Kenya Class G Investor Permit

A foreign national who brings documentary proof of at least USD 100,000 in capital to be invested in a specific trade, business or consultancy in Kenya can apply for a Class G permit, which confers the right to live in Kenya and to run that business. The permit is issued by the Directorate of Immigration Services, part of the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, under the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act 2011, and applications are filed online through the eCitizen and electronic Foreign Nationals Services portals. The Kenya Investment Authority, KenInvest, states the same minimum: at least 100,000 US dollars or the equivalent in any other currency.

It is worth being exact about what this is. Kenya does not operate a golden visa, and it does not sell permanent residence or citizenship. The Class G permit is a renewable investor work and residence permit. It lasts as long as you keep renewing it, and you keep renewing it by showing that a real Kenyan company is trading, filing accounts and paying its taxes. Permanent residence and citizenship come later, and only through years of lawful residence set out in statute. For an entrepreneur it is an accessible, lawful base in East Africa's largest economy; as a passport product, it is the wrong instrument.

What does the Class G permit actually give you?

The Class G permit gives you lawful residence in Kenya and the right to engage, alone or in partnership, in the specific trade, business, consultancy or profession named in the permit. Prescribed professions are excluded. It is not a general work authorisation: your right to work attaches to the business you set up or acquired. It confers no visa free travel of any kind, and your own passport continues to govern your mobility outside Kenya.

Your spouse and dependent children do not hold Class G permits of their own. They apply for Dependant's Passes linked to the principal holder, so their status in Kenya follows yours.

How much does the Kenya investor permit cost?

There is a single route, and its threshold is set out plainly by the government.

• Minimum capital: USD 100,000. The Directorate of Immigration Services asks for documentary proof of capital to be invested of at least USD 100,000, and KenInvest confirms the figure. The threshold does not rise with family size.
• Government fees, in Kenyan shillings. A non-refundable processing fee is paid on application and an issuance fee is charged for each year of the permit. A security bond from a licensed insurance company is required before the permit is issued. We do not quote these amounts here, because two official Kenyan sources currently publish different figures for the same fees, and we will not put a number in front of you until the gazetted schedule settles it. We confirm the current schedule for every client before filing.
• East African Community nationals are exempt from the Class G fees.

Beyond government charges, budget for company incorporation, business licences, bookkeeping, statutory audit and tax compliance.

What documents does a Class G application require?

The Directorate publishes a precise list. A first application needs:

• Completed and signed Form 25 and Form 27.
• A signed cover letter from the company addressed to the Director General.
• A copy of the passport bio-data page, a recent colour passport photograph and evidence of current immigration status if you are already in Kenya.
• Documentary proof of capital to be invested of at least USD 100,000.
• Company registration documents: certificate of incorporation, memorandum and articles of association, and the shareholders certificate (CR12).
• PIN certificates for the company and for you personally, and a valid Tax Compliance Certificate for the company.

What trips applicants up?

The business has to be real. The permit is granted for a specific trade, business or consultancy that benefits Kenya, and the decision is discretionary. A shell company holding a bank balance is not what the Directorate is looking for.

Renewal is an audit, not a formality. On renewal the Directorate asks for signed audited accounts for the previous two years and valid Tax Compliance Certificates for both the company and you personally. An investor who lets the business go dormant, falls behind on filings or allows tax compliance to lapse puts the permit, and the Dependant's Passes that hang from it, at risk.

Source of funds. The capital has to be evidenced, typically by proof of the offshore transfer and bank verification in Kenya.

Family status is derivative. Because spouse and children hold Dependant's Passes tied to the principal, any gap in the principal's permit affects the whole household.

How long does the process take?

Timelines depend heavily on how complete the corporate and capital file is when it is lodged, and on the Directorate's workload. The permit itself is issued for a limited term with the issuance fee charged per year, so renewal is a recurring event to plan for from the outset rather than a distant concern.

Does the Class G permit lead to permanent residence or citizenship?

Yes, but slowly, and never by purchase. Section 37 of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act makes eligible for permanent residence persons who have held work permits for at least seven years and have been continuously resident in Kenya for the three years immediately preceding the application; their spouses, children and dependants are eligible with them. A permanent resident has the right to enter and remain in Kenya, to be employed, to own property and to settle anywhere in the country, subject to a residency obligation.

Citizenship follows section 13 of the Act. An adult who has been lawfully resident for a continuous period of at least seven years may apply to be registered as a citizen if, among other conditions, they have been ordinarily resident for the seven years immediately before applying, have lived in Kenya throughout the preceding twelve months, understand and speak Kiswahili or a local dialect, have adequate knowledge of Kenya and of the rights and duties of citizens, intend to go on living in Kenya, have made or can make a substantive contribution to national development, and have no disqualifying conviction. Registration is at the Cabinet Secretary's discretion.

How is a Class G holder taxed?

Kenya is not a low tax jurisdiction, and it is better to know that at the outset. Personal income tax is progressive, reaching a top rate of 35 per cent according to the Kenya Revenue Authority, and capital gains tax is 15 per cent of the net gain. Kenya levies no wealth tax and no inheritance tax. Whether you become tax resident depends on your time in the country and on having a home there, and the business itself will be subject to Kenyan corporate tax and VAT. Take tailored tax advice before the capital moves.

Who is the Kenya investor permit right for?

We would rather say this plainly than have a client discover it later. The Class G permit suits an entrepreneur or investor who genuinely intends to build or acquire an operating business in Kenya, values a lawful base in Nairobi with access to the wider East African Community market, and is comfortable with an English speaking, common law administrative environment and an annual cycle of accounts and compliance.

It is a poor fit for anyone seeking a passive investment, a travel document or a fast passport. The capital carries real commercial risk, the permit adds no mobility, and citizenship requires seven years of genuine residence, language ability and a discretionary decision. For residence without running a business, the Mauritius residency programme or the UAE Golden Visa may be better aligned, and our guide to the best golden visa and residency programmes sets the options side by side. If a second passport is the goal, the citizenship by investment programmes are the relevant comparison.

If Kenya is on your shortlist, Mirabello Consultancy can review your business plan, your capital structure and your family's position before you incorporate, and confirm the current fee schedule directly against the Directorate's records. Book a free, confidential consultation with our team.