Kenya Work Visa & Student Pass for US Travelers: Official DIY (Not an eTA)
Short answer: Kenya work permits and student / other passes are not the same product as a short-stay Kenya eTA. Kenya Embassy Washington, D.C. states that intern / volunteer / employment travelers need a Single Entry eTA and must obtain the necessary permits/passes before commencing work, applied through fns.immigration.go.ke. Immigration Kenya takes permit/pass applications online on eFNS. Student’s Pass requirements and a published fee of USD 100 per year for non-East Africans appear on the official Student’s Pass page — confirm live. my-evisas.com does not sell work or student filing. Soft help only for tourist eTA: my-evisas.com/visas/kenya. Stand: 29 July 2026.
Navigation: ← Kenya hub · Kenya eTA guide · eTA vs old eVisa · Kenya eTA help
Short answer
Long-stay permits/passes ≠ eTA. Apply on Immigration / eFNS (and follow Embassy guidance). Not sold here. Stand: 29 July 2026.
Work, internship, and volunteering
Embassy FAQ (work as intern / volunteer / take up employment):
- You need a Single Entry Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) to Kenya
- You must also apply and be issued with the necessary permits/passes before commencing your work
- Permits/passes: Directorate of Immigration, Nairobi via www.fns.immigration.go.ke
Immigration Kenya — Work Permits and Passes:
- Applications are submitted online on the eFNS portal with required uploads
- After issuance, print from eFNS and present to immigration for endorsement
- Classes listed on the official page include (among others) employment, profession, trade/business, religious/charitable, and related categories — confirm which class fits your case on the live site; we do not invent class fees here
Official start:
- https://immigration.go.ke/work-permits-and-passes/
- https://fns.immigration.go.ke/
- Embassy FAQ context: https://kenyaembassydc.org/faqs/
my-evisas.com does not sell work-permit filing — official DIY only.
Student’s Pass (study)
Immigration Kenya describes a Student’s Pass as authorisation for a foreigner accepted/admitted to pursue education at an academic or training institution.
Follow the live requirements on the official page (Form 30 signed/stamped by the institution, institution cover letter, passport bio-data, photos, sponsor/funds documents, etc.).
Fee (published on that page, accessed 29 July 2026): Non-East Africans — 100 US Dollar per year; East Africa Community Member States — Gratis. Confirm before payment.
→ https://immigration.go.ke/students-pass/ · apply/print via eFNS
my-evisas.com does not sell Student’s Pass filing — official DIY only.
How this differs from a Kenya eTA
| Kenya eTA | Work permit / Student’s Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Short-stay travel authorisation (tourist/business visit patterns) | Permission to work or study (long-stay categories) |
| Official channel | etakenya.go.ke | fns.immigration.go.ke · Immigration pages |
| On my-evisas.com | Soft yes → /visas/kenya | No — official DIY only |
Embassy eTA guidance also lists holders of valid Work Permits and Passes among persons exempt from obtaining an eTA — that is not the same as using a tourist eTA instead of a permit. See Kenya eTA guide.
FAQ
Can I work in Kenya on a tourist eTA alone?
Embassy FAQ: for intern / volunteer / employment you need the eTA and the necessary permits/passes before you start work.
Where do I apply for a work permit or pass?
Online on fns.immigration.go.ke per Immigration Kenya.
What is a Student’s Pass?
Authorisation to pursue education at an accepted Kenyan institution — see immigration.go.ke/students-pass.
How much is a Student’s Pass?
Published fee for non-East Africans: USD 100 per year (confirm live). Work-permit class fees: confirm on official channels — not listed as a single flat fee on the work-permits overview we cite.
Does my-evisas.com sell Kenya work or student products?
No. Soft help is only for short-stay Kenya eTA → my-evisas.com/visas/kenya.
What my-evisas.com does — and does not
| Path | Via my-evisas.com? |
|---|---|
| Kenya eTA (electronic short stay) | Soft yes → my-evisas.com/visas/kenya |
| Work permits / Student’s Pass / internship passes | No — DIY on Immigration / eFNS |
| Embassy sticker lodging | No — see embassy DIY |
→ Kenya hub · Kenya eTA · eTA vs old eVisa
Sources
- Directorate of Immigration Services — Work Permits and Passes (accessed 2026-07-29)
- Directorate of Immigration Services — Student’s Pass (accessed 2026-07-29)
- Kenya Embassy Washington D.C. — Frequently asked questions (accessed 2026-07-29)
Disclaimer
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: 29 July 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://immigration.go.ke/work-permits-and-passes/ · https://immigration.go.ke/students-pass/ · https://fns.immigration.go.ke/ · https://kenyaembassydc.org/faqs/