publishes (Class D) |
|---|---|
| Who it is for | A person offered specific employment by a specific employer (or listed Government / UN / approved-agency cases), with skills or qualifications not available in Kenya, whose engagement will benefit Kenya |
| Processing fee | KES 20,000 — non-refundable (Class D pack) |
| After online issue | Print from eFNS and present the print-out at Immigration headquarters (Nyayo House) or a regional office for endorsement |
Working or running a business without the requisite permit or pass is an offence. Confirm the live invoice and document list on eFNS when you apply — class fees beyond this Class D processing amount are shown there.
Student’s pass
A student’s pass is authorization for a foreigner who has been accepted or admitted to an academic or training institution in Kenya (Immigration — student’s pass).
| Item | Official figure (as of 19 August 2026) |
|---|---|
| Fee — non–East Africans | 100 US dollars per year |
| Fee — East African Community member states | Gratis |
| Where to apply | Online on eFNS, with the required uploads |
The applicant must be accepted by an approved educational or training establishment. While you hold a student’s pass it is an offence to engage in any form of trade or employment, whether for gain or not. Receiving education or training in Kenya without a pupil’s / student’s pass is also an offence (section 30(7) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Regulations, 2012).
The Embassy in Washington does not process work permits
Kenya Embassy Washington D.C. states that all non-Kenya citizens must hold entry/work permits issued by the Principal Immigration Office before taking up employment in Kenya, whether paid or unpaid.
Applications for issue of entry/work permits are not processed at that Mission. They should be addressed to the Director of Immigration Services, P.O. Box 30191, Nairobi.
Consular hours, the embassy eTA pointer, and when a US visitor still uses the electronic path: Kenya embassy visa.
If you are only visiting Kenya
If your trip is a short visit — tourism, family, or similar — you are on the eTA path, not a work permit or student’s pass.
Kenya Immigration: all visitors, including infants and children, who intend to travel to Kenya must have an approved eTA before the start of the journey. Apply on the official eTA site etakenya.go.ke, or use Kenya eTA help for the electronic filing.
Step-by-step visitor rules and fees: Kenya eTA for US travelers.
FAQ
Can I work in Kenya on an eTA?
No. An eTA authorizes travel as a visitor. Employment in Kenya, paid or unpaid, requires an entry/work permit from the Principal Immigration Office before you take up the job. Working without the requisite permit or pass is an offence.
Where do I apply for a work permit?
Online on the eFNS portal fns.immigration.go.ke, with the uploads listed for your class. After the permit is processed and issued, print it from eFNS and present it at an immigration office for endorsement. Class D employment is summarized in the table above.
How much is a Kenya student’s pass?
Immigration publishes 100 US dollars per year for non–East Africans, and gratis for East African Community member states. Confirm the live charge on eFNS when you apply.
Does the Kenya Embassy in Washington issue work permits?
No. The Mission says entry/work permit applications are not processed there. Address them to the Director of Immigration Services, P.O. Box 30191, Nairobi.
Does my-evisas.com file work permits or student passes?
No. my-evisas.com assists with Kenya eTA electronic filing for short visits. Work permits and student’s passes are filed on eFNS with Kenya Immigration.
How my-evisas.com can help
| Provided | Kenya eTA electronic help for short visits — Start Kenya eTA help |
| Not provided | Work-permit filing · student’s-pass filing · embassy appointments |
Work and study stay on the official eFNS channel above. For a Kenya holiday or other short stay, use the eTA product page.
Sources
- Directorate of Immigration Services — Work Permits and Passes (accessed 19 August 2026)
- eFNS — Work permit information pack (accessed 19 August 2026)
- eFNS — Class D employment permit (accessed 19 August 2026)
- Directorate of Immigration Services — Student’s pass (accessed 19 August 2026)
- eFNS — Student’s pass pack (accessed 19 August 2026)
- Kenya Embassy Washington D.C. — Entry / work permits (accessed 19 August 2026)
- Directorate of Immigration Services — eTA (accessed 19 August 2026)
Important Notice
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. my-evisas.com is a private service provider and not a government authority, embassy, or consulate.
Visa requirements and entry regulations can change at short notice. We do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided. Only the official regulations in force at the time of your application are authoritative.
As of: 19 August 2026
Binding and up-to-date information is provided exclusively by the relevant official authorities. Please verify the currently applicable requirements before your application or travel: https://fns.immigration.go.ke