Kenya self-employed visa: Class C permit for prescribed professions

The Directorate lists the prescribed professions as medicine, dentistry, law, surveying, estate agency, valuation and land agency, architecture and quantity surveying, pharmacy, veterinary surgery, engineering, nursing, physiotherapy, accountancy, chartered secretaries, actuaries, scientists and information and communication technology experts. For many of them the Eighth Schedule ties the qualification to Kenyan registration rules: for instance, a doctor or dentist must be entitled to registration under the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Act, a lawyer must be an advocate under the Advocates Act, and an architect must qualify under the Architects and Quantity Surveyors Act.

On top of the qualification, the applicant must have sufficient capital and other resources at their full disposal, be registered with the professional body in their own country, and show that their practice will benefit Kenya. Professionals who will be employed by a Kenyan company rather than practise independently normally need a Class D permit instead.

The Directorate asks for the online Form 25, printed at the end of the application; a detailed, signed cover letter (from the employer, organisation or yourself) to the Director of Immigration Services, in two copies; copies of a valid passport; two recent colour photos; current immigration status if you are in Kenya; copies of any previous Kenyan permits or passes; proof of membership of the prescribed profession; certified copies of academic and professional certificates; a CV; a copy of the KRA PIN certificate; the organisation's valid tax compliance certificate for new cases, and both the organisation's and the individual's for renewals; and the published checklist. Documents not in English must be translated by an embassy, notary or recognised institution.

The applicable fees are a non-refundable processing fee of KES 20,000 and an issuance fee of KES 250,000 per year. The checklist text on the same page still mentions KES 10,000 for processing, but the Directorate's fee box and its 2025 charter both state KES 20,000. East African Community citizens are exempt. The charter sets 21 working days for new permits and 10 for renewals; the e-permit is then printed and endorsed in the passport.

The immigration permit does not replace local professional licensing. Because the Eighth Schedule links most professions to Kenyan registration statutes, plan for registration with the relevant Kenyan board or council. Holders residing for more than 90 days must also obtain an alien card, keep their tax compliance current for renewal, and may move to permanent residence after seven years on work permits with the last three years spent continuously in Kenya.